You know the more I play and replay Danganronpa, the more incredibly out-of-pocket it seems that the series ended on Naegi becoming the Principal of Hopes’ Peak Academy???? We’re ignoring V3 right now. I’m just talking mainline continuity.
Like, even ignoring all the crimes against humanity that the academy perpetrated or that their ever-growing pursuit of talent helped Junko bring about the end of the world, reopening Hope’s Peak goes against the core message of the games???
Makoto may be the “Ultimate Hope” and the “Ultimate Lucky Student,” but in his heart and in reality, he’s just an average kid who won a lottery. The fact he ISN’T special and yet becomes the savior of the world as his Super High School Level Classmates fall into despair around him is what makes him a great protagonist for the franchise! To attend Hope’s Peak you have to be scouted, but no one in the before-times was ever going to recognize an extraordinary ability to remain positive! The point of Makoto’s character is that people have talents that aren’t going to be recognized as useful or explementary, but they’re just as important to the survival of humanity as those who make ground-breaking discoveries or legendary artistic pieces.
It’s not a coincidence that every main character in the franchise (up to V3) was a “regular” person: Makoto, Hinata, Komaru. They may not be “special,” but they still do great things, because every human has the ability to make a difference in their world!
And it’s not just the main characters, because Ishimaru even states he hates being labeled as special, because he believes that “ordinary” people who work hard are the true Ultimates in society. And in Ultra Despair Girls, Toko takes offense at Komaru saying she doesn’t understand weakness, because by being “special” it makes her strong. Taking literally one thing a person excels at and making it their entire identity ignores the actual strengths and weaknesses that all humans have. Additionally, it discourages people from finding those strengths within themselves as Komaru was always so quick to try and give up and use her status as “normal” as an excuse to run away and not try.
On the other side of things, characters like Byakuya used their status as an excuse to hurt those that were “beneath” them. He manipulated crime scenes and was a just a general douche to literally everyone, because he thought he was better than them. By creating a society of stratification based on talent or wealth or whatever else, you are creating a society that is ripe to justify inequality and unfair treatment.
And going back to those crimes against humanity, it is the drive to become “great” when you’re not that spearheaded all those human experiments and mistreatments and treating humans like a game character to level up instead of a person to be treated with respect no matter their ability.
The fact that all of this was just ignored and that the series sort of turned its back on its very ethos in the last leg of the franchise is just baffling to me.
human spinner doodles ( + shigaraki cuz they're besties)
Munakata: You know nothing, you're just a naive child who thinks the world can be saved by positivity.
Well that might work in your game, but not in the real world.
Makoto: chained on the ground Your pathetic.
Munakata: What did you say?!
Makoto: You laughs, glares at him you know nothing. You think that I don't know, that words aren't enough to change people?
You think that I don't know that positivity can't fix everything?
Munakata: Than why do you drone on and on about it? If you truly believe your words are hollow, than why pretend to be such a fool?
Makoto: God your stupid. What I said was that I know words aren't enough. But they're a start, their a step and a necessary one.
If anyone's the hypocrite, it's you, Mr rehabilitating murderers is wrong but I'm gonna kill people that don't agree with me.
Munakata: You little-
Makoto: No? You go on and on about how dangerous it would be if despair disguised itself under a flag of hope.
And yet here you stand like your own Remnant of despair.
Munakata: How dare you! Kicks him, hard
Makoto: laughs And you say I'm the child. How did you get such a high up job?
I mean you talk tough but you're just a washed up graduate who's clings onto his high school glory days.
Munakata: seething How dare you!
Makoto: Oh I dare. I think you got the job to work at the overseas Hope's Peak, because you're so desperate to reignite that spark because you've found nothing else fulfilling in your life.
And than the world fell but you got lucky, because finally everything was yours. You could be the big bad hero you always wanted to be.
Munakata: You call this a victory?
Makoto: For you? Other than being vice chairman and Chisa, sounds like your dream.
Munakata: Don't you dare speak her name!
Makoto: Yeah, my bad I'm sorry. You know, I was willing to hear you out for her.
I've lost people, know how hard greif is especially in a place like this. And she wanted me to hear you out, and I thought sure okay.
