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** Subverted until Episode 9. [[spoiler: Kirigiri ends up dying thanks to her forbidden action: "Makoto Naegi survives past the Fourth Phase."]]
to:
** Subverted until Episode 9. [[spoiler: Kirigiri ends up dying thanks to her forbidden action: "Makoto Naegi survives past the Fourth Phase."]]" Then double subverted when Kyoko ends up surviving.]]
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* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: Makoto and Munakata in particular represent a conflict of this, with Makoto representing the "idealistic" voice that believes Despair can be rehabilitated, whereas Munakata's "cynical" stance argues that [[KillEmAll eliminating it entirely]] is the only option.
to:
* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: Makoto and Munakata in particular represent a conflict of this, with Makoto representing the "idealistic" voice that believes Despair can be rehabilitated, whereas Munakata's "cynical" stance argues that [[KillEmAll eliminating it entirely]] entirely is the only option.
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** Played for laughs with [[spoiler:Monaca. The end of ''Ultra Despair Girls'' had her being taken in to be groomed into a new Junko by Nagito, implying she'd become the next major threat of the franchise. When she shows back up in this series it turns out that having an adult pressuring her on this, especially one as rambling and unhinged as Nagito, has all but entirely killed her interest in this and Komaru and Toko finally managing to catch up with her convinces her to give up on it entirely.]]
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Moving the Ship Tease entry to the franchise's page.
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* ShipTease: One can make a case that Makoto and Aoi have a decent amount of ship tease. Makoto and Aoi spend most of the anime together with Aoi being his main protector. They have several moments where they comfort and support each other. When Aoi passes out from the poison in episode 11 her last thought is of Makoto. [[spoiler:This all ends up being negated in the end since [[ImpliedLoveInterest Kyoko]] survives to have a heavily implied HappilyEverAfter with him after her own heavy bout of it.]]
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Moving the Wham entries to the franchise's new pages.
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* WhamLine: In Episode 10. [[spoiler: "The killing is over! I found out who the attacker is!"]]
* WhamShot:
** At the end of Episode 2, after the sleeping drug knocks everyone out and the attacker strikes, [[spoiler:Makoto awakens and finds Aoi seemingly stabbed in the stomach. It was actually fake.]]
** Episode 4 ends with a shot of [[spoiler:Monaca Towa controlling a robot Gekkogahara, dressed up in her Junko-esque outfit from the end of ''VideoGame/UltraDespairGirls'']].
** Episode 6 ends with [[spoiler: Munakata's peacekeeping forces heading to Jabberwock island, with someone who looks like Hajime watching them from a dock. The final shot has a closeup of his eye, which opens to reveal a red pupil as he says "This is so boring."]]
** Episode 8 ends with [[spoiler: Byakuya's team accidentally triggering a bomb inside the Future Foundation base, causing the building to start sinking]].
** At the end of Episode 9, [[spoiler: when everyone awakens, they discover Kirigiri has died due to her forbidden action.]]
** The end of Episode 11 shows [[spoiler:Ryota's cell phone with a text from the thought-to-be deceased Tengan.]]
* WhamShot:
** At the end of Episode 2, after the sleeping drug knocks everyone out and the attacker strikes, [[spoiler:Makoto awakens and finds Aoi seemingly stabbed in the stomach. It was actually fake.]]
** Episode 4 ends with a shot of [[spoiler:Monaca Towa controlling a robot Gekkogahara, dressed up in her Junko-esque outfit from the end of ''VideoGame/UltraDespairGirls'']].
** Episode 6 ends with [[spoiler: Munakata's peacekeeping forces heading to Jabberwock island, with someone who looks like Hajime watching them from a dock. The final shot has a closeup of his eye, which opens to reveal a red pupil as he says "This is so boring."]]
** Episode 8 ends with [[spoiler: Byakuya's team accidentally triggering a bomb inside the Future Foundation base, causing the building to start sinking]].
** At the end of Episode 9, [[spoiler: when everyone awakens, they discover Kirigiri has died due to her forbidden action.]]
** The end of Episode 11 shows [[spoiler:Ryota's cell phone with a text from the thought-to-be deceased Tengan.]]
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Moving the Wham Episode entries to the anime's new page.
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* WhamEpisode: [[WordOfGod Kazutaka Kodaka]] openly said he hopes every episode surprises you. Needless to say, he succeeded with flying colours:
** Episode 4 has multiple big bombshells occurring at once; [[spoiler: the 76th trio were all students expelled from Hope's Peak Academy, Tengan manages to talk Munakata down after getting impaled and Gekkougahara is outed as being actually a robotic avatar for Monaka Towa.]]
** Episode 5: [[spoiler: Munakata goes completely off the deep end, killing Tengan and more or less falling into despair. And it's ''heavily'' implied that the traitor's identity is what causes him to snap, which certainly has dark implications...]]
** Episode 6: Holy. Shit. [[spoiler: Izayoi is found dead. Naegi gets a message out to Togami, who reveals that Munakta's sending the Future Foundation's Peacekeeping Force to Jabberwock Island, and Togami agrees to come help them. After the broadcast, Togami and his men talk about how the real Miaya has been murdered. Togami contacts Toko and Komaru, presumably to go and find Monaca, who they believe is in Towa City. And, of course, see WhamShot below for the final scene.]]
** Episode 7: [[spoiler: Surprise, Monaka ''isn't'' the BigBad, or even close to it. The episode then ends in Munakata seemingly about to kill Kirigiri.]]
** Episode 8: [[spoiler: Andou is confirmed to be Izayoi's murderer, and her NG code will kill her if anybody exits the building. Kizakura dies saving Kirigiri; she, Sakakura and Mitarai find the secret exit, and Togami and the rest of the Future Foundation (sans Hagakure) enter the building... just to activate a security system that seems to be making the whole building collapse.]]
** Episode 9 takes the cake with [[spoiler: (Robo)Miaya, Juzo, Ruruka and Kirigiri all getting killed, the former two by Munakata, along with the discovery that the facility the killing game is taking place in has been underwater all along.]]