Munakata: That sounds like her.
Makoto: But man, I've looked into the eyes of those infected with despair.
And I've still found shreds of humanity in their souls, you are as soulless as it gets. And I watched Junko kill her own sister without a second thought.
Munakata: scoffs
Makoto: Junko twisted the Remnants from the people they were. The kind, good loving people they were.
But no one did that to you, you are your truest self. There was nothing to regain because nothing was lost.
Munakata: Is that your long poetic way of calling me a monster? How original.
Makoto: No you're worse. Hell at least Junko knew she was being awful. You say the most awful things and pretend it's just.
Munakata: The truth is always hard to digest. You should know that better than anyone. But you insist on hiding behind your hollow words.
Makoto: They aren't hollow. Sure I talk, a lot. But I make my words mean things, I fill what could have been hollow because I believe in the power they hold.
Munakata: You do have a lot of influence in your words. But that doesn't change that they won't fix things.
Makoto: I know it's not going to fix everything! But if they can get people to act, if they can change someone's opinion. That makes them mean something.
What you're proposing would destroy what's on the surface but change won't happen if you won't touch the root of the issue.
Munakata: And what of it? It will only spread. I do what has to be done. I use my words and I put them into action.
Makoto: The difference is I'm proposing people care about each other and you're trying to justify mass murder.
That's the difference between you and me, you take the easy route.
Munakata: Easy?! You dare call this easy?!
Makoto: Violence is easy, you can hurt anyone without raising a hand. You know what's hard? Healing.
Going day in and day out in a hopeless world trying to convince people life's worth living.
You watched the game... How many times did I try to bring people together? How many times did I try to talk to someone who would later be a murderer?
A tear falls down his cheek.
I will carry their deaths for the rest of my life. I will be kind in a world that hates that because someone has to.
I gave my weakness to everyone not because I don't know the danger but because I do.
Because I know if one person, just one comes forward it can persuade others to do so too.
Munakata: Scoffs What you've done is make yourself a bigger target.
Makoto: Gets up, got free ages ago and stands tall It's easy to kill the people who wronged you. What's hard is knowing all they've done, and forgiving them anyway.
I smile and it hurts more than anything and yet I do it because it makes people feel at ease. And if that's make me weak? Than so be it.
Munakata: So what, you'll forgive me for all of this?
Makoto: Yeah, because even now I think there's still hope in you.
Munakata: That kind of optimism will get you killed one day.
Makoto: It's gotten me this far. Sad smile And apart from my friends, it's all I've got anyway walks away, pauses And for what it's worth, I'm sorry for your loss. Walks away
Favs from each game
Danganronpa AU idea: Ultra Hopeless Rockstars
A while ago, a game by the name of No Straight Roads (That you should play BTW) kept me thinking about a what if scenario. What if Leo Kuwata gets away with his murder and wins the killing game, causing the other students to be killed in the process and then kicked into a world ravaged by kids and despair?
Something important to point out is that on his travel on Towa city, Leo encounters none other than the Ultimate Despair Ibuki Kyoda who was performing one of her despair-inducing concerts live at Towa city. Somehow, Leo manages to free Ibuki from the brainwash and they become partners on to know what the hell is happening.
For their luck, the Future Foundation finds the 2 which surprises them and rather than providing them with Megaphone Hacking Guns, they gave the 2 Electric Guitars capable of hacking. But unfortunately, both of them got wrapped up by the Warriors of Hope’s Demon Hunting. Now is up to them to stop the Ultimate Despairs and Warriors of Hope and return Hope to Towa city with the power of rock and roll!
Important things to point out:
*Leon will carry a giant trauma over the death of his other classmates due to his fault and thus whenever he meets one of the other “demons”, he will get PTSD whenever they ask him about if he knows any of the other students. but through Ibuki’s help, he will overcome such despair.
*Komaru Naegi will still be there, but she will be most of a supporting character
*Since Leon won the Killing Game, Junko Enoshima will still be alive, thus preventing the mass suicide of Ultimate Despairs. Things will get darker with her around.
*Leon and Ibuki won’t be that much affiliated toward the resistance
So, Akane....what problems and such do you want to get off your back right now? Or at least, feel ready to share at the moment.
So Akane, has there been anything on your mind lately? Any memories that have resurfaced?
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Well, I mean...there’s been a lot....
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Akane: There are some times when I can remember when I was....like that.... I was tearing through buildings, cities, streets and highways, you name it....I....also hurt a lot of people....I was a friggin’ beast.....A monster.......
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I always wanted to be strong but, strong to protect others....not just to rampage like I did....
It’s a.....bit scary to think about....
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Hmmm, I see...I do have records that were able to go toe to toe with our strongest of warriors and advances, such as our resident boxer, Juzo.
But, it is excellent to hear that you regret those actions. Shows much progress being made here.
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Something on your mind Akane....?
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You ever had kids Miss Gekkogahara?
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No. But I have experience raising one....
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Oh. Wasn’t really expecting a yes there.
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Don’t worry about it, it’s not that important. Now, what were you getting at?
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I’ve.....been raising my little brothers and sisters...basically my whole life....
Everything I did, I did for them. Dump diving, small jobs here and there, even throwing my body out there...all so that those little mucnkins would be better off fine...
Ma was hardly around, trying to scamper with her own jobs and whatnot....Sometimes bringing home other men......I was the real breadwinner there...it was up to me and the oldest siblings to look out for each other and the little ones....
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Sounds like you care for them a whole lot, Akane. I’m sure they’re proud to have you as your sister....
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..............
..........I’m not so sure anymore.....
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Hmm?
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I....I’m not so sure they.....would care for me as their sister....o-or at all.......
....C....Considering what I did to them....
I know it's cool to hate, but I really wish more Danganronpa protagonist posts included Komaru from UDG. Komaru and UDG does so much of the heavy lifting to make DR work as a narrative and Komaru is just left to the wayside after breaking her back.
DANG and his buddy RONPA
(PLEASE KEEP IN NOTE): That this is just my general idea of him, kinda scared to share this cause qjdnnejf I know everyone has different opinions on Makoto so I'm just posting this in my own prespective of him. (It's a little messy cause I am unstable and disorganized when I write this so beware ooo)
Here's the art I made for this
So like, I believe Makoto has issues I think we all established that, and the moment when komaru mentioned of how he changes a lot in UDG (but still hold some same aspects of traits and habits that just makes him.... him) after managed to contact him the first time. It strucks me so bad that it gaves me a migrane /vpos
Like, Makoto earned his new title of the ultimate Hope (with the capital H and everything) just by defeating Junko the ultimate despair? By that point he was seen by the world as the savior and as the first and only hope they have thought lost for YEARS
Makoto's ability to move everyone by just words to which he probably didn't even realised the power he held over it. He's just incredibly passionate and its because his whole body speaks GENUINE emotions, his stubborn willpower and determination undeterred by despair and everything Junko herself has set up for.
It is something not everyone has the luxury to have. His optimism. But that's the thing.
Makoto was the ultimate Hope, only because he was just optimistic in nature. It was the flock of the moment during the last trial, his contagious optimism is what everyone, his friends, the world, preceives as Hope. The enlighting feeling of inspiration by just words of support and motivations for the first time since years after the tragedy started.
But again. Thats the thing. The "Hope" they admire, they clung onto, they worshipped, and they DIE for, was his mere optimistic nature. Just like he said himself "Optimism is all I'm best at".
Its cause well, it's true. (Kinda)
All he was ever good at in his view was just being that. When I rewatched future arc I sense how unBEARABLY useless he is without that title and usual positive nature, and his words don't reach the leaders of future foundation from attempting to kill one another (aside from certain ones, and at the very end ofc, but even then it was too late to prevent the deaths). His words doesnt even managed to reach Ryota from preventing him in using the Hope brainwash video.
It just further shows how.... normal he is
Despite the title, it just shows that he is nothing but a normal guy. He's not some god everyone preceives him to be, he's just some dude that was placed in a wrong time and place.
It's like all the good he is being- well, normal. Like typical "good kid". Somehow it kinda hurts to think about it, like you're obligated to see all positive in lives for it as everyone depends on you for such.