** Episode 10: [[spoiler: Yukizome was a despair, Munakata pulls a HeelFaceTurn and, at long last, the remaining participants learn the attacker's identity.]]
** Episode 11: [[spoiler:It's revealed that all of the "attacker's" victims actually committed suicide after watching a brainwashing video, Juzo is revealed to be alive and saves Makoto from killing himself, and then he dies after forcefully stopping the game.]]
** '''Episode 12''': [[spoiler: It turns out that Tengan was the BigBad, having organized the Final Killing game for his plan to spread "hope". Oh, and Mitarai decide to [[TakingUpTheMantle continue Tengan's idea of hope ]][[BrainwashingForTheGreaterGood by ''brainwashing the world'']] .]]
** Episode 4 has multiple big bombshells occurring at once; [[spoiler: the 76th trio were all students expelled from Hope's Peak Academy, Tengan manages to talk Munakata down after getting impaled and Gekkougahara is outed as being actually a robotic avatar for Monaka Towa.]]
** Episode 5: [[spoiler: Munakata goes completely off the deep end, killing Tengan and more or less falling into despair. And it's ''heavily'' implied that the traitor's identity is what causes him to snap, which certainly has dark implications...]]
** Episode 6: Holy. Shit. [[spoiler: Izayoi is found dead. Naegi gets a message out to Togami, who reveals that Munakta's sending the Future Foundation's Peacekeeping Force to Jabberwock Island, and Togami agrees to come help them. After the broadcast, Togami and his men talk about how the real Miaya has been murdered. Togami contacts Toko and Komaru, presumably to go and find Monaca, who they believe is in Towa City. And, of course, see WhamShot below for the final scene.]]
** Episode 7: [[spoiler: Surprise, Monaka ''isn't'' the BigBad, or even close to it. The episode then ends in Munakata seemingly about to kill Kirigiri.]]
** Episode 8: [[spoiler: Andou is confirmed to be Izayoi's murderer, and her NG code will kill her if anybody exits the building. Kizakura dies saving Kirigiri; she, Sakakura and Mitarai find the secret exit, and Togami and the rest of the Future Foundation (sans Hagakure) enter the building... just to activate a security system that seems to be making the whole building collapse.]]
** Episode 9 takes the cake with [[spoiler: (Robo)Miaya, Juzo, Ruruka and Kirigiri all getting killed, the former two by Munakata, along with the discovery that the facility the killing game is taking place in has been underwater all along.]]
** Episode 10: [[spoiler: Yukizome was a despair, Munakata pulls a HeelFaceTurn and, at long last, the remaining participants learn the attacker's identity.]]
** Episode 11: [[spoiler:It's revealed that all of the "attacker's" victims actually committed suicide after watching a brainwashing video, Juzo is revealed to be alive and saves Makoto from killing himself, and then he dies after forcefully stopping the game.]]
** '''Episode 12''': [[spoiler: It turns out that Tengan was the BigBad, having organized the Final Killing game for his plan to spread "hope". Oh, and Mitarai decide to [[TakingUpTheMantle continue Tengan's idea of hope ]][[BrainwashingForTheGreaterGood by ''brainwashing the world'']] .]]
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Moving the Red Herring entry to the franchise's new page.
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* RedHerring: In search of the mastermind, Komaru and Toko try to [[spoiler: find Monaca inside her oddly [[NeonSignHideout Neon Signed Tower]]]]. [[spoiler: After being ambushed they find Monaca inside a Monokuma themed van playing videogames]]. Confused, they ask what was going on. [[spoiler: Monaca explains that it was [[NotMeThisTime Not Her This Time]]; she was only there observe Makoto Naegi]]. Although despite that, [[spoiler: she killed Miaya and took her persona as a robot, and made Aoi look dead like a corpse just because [[ItAmusedMe It Amused Her]]]]. Along with this information they were also [[CrypticConversation told a hint]]. Panicked, the two immediately contact Future Foundation. [[spoiler: Komaru told her brother Makoto that Monaca has no involvement in this killing game, and warns him that if he makes a wrong move, one his colleagues from the school killing game will die in the final killing game]].
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Moving the Foreshadowing entries to the anime's new page.
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* {{Foreshadowing}}: Wouldn't be DR without this:
** The OP has plenty.
*** In the beginning montage of the participants, Tengan is shown striking an action pose, hinting at the later revelation to him being a tough old man.
*** Each one of the death images in the intro demonstrates how each participant will be killed. [[spoiler: Though not in the way you might think - they're symbolic representations of the characters' deaths.]]
*** Aoi Asahina's death image shows her stabbed with a knife. [[spoiler:Guess what happens to her in Episode 2?]] [[spoiler:[[RedHerring Or rather not]], since it turns out to be nothing more than a toy knife and some tomato sauce. The ''real'' knife ended up in the actual victim noted below.]]
*** Daisaku Bandai's death image shows him grabbing his chest. [[spoiler: He would later do the same action while dying from poison]].
*** The Great Gozu's death image shows his corpse being hung from chains. [[spoiler:As the ''real'' victim of Episode 2, we see him hanging from the ceiling, tied up in electrical wires, and he's the one who got stabbed with a real knife.]]
*** Juzo Sakakura's death image shows him being cut by a katana, [[spoiler:foreshadowing Munakata's betrayal.]] [[spoiler: Juzo being cut in half also refers to his death by blood loss, caused when he cut off a part of his body (his arm) to get rid of the bracelet.]]
*** Miaya Gekkougahara's death image is being vertically split in half. Ultimately, [[spoiler:she was "killed" in the exact same manner as her death image]].
*** Kyoko Kirigiri's death image is her being hung by a rope, [[spoiler:a common method of suicide. One can argue that by violating her NG code by refusing to kill Makoto before the 4th round she technically committed suicide.]]
*** Sonosuke Izayoi's death image is him being burned while tied to a cross, [[spoiler:a combination of Joan of Arc's and Jesus's deaths - both known martyrs.]] [[spoiler:Letting himself die so his girlfriend can live makes Izayoi a pretty big martyr.]]
*** Kazuo Tengan's death image is him being electrocuted by live wires. [[spoiler:He was strangled by his many convictions to different parties and ultimately dies because of them.]]
*** Ryota Mitarai's death image is him being hit by arrows, [[spoiler:the same arrows as the ones from Tengan's chuusen. Sure enough, Tengan completely and utterly fucks Mitarai over.]]
*** During the opening, there is [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/danganronpa/images/1/1b/Danganronpa_3_%28Future_Arc%29_-_OP_02_%28Textless%29_%2839%29.png/revision/latest?cb=20190104140717 an image of the Future Foundation building with a very detailed reflection of it]]. [[spoiler:It's revealed that the "reflection" is in fact an actual building located below the original building, under the sea]].
** Tons towards Gekkougahara [[spoiler:being Monaka's robotic avatar.]]
*** [[spoiler:Her design is very, very similar to Monaka's. Both have the same distinct hair clumps, both sit in wheelchairs and the ScarfOfAsskicking even mimics the ribbon on Monaka's DRAE outfit.]]
*** When the voice actors were being revealed, Gekkougahara was revealed with Asahina, Hagakure and Monomi. [[spoiler:All three of those are returning characters, hinting that she was someone fans already knew.]]
*** Despite being purportedly a Therapist, Gekkougahara is completely mute and seems to have a massive expertise in electronics. [[spoiler:Monaka was a well-established robotics expert.]]
*** When everyone [[spoiler:is taking votes on who the traitor could be]] Kizakura casually points at Gekkougahara on a hunch. Keep in mind that he's described to have a good intuition, and he's a talent scout, so it's his job to figure out when people have talents... [[spoiler:Like deception.]]
*** Gekkougahara's death image shows absolutely no blood and she never once blinks. [[spoiler:Both of these make a lot more sense when you know she's a robot.]]
*** Gekkougahara claims that her Forbidden Action was to turn right, but when told to escape with Naegi she turns right, [[spoiler:and yet she's somehow unharmed.]]
** Notice how, despite Monokuma saying the Final Killing is being broadcast, there isn't a single camera in plain view? [[spoiler:That's because, as Episode 6 reveals, that fact is a complete and utter lie.]]
** Despite Munakata's hypothesis that the mastermind's ultimate plan requires Naegi alive, [[spoiler:Monaka mentions that she's helping Naegi and Asahina because they amuse her.]] Turns out that [[spoiler:Monaka isn't the BigBad.]]
** Three of the NG Actions revealed in Episode 8 were heavily hinted at by prior episodes; [[spoiler:Sakakura, despite his talent, is never shown punching anyone (using either weapons or his legs), Izayoi throughout the killing game kept rejecting Andou's sweets (despite unquestionably eating them in every other instance), and Kizakura is always shown with his left hand in his pocket.]]
** Kyoko appears horrified when she checks her bracelet in Episode 2. [[spoiler:That's because it's "passing the fourth time limit with Makoto Naegi alive".]]
** Kyoko noticing the lack of the dent in the wall left by Izayoi and avoiding using the Secret Exit hinted at the secret behind the game stage.
** There were actually plenty of hints to the identity of the attacker, [[spoiler:or attackers,]] before the reveal in Episode 11.
*** The most significant one being [[spoiler:the brightly lit monitors next to the body of each victim]].
*** During the case of the second victim [[spoiler:Gozu was closer to the monitor than Naegi, Asahina, and Gekkougahara]].
*** The closed-room cases of the second and fourth victims, [[spoiler:Gozu and Ruruka]], especially since [[spoiler:no one was near Ruruka during the time of her death]].
*** In episode 7, Monaca states that [[spoiler:she didn't know who the mastermind was, even though she would have likely seen the attacker, due to Gekkougahara being active during the sleep cycles, indicating that the attacker and the mastermind were not one in the same]].
** In Episode 3, Tengan is rather lax when they wake up after the second sleeping time, which Kyoko notes. [[spoiler:This foreshadows that he knows the mechanics of the game.]]
*** Likewise, the fact that [[spoiler:Tengan already seemed to know Sakakura's NG Code.]]
** After Kizakura figures out Sakakura's Forbidden Action ([[spoiler:"attacking someone barehanded"]]), he observes that the game would be extremely one-sided if Sakakura didn't have his RestrainingBolt. The same applies to one other key participant: [[spoiler:Mitarai, whose Brainwashing Video would allow him to instantly pacify everyone if he was allowed to use it]].
** When the group [[spoiler: discuss Tengan's dying message, Mitarai stares at his phone and starts muttering]]. It later turns out that [[spoiler: the "hope" Tengan was referring to was the brainwashing program on Mitarai's phone.]]
** The OP has plenty.
*** In the beginning montage of the participants, Tengan is shown striking an action pose, hinting at the later revelation to him being a tough old man.
*** Each one of the death images in the intro demonstrates how each participant will be killed. [[spoiler: Though not in the way you might think - they're symbolic representations of the characters' deaths.]]
*** Aoi Asahina's death image shows her stabbed with a knife. [[spoiler:Guess what happens to her in Episode 2?]] [[spoiler:[[RedHerring Or rather not]], since it turns out to be nothing more than a toy knife and some tomato sauce. The ''real'' knife ended up in the actual victim noted below.]]
*** Daisaku Bandai's death image shows him grabbing his chest. [[spoiler: He would later do the same action while dying from poison]].
*** The Great Gozu's death image shows his corpse being hung from chains. [[spoiler:As the ''real'' victim of Episode 2, we see him hanging from the ceiling, tied up in electrical wires, and he's the one who got stabbed with a real knife.]]
*** Juzo Sakakura's death image shows him being cut by a katana, [[spoiler:foreshadowing Munakata's betrayal.]] [[spoiler: Juzo being cut in half also refers to his death by blood loss, caused when he cut off a part of his body (his arm) to get rid of the bracelet.]]
*** Miaya Gekkougahara's death image is being vertically split in half. Ultimately, [[spoiler:she was "killed" in the exact same manner as her death image]].