And now the whole world was in the palm of his hands.
I feel like he's scared, despite his strong stand and brave, determined face, he is a normal, ordinary guy that scared to lose what he was ever good and seen by everyone as. Being optimistic and hopeful.
Its like he's not allowed to even be sad for a moment to cry his hearts out. Because the world depends on him, his friends depends on him, he rely on them too much, he cant lose hope cause if he does, the world will fall apart AGAIN, and people will die AGAIN (just like his classmates, just like the people who died for him) he doesnt think he can handle that the second time.
Since that one thing Makoto despises the most is violence. Death to be exact.
He was probably exhausted but he cant yet, he has to keep moving forward, for the world's sake, his friends' sake, his only remaining family; his sister's sake, and for the sake of those who had died so he can carry out their hope that was left behind.
Theres also this quote that remind me of him:
"I'm scared that the moment I look like I'm suffering. Noone will believe me anymore"
Because like. He really cant do things as much without his friends. All he has was his hope; his positivity, determination, and optimistic nature. So he stood tall, facing despair, putting up a strong look just so people of the world, and his friends know, that they all can trust him. To have faith in him.
Because being optimistic is all he's best at.
That hope he has held dearly was destroying him internally. Scary thing is it? Despair isnt what was breaking him. It was the very thing that he was good at. And the very thing everyone thought of when they see him.
Just like junko when you think about it. She- ultimate despair, destroyed herself by the very thing she is (basically executed herself in the last trial) and now makoto was doing the same thing.
"The world's hope", "the strongest who never falters at the face of despair", "the savior", "their guiding light"
How much longer should he keep that up? Before everyone realised that he's nothing but just an ordinary, plain, boring guy?
How much longer should he fall before allowing himself to hit the ground?
A sprout who never truly managed to grow old, it's choose to shelter other by it's leaves, holding still, unmoving.
Yet its roots slowly rotten by parasites and disease, trying to keep the earth together. They can't die now, they're the protector, the hope of it all. <-(quote by one of my friend Ele, which I think is neat in itself, considering Naegi's name means sappling or seedling in general ajdhwjdj)
He may have survived the first killing game that birth his title as the Ultimate Hope,
He may have survived the second killing game in the Neo world program that shows us how devastated it must be for Makoto that Nagito would go that far for the sake of hope, how Makoto's words and hope does not reach the remaining survivor,
He may survived the third killing game in the Future Foundation where it must be devastating that he's unable to understand the victims fully from preventing them to try and kill eachother off ("don't try pretending you understand them, you don't understand them at all" kinda feel), where he watched as Kyoko died for his hope, not telling him THAT she will die, letting him live because not only that he was the closest friend she ever has, but knowing her; she thinks that the world still need the ultimate hope, and because of that, she was ready to accept her fate for it, because she was assured that Makoto is strong enough to move forward even when it's hard, because she has faith in him. Because she believes that Makoto will never give up Hope.
Eventhough he had survive countless scenarios where he could die anytime of those. I feel like eventhough he had survived multiple times.. he had died, multiple times as well, to become who he is now (multiple rebirth symbolism). To the point where he is unrecognizable in his own eyes, the feeling of the old him far out of reach, who is he now?
Things are so simple to him back then, why does things don't make sense to him about himself now?
He may never feel lonely outside, because he believes that his friends will always have his back, he believes that there will always be someone that could give him a hand.
But here, in his own mind, in his own exhaustion, in his own struggle, in his own confusion, he is completely all alone. This one is his alone to go through, his friends has too much on their plate already to handle this, he relied on them too much already.. (in a way, perhaps, he try to rely on others less).
Theres soooo many I wanna say about him but this is the general idea of my view on him, or er, version ig? His accidental savior complex that is.
And don't make me start of his self-sacrificial tendency. /lh
This audio from Star vs the Forces of evil worked way too well in reference to how the Neo World Program works! It could have fit any character but I always associate Star with Sonia so I decided to use her!
Fun fact, within a day of posting this on tiktok it became my second highest viewed video ever and highest viewed animation I’ve done which is wild! (It’s currently at 163.0k views!!)