*** Kyoko Kirigiri's death image is her being hung by a rope, [[spoiler:a common method of suicide. One can argue that by violating her NG code by refusing to kill Makoto before the 4th round she technically committed suicide.]]
*** Sonosuke Izayoi's death image is him being burned while tied to a cross, [[spoiler:a combination of Joan of Arc's and Jesus's deaths - both known martyrs.]] [[spoiler:Letting himself die so his girlfriend can live makes Izayoi a pretty big martyr.]]
*** Kazuo Tengan's death image is him being electrocuted by live wires. [[spoiler:He was strangled by his many convictions to different parties and ultimately dies because of them.]]
*** Ryota Mitarai's death image is him being hit by arrows, [[spoiler:the same arrows as the ones from Tengan's chuusen. Sure enough, Tengan completely and utterly fucks Mitarai over.]]
*** During the opening, there is [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/danganronpa/images/1/1b/Danganronpa_3_%28Future_Arc%29_-_OP_02_%28Textless%29_%2839%29.png/revision/latest?cb=20190104140717 an image of the Future Foundation building with a very detailed reflection of it]]. [[spoiler:It's revealed that the "reflection" is in fact an actual building located below the original building, under the sea]].
** Tons towards Gekkougahara [[spoiler:being Monaka's robotic avatar.]]
*** [[spoiler:Her design is very, very similar to Monaka's. Both have the same distinct hair clumps, both sit in wheelchairs and the ScarfOfAsskicking even mimics the ribbon on Monaka's DRAE outfit.]]
*** When the voice actors were being revealed, Gekkougahara was revealed with Asahina, Hagakure and Monomi. [[spoiler:All three of those are returning characters, hinting that she was someone fans already knew.]]
*** Despite being purportedly a Therapist, Gekkougahara is completely mute and seems to have a massive expertise in electronics. [[spoiler:Monaka was a well-established robotics expert.]]
*** When everyone [[spoiler:is taking votes on who the traitor could be]] Kizakura casually points at Gekkougahara on a hunch. Keep in mind that he's described to have a good intuition, and he's a talent scout, so it's his job to figure out when people have talents... [[spoiler:Like deception.]]
*** Gekkougahara's death image shows absolutely no blood and she never once blinks. [[spoiler:Both of these make a lot more sense when you know she's a robot.]]
*** Gekkougahara claims that her Forbidden Action was to turn right, but when told to escape with Naegi she turns right, [[spoiler:and yet she's somehow unharmed.]]
** Notice how, despite Monokuma saying the Final Killing is being broadcast, there isn't a single camera in plain view? [[spoiler:That's because, as Episode 6 reveals, that fact is a complete and utter lie.]]
** Despite Munakata's hypothesis that the mastermind's ultimate plan requires Naegi alive, [[spoiler:Monaka mentions that she's helping Naegi and Asahina because they amuse her.]] Turns out that [[spoiler:Monaka isn't the BigBad.]]
** Three of the NG Actions revealed in Episode 8 were heavily hinted at by prior episodes; [[spoiler:Sakakura, despite his talent, is never shown punching anyone (using either weapons or his legs), Izayoi throughout the killing game kept rejecting Andou's sweets (despite unquestionably eating them in every other instance), and Kizakura is always shown with his left hand in his pocket.]]
** Kyoko appears horrified when she checks her bracelet in Episode 2. [[spoiler:That's because it's "passing the fourth time limit with Makoto Naegi alive".]]
** Kyoko noticing the lack of the dent in the wall left by Izayoi and avoiding using the Secret Exit hinted at the secret behind the game stage.
** There were actually plenty of hints to the identity of the attacker, [[spoiler:or attackers,]] before the reveal in Episode 11.
*** The most significant one being [[spoiler:the brightly lit monitors next to the body of each victim]].
*** During the case of the second victim [[spoiler:Gozu was closer to the monitor than Naegi, Asahina, and Gekkougahara]].
*** The closed-room cases of the second and fourth victims, [[spoiler:Gozu and Ruruka]], especially since [[spoiler:no one was near Ruruka during the time of her death]].
*** In episode 7, Monaca states that [[spoiler:she didn't know who the mastermind was, even though she would have likely seen the attacker, due to Gekkougahara being active during the sleep cycles, indicating that the attacker and the mastermind were not one in the same]].
** In Episode 3, Tengan is rather lax when they wake up after the second sleeping time, which Kyoko notes. [[spoiler:This foreshadows that he knows the mechanics of the game.]]
*** Likewise, the fact that [[spoiler:Tengan already seemed to know Sakakura's NG Code.]]
** After Kizakura figures out Sakakura's Forbidden Action ([[spoiler:"attacking someone barehanded"]]), he observes that the game would be extremely one-sided if Sakakura didn't have his RestrainingBolt. The same applies to one other key participant: [[spoiler:Mitarai, whose Brainwashing Video would allow him to instantly pacify everyone if he was allowed to use it]].
** When the group [[spoiler: discuss Tengan's dying message, Mitarai stares at his phone and starts muttering]]. It later turns out that [[spoiler: the "hope" Tengan was referring to was the brainwashing program on Mitarai's phone.]]
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[[WMG:[[center:[-''Anime/Danganronpa3TheEndOfHopesPeakHighSchool'' '''Trope Examples'''\\
[[Danganronpa3TheEndOfHopesPeakHighSchool/TropesGeneral General Tropes]] | '''Future Arc''' | [[Danganronpa3TheEndOfHopesPeakHighSchool/TropesDespairArc Despair Arc]] | [[Danganronpa3TheEndOfHopesPeakHighSchool/TropesHopeArc Hope Arc]]-]]]]]
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[[Danganronpa3TheEndOfHopesPeakHighSchool/TropesGeneral General Tropes]] | '''Future Arc''' | [[Danganronpa3TheEndOfHopesPeakHighSchool/TropesDespairArc Despair Arc]] | [[Danganronpa3TheEndOfHopesPeakHighSchool/TropesHopeArc Hope Arc]]-]]]]]
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[[/folder]]
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* ActionizedSequel: Due to the radically different rules for the Final Killing, the anime puts a much greater emphasis on action over mystery.
* AllForNothing: [[spoiler: Andou's attempts to keep everyone from leaving through the secret exit to prevent her NG code from being broken, like attempting to kill Kirigiri, was all for nothing because the exit was a dead end and they're at the bottom of the ocean. To add insult to injury, she ends up being the fourth victim of the killer]].
* AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs: The Future Foundation's headquarters is attacked in the first episode.
* AnyoneCanDie[=/=]DwindlingParty: It wouldn't be ''Danganronpa'' without this. By the end of the anime, the only survivors are [[spoiler: Makoto, his classmates, Mitarai and Munakata]].
* ArcWords: "I just wanted to save everyone." and "Where did everything go wrong?"
* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: The arc opens by showing the Remnants of Despair running rampant and causing atrocities. Kazuichi makes killer robots, Gundham unleashes a horde of animals, Mikan tortures a guy and Nagito... gets enslaved by children. Granted said children were evil, but still.
* ArtisticLicenceBiology: In Episode 5 [[spoiler: Tengan]] ends up with a SlashedThroat that produces some serious HighPressureBlood, only to hang on say a few words before dying. While surviving for a little while after one's throat is cut is easily possible, that amount of blood would only be produced if one cut the deeper arteries, which would have killed him instantly.
* ArtShift: Like before, Fukawa's fantasies are in a slightly different art style, but not to the crazy degree seen in ''VideoGame/UltraDespairGirls''.
* TheArtifact: Probably used deliberately: in the world outside of Hope's Peak, the former students' Ultimate talents don't count for much. If anything, the CripplingOverspecialization comes back to bite them: those with violent talents (Boxer, Blacksmith) can't keep their heads long enough to figure out a plan that doesn't involve hitting things, those with more practical talents (Farmer, Housekeeper) are completely outside their comfort zone (even though we've seen Chisa be effective in the past) as the world goes to hell, and those used to being in control (Student Council President, arguably the ex-Headmaster) expect to be obeyed as a matter of course without doing anything to earn trust and support, and suffer a FreakOut when they're not obeyed. Only the more flexible ex-78th class, who knew better than to rely wholly on their talents, can really make use of them.
* AscendedFridgeHorror: Remember Makoto saving the Remnants of Despair in ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair''? Turns out, that had very, very serious consequences for him.
* AwfulTruth: [[spoiler:In Episode 5 ([[TheUnreveal but not revealed to the audience until Episode 10]]), Tengan informs Munakata that Yukizome (and possibly everyone else involved with Makoto's trial) was corrupted by despair. Munakata also comes to the conclusion that she murdered several children during The Tragedy. This was so shocking that it [[GoMadFromTheRevelation completely shattered]] what was left of Munakata's sanity.]]
** Episode 11: [[spoiler:there never was an attacker to begin with. All the victims were shown a personalized despair video that drove them so crazy with despair that they were brainwashed into committing suicide.]]
** In episode 12, we find out that it really was [[spoiler:Tegan who was the mastermind.]] [[spoiler:Not only that but he wasn't motivated by a desire for despair and destruction.]] [[spoiler:His goal was to expose Mitarai to excessive despair and cruelty in order to push him to his limits. Tegan knew that Mitarai had created a video that could brainwash the whole world into feeling nothing but hope.]] [[spoiler:After the Future Foundation veered onto a the path of extremism (due to Munakata's leadership after Tegan transferred much of his power to him), he eventually became disillusioned with the Foundation and, thanks to the manipulation of a brainwashed Chisa, became so unstable that he belived that humanity could never beat despair and violence on their own.]]
* BaitAndSwitch: Episode 2 ''really'' wants you to think at the end that [[spoiler: Aoi has been killed]]. This is proven to be incorrect by the very next episode.
* BaitAndSwitchCredits: In the tenth episode opening, the survivors' counter claims that [[spoiler:six]] participants are alive, these being: [[spoiler:Makoto Naegi, Aoi Asahina, Ryota Mitarai, Kyosuke Munakata, Juzo Sakakura and Yasuhiro Hagakure]]. However, ''Side: Hope'' reveals that [[spoiler:Kyoko Kirigiri survived thanks to Seiko Kimura's medicine.]]
* BigDamnHeroes: [[spoiler: Juzo does this in Episode 11 to stop Makoto from killing himself.]]
* BlackAndGrayMorality: The Remnants of Despair are TerroristsWithoutACause, whose only goal is to bring death, destruction, and chaos to the entire world. The Future Foundation, an organization dedicated to rebuilding society, is full of [[GoodIsNotNice jerks]] and [[KnightTemplar extremists]], many of whom only seem capable of working together because of their mutual hatred toward despair. They also have little issue with placing execution orders on people they ''suspect'' of being dangerous.
* BlandNameProduct: [[spoiler:Monaka]]'s room in Episode 7 has a box with a "Darazon" logo, with a curved arrow under it similar to the Amazon logo.
* BodyOfTheWeek: Naturally, as soon as the deadly game starts, the Future Foundation members start dropping like flies. And because of the distrust between the members, not much investigating to root out the identity of the traitor happens.
* BolivianArmyEnding: [[spoiler: A wounded and unconscious Asahina is found by the brainwashed soldiers. Munakata is also last seen fighting off the brainwashed soldiers.]]
* BreatherEpisode: Episode 7 is focused entirely on the characters outside the Final Killing and as a result is ''much'' more light-hearted than prior episodes. [[spoiler:[[MoodWhiplash Then the ending happens]].]]
* TheBusCameBack: After being absent in every bit of DR material since the original in contrast to other survivors, Aoi finally returns as a major character. [[spoiler:''Another Episode'' and ''Danganronpa 2'' characters return in Episode 6, when Naegi calls to the Future Foundation outside.]]
* CallBack: Great Gozu lays his coat over [[spoiler: Yukizome]]'s body much like Mondo did for Junko/Mukuro in the anime of the first game. [[spoiler: And then Aoi later does the same thing to ''his'' body.]]
** [[spoiler:Ruruka's]] death is ''very'' similar to Nagito's: impaled, slashed across the limbs, rope/chain somewhere nearby and something stuffed into/across the mouth. [[spoiler:Both deaths were also self-inflicted, and occurred as the victim plunged across the DespairEventHorizon]]. That's not the only reference to Nagito and his demise either -- [[spoiler:after Munakata's attack, Juzo]] ends up impaled through the midriff and minus a left hand.
* CallForward: Archive footage from the Tragedy shows that Fuyuhiko lost his right eye in the real world at some point, just like he does later on in [=SDR2=]'s simulation. Hiyoko and Ibuki are also shown performing together as they do at one point in [=SDR2=].
* CeilingCorpse: [[spoiler:Chisa, Great Gozu and Seiko are all suspended from the ceiling in some way when their bodies are found.]]
* ChekhovsGun: In Episode 2, Asahina tried to use a fire extinguisher on Munakata, but it was defective. In Episode 10, Makoto tries to use that same fire extinguisher against Munakata by throwing it at him. While Munakata deflects it, the fire extinguisher activates and rockets toward Munakata and hits the back of his head.
** In Episode 2, Juzo comments that, with Naegi's luck, it would be easy for him to slip out of ropes if they tied him up. [[spoiler: Guess what happens when Naegi watches the despair anime in Episode 11.]]
** Kimura's Cure W, [[spoiler: which Kirigiri uses to survive her poisoning]].
%%* TheCoatsAreOff: Pretty much everyone does this.
* ContinuityNod:
** When Chisa remarks on Makoto's epithet as "Ultimate Hope", he notes that it wasn't of his responsibility when he decided on it [[VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc (Kyoko actually chose it)]].
** Kirigiri's visibly shown writing in her notebook from the first game.
** During a conversation with Komaru, Naegi ends up referencing the death of [[VideoGame/DanganronpaAnotherEpisodeUltraDespairGirls Yuta Asahina]].
** A very tragic one in Episode 8; [[spoiler:you know that photo of a young Kyoko with her father? Turns out Kizakura was the photographer.]]
* CrapsackWorld: While it was indicated beforehand, this installment hammers home how bad the post Tragedy world is. Even after what's indicated to be at least a year, the world is still wreaked by terrorism and psychopaths. And this is while things are supposedly ''calming down''.
* DarkIsNotEvil: Kimura and Gozu are two characters who are completely dressed in black and associated with dark colors. They are also some of the nicest characters in the show, if not the entire franchise.
* ADayInTheLimelight: Episode 7, is one for the ''VideoGame/DanganronpaAnotherEpisodeUltraDespairGirls'' cast. The episode is even named "Ultra Despair Girls" in homage to this fact.
* DeadlyGame: The Final Killing Game. It's a little different than the previous two, as there are no murder investigations or trials. Instead, everyone is fitted with a bangle that will administer a sleeping drug after a time limit has passed. Once everyone else is asleep, the traitor/attacker has a limited time to kill exactly one person. Everyone also has one action they can't perform, otherwise their bangle will administer a lethal dose of poison. If nobody is killed within the limited window of time, the other participants win. And just like the [[VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc second killing game]], this is all being broadcast live to the entire world. [[spoiler: Except not really.]]
* DeathOfAChild: Episode 10 reveals in a flashback that [[spoiler:Munakata took in children from the Tragedy, only for Chisa to kill them and pass it off as being the actions of someone else as a means to corrupt him. It's implied that this was not a one-off occurrence either.]]
* DiegeticSoundtrackUsage: Nagito is singing the end credits song as he [[spoiler:showers in a waterfall]]. Bonus points for the fact that he canonically sings the EP himself.
* DramaticIrony: Aoi calling Miaya a Warrior of Hope. [[spoiler:While it was meant to be a sign that she considered Miaya an ally, the one controlling her, Monaca, was the leader of the villainous Warriors of Hope in ''VideoGame/UltraDespairGirls''. In fact, Monaca briefly freaks out because she thought Aoi had figured out her true identity.]]
* DyingMomentOfAwesome: [[spoiler:Juzo uses his last moments before bleeding out to FORCEFULLY END THE GAME!]]
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: As expected, Episode 1 functions as one for much of the cast:
** Munakata is introduced loudly declaring that Naegi must be executed and disrespecting Tengan in the process. His scene with [[LivingEmotionalCrutch Yukizome]] proceeds to establish his more emotional side.
** [[NiceGirl Yukizome]]'s scene with Naegi where she tells him that she hopes that he and Munakata can work together for a greater future.
** [[ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption Sakakura]] physically assaulting Naegi after he's placed in handcuffs.
** [[OfficialCouple Andou and Izayoi]] are introduced with Izayoi nestling his head in Andou's lap as she pets it and feeds him sweets. [[AlphaBitch Andou]] proceeds to then start acting abrasive and threatens Asahina with Izayoi, with Izayoi throwing his kunai to prove she's serious.
** Bandai's bizarre voice and WordSaladPhilosophy. [[spoiler: This ends up being all the characterization [[MauveShirt he]] really gets.]]
** The Great Gozu threatening Munakata should he act out of line.
** [[ShrinkingViolet Mitarai]] is introduced bumping into Kirigiri in the hallway, acting nervous and being late for the meeting itself.
* EtTuBrute: Yet again, the Mastermind enforces betrayal by means of a killing game. Several NG Codes are geared towards this, but they're hardly needed once paranoia and fear set in. The most notable instances include [[spoiler: Ruruka murdering her lover by setting off his NG Code, and Munakata's murder of both his mentor and his best friend]].
** As it turns out, even before the game, [[spoiler: Chisa was a traitor to Munakata.]]
* EveryoneWentToSchoolTogether: All the Future Foundation leaders present are former students or faculty of Hope's Peak Academy. Not all of them attended school at the same time, however. Still, more than half of them attended in the same five year span.
* ExpositoryHairstyleChange: Everyone has their hairstyle changed to some degree. Makoto has cut his hair shorter, Kyoko has undone her braid and now ties her hair in a ponytail, Aoi's hair is slightly longer and in a lower ponytail and Yasuhiro's is now tied back.
* ExtremelyShortTimespan: The killing game takes place over the course of a single night, with the main conflict being resolved just as the sun rises.
* FalseFlagOperation: [[spoiler: The Final Killing Game is one orchestrated by Chairman Tengan to press Mitarai into enacting a HeelFaceBrainwashing scheme on the entire planet. Ultimate Despair has [[NotMeThisTime no role]] in the killing game this time, only represented at all in the storyline by [[BrainwashedAndCrazy Chisa]], the first victim, and Monaca, who is only spectating on her own and shortly thereafter says ScrewThisImOutOfHere and takes off for space.]]
* ForeverWar: Apparently, in what seems to be at least a year in-universe, the battle between [[VideoGame/DanganronpaAnotherEpisodeUltraDespairGirls the children and adults of Towa City]] is ''still'' going on. This is despite the destructive battle in the source game being about a week long.
* ForgottenFallenFriend: Averted to hell and back. When Makoto starts succumbing to the brainwashing, he starts having visions of ''all'' of his fallen classmates from the very first ''Danganronpa'' game, [[spoiler:which now includes Kirigiri]].
** Kimura and Juzo seem to remember all those that died in the game.
** Played straight with [[spoiler:Ruruka]], whom nobody remembers and was not even mentioned after [[spoiler:her]] death, even though they must have assumed someone died during the fourth sleeping period.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Wouldn't be DR without this:
** The OP has plenty.
*** In the beginning montage of the participants, Tengan is shown striking an action pose, hinting at the later revelation to him being a tough old man.
*** Each one of the death images in the intro demonstrates how each participant will be killed. [[spoiler: Though not in the way you might think - they're symbolic representations of the characters' deaths.]]
*** Aoi Asahina's death image shows her stabbed with a knife. [[spoiler:Guess what happens to her in Episode 2?]] [[spoiler:[[RedHerring Or rather not]], since it turns out to be nothing more than a toy knife and some tomato sauce. The ''real'' knife ended up in the actual victim noted below.]]
*** Daisaku Bandai's death image shows him grabbing his chest. [[spoiler: He would later do the same action while dying from poison]].
*** The Great Gozu's death image shows his corpse being hung from chains. [[spoiler:As the ''real'' victim of Episode 2, we see him hanging from the ceiling, tied up in electrical wires, and he's the one who got stabbed with a real knife.]]
*** Juzo Sakakura's death image shows him being cut by a katana, [[spoiler:foreshadowing Munakata's betrayal.]] [[spoiler: Juzo being cut in half also refers to his death by blood loss, caused when he cut off a part of his body (his arm) to get rid of the bracelet.]]
*** Miaya Gekkougahara's death image is being vertically split in half. Ultimately, [[spoiler:she was "killed" in the exact same manner as her death image]].
*** Kyoko Kirigiri's death image is her being hung by a rope, [[spoiler:a common method of suicide. One can argue that by violating her NG code by refusing to kill Makoto before the 4th round she technically committed suicide.]]
*** Sonosuke Izayoi's death image is him being burned while tied to a cross, [[spoiler:a combination of Joan of Arc's and Jesus's deaths - both known martyrs.]] [[spoiler:Letting himself die so his girlfriend can live makes Izayoi a pretty big martyr.]]
*** Kazuo Tengan's death image is him being electrocuted by live wires. [[spoiler:He was strangled by his many convictions to different parties and ultimately dies because of them.]]
*** Ryota Mitarai's death image is him being hit by arrows, [[spoiler:the same arrows as the ones from Tengan's chuusen. Sure enough, Tengan completely and utterly fucks Mitarai over.]]
*** During the opening, there is [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/danganronpa/images/1/1b/Danganronpa_3_%28Future_Arc%29_-_OP_02_%28Textless%29_%2839%29.png/revision/latest?cb=20190104140717 an image of the Future Foundation building with a very detailed reflection of it]]. [[spoiler:It's revealed that the "reflection" is in fact an actual building located below the original building, under the sea]].
** Tons towards Gekkougahara [[spoiler:being Monaka's robotic avatar.]]
*** [[spoiler:Her design is very, very similar to Monaka's. Both have the same distinct hair clumps, both sit in wheelchairs and the ScarfOfAsskicking even mimics the ribbon on Monaka's DRAE outfit.]]
*** When the voice actors were being revealed, Gekkougahara was revealed with Asahina, Hagakure and Monomi. [[spoiler:All three of those are returning characters, hinting that she was someone fans already knew.]]
*** Despite being purportedly a Therapist, Gekkougahara is completely mute and seems to have a massive expertise in electronics. [[spoiler:Monaka was a well-established robotics expert.]]
*** When everyone [[spoiler:is taking votes on who the traitor could be]] Kizakura casually points at Gekkougahara on a hunch. Keep in mind that he's described to have a good intuition, and he's a talent scout, so it's his job to figure out when people have talents... [[spoiler:Like deception.]]
*** Gekkougahara's death image shows absolutely no blood and she never once blinks. [[spoiler:Both of these make a lot more sense when you know she's a robot.]]
*** Gekkougahara claims that her Forbidden Action was to turn right, but when told to escape with Naegi she turns right, [[spoiler:and yet she's somehow unharmed.]]
** Notice how, despite Monokuma saying the Final Killing is being broadcast, there isn't a single camera in plain view? [[spoiler:That's because, as Episode 6 reveals, that fact is a complete and utter lie.]]
** Despite Munakata's hypothesis that the mastermind's ultimate plan requires Naegi alive, [[spoiler:Monaka mentions that she's helping Naegi and Asahina because they amuse her.]] Turns out that [[spoiler:Monaka isn't the BigBad.]]
** Three of the NG Actions revealed in Episode 8 were heavily hinted at by prior episodes; [[spoiler:Sakakura, despite his talent, is never shown punching anyone (using either weapons or his legs), Izayoi throughout the killing game kept rejecting Andou's sweets (despite unquestionably eating them in every other instance), and Kizakura is always shown with his left hand in his pocket.]]
** Kyoko appears horrified when she checks her bracelet in Episode 2. [[spoiler:That's because it's "passing the fourth time limit with Makoto Naegi alive".]]
** Kyoko noticing the lack of the dent in the wall left by Izayoi and avoiding using the Secret Exit hinted at the secret behind the game stage.
** There were actually plenty of hints to the identity of the attacker, [[spoiler:or attackers,]] before the reveal in Episode 11.
*** The most significant one being [[spoiler:the brightly lit monitors next to the body of each victim]].
*** During the case of the second victim [[spoiler:Gozu was closer to the monitor than Naegi, Asahina, and Gekkougahara]].
*** The closed-room cases of the second and fourth victims, [[spoiler:Gozu and Ruruka]], especially since [[spoiler:no one was near Ruruka during the time of her death]].
*** In episode 7, Monaca states that [[spoiler:she didn't know who the mastermind was, even though she would have likely seen the attacker, due to Gekkougahara being active during the sleep cycles, indicating that the attacker and the mastermind were not one in the same]].
** In Episode 3, Tengan is rather lax when they wake up after the second sleeping time, which Kyoko notes. [[spoiler:This foreshadows that he knows the mechanics of the game.]]
*** Likewise, the fact that [[spoiler:Tengan already seemed to know Sakakura's NG Code.]]
** After Kizakura figures out Sakakura's Forbidden Action ([[spoiler:"attacking someone barehanded"]]), he observes that the game would be extremely one-sided if Sakakura didn't have his RestrainingBolt. The same applies to one other key participant: [[spoiler:Mitarai, whose Brainwashing Video would allow him to instantly pacify everyone if he was allowed to use it]].
** When the group [[spoiler: discuss Tengan's dying message, Mitarai stares at his phone and starts muttering]]. It later turns out that [[spoiler: the "hope" Tengan was referring to was the brainwashing program on Mitarai's phone.]]
* FormulaBreakingEpisode: The DeadlyGame in ''Side:Future'' is ''not'' the Mutual Killing from previous game, being a TenLittleMurderVictims scenario closer to events in the side novels.
* FourIsDeath: [[spoiler: Kyoko's NG Code is "Allow Makoto Naegi to survive past the fourth time limit". Also, four people triggered their NG Codes, and four people successfully committed suicide due to the despair anime.]]
* FreezeFrameBonus: In episode 9, when the group rush towards [[spoiler:Kyoko's not moving body]], a tiny bottle can be seen rolling away on the ground. [[spoiler: It turns out in ''Side:Hope'' that it was actually a special drug Kyoko obtained from Seiko's body, which allowed her to avoid being killed by the poison.]]
* GrossUpCloseUp: [[spoiler:Leon Kuwata]]'s bloody, bruised face in [[spoiler: Naegi's brainwashing dream in episode 11]].
* HappyEndingOverride: ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair'' ended on a relatively hopeful if ambiguous note with Naegi seeing the Remnants of Despair off. From the first episode, it's shown that Naegi got court-martialed, much of the Future Foundation besides his friends hate him and everyone gets thrown into another DeadlyGame. [[spoiler: ''Side:Future'' Episode 6 shows things aren't going so hot for the Remnants either.]]
* AHouseDivided: Despite being trapped in a killing game, most of the Future Foundation members are more interested in settling personal grudges rather than actually trying to find the killer.
* InMediasRes: The first two episodes ColdOpen at roughly the halfway point of each episode.
* InterfaceSpoiler: A variation; on the official website, characters are divided into two sets, the initial cast and important additions are added to one portion, while more minor characters or un-recurring characters are added to a second set. [[spoiler:After Episode 4, Monaka was added to the latter, giving away that she had a more minor role than first impressions would have you believe.]]
* InternalReveal:
** In Episode 10, Munakata finally reveals that [[spoiler:Chisa is one of the Remnants of Despair]].
** In Episode 11, [[spoiler:Sakakura reveals to Naegi that Junko blackmailed him from telling Munakata about her actions. And Mitarai reveals that Junko used his animation techniques to create her brainwashing videos]].
* {{Irony}}: The whole mess started when the most powerful members of the Future Foundation wanted to execute Naegi for becoming a "traitor" and shielding the Remnants of Despair, maintaining that only death was an appropriate punishment for Hajime and Co's despair-filled actions. [[spoiler:Not only does it turn out that Naegi is one of the very few members of the FF who ''wouldn't'' turn on his friends at the slightest provocation, the FF has always been sheltering one of the most dangerous Remnants - Chisa, who played a major role in dragging her class into Junko's clutches. And, unlike class 77-B (plus Hajime), she's been running around unchecked]].
* IronicEcho: "As long as there is despair in people's hearts". That phrase is used in the first and last episode of ''Side: Future'' and what that phrase implies changes between these episode. In the first episode, Monokuma uses that phrase to explain why he's still alive but in the last episode [[spoiler:Mitari uses that phrase to justify his plan to brainwash people to good.]]
* JuxtaposedHalvesShot: In the OP, Naegi and Kirigiri both have their faces juxtaposed against Monokuma: Naegi against the black half, and Kirigiri against the white.
* KillTheCutie: [[spoiler:Chisa Yukizome]] is the series' first casualty. [[spoiler: However, as of Episode 10, she appears far less cute due to her apparent slaughter of a preschool. Episode 9 of ''Side:Despair'' does show that she was brainwashed by Junko, but that doesn't make her actions any less horrific.]]
* LightIsNotGood: Munakata and [[PinkMeansFeminine Andou]] are heavily associated with clear colors, they are also two of the biggest jerks of the franchise, both being disliked by the fandom. [[spoiler: Yukizome is also associated with bright colors, however it's revealed that she was a Remnant of Despair in episode 10.]]
* LostInTranslation: For Makoto's ShutUpHannibal moment towards [[spoiler:Munakata]] in episode 10, Funimation decided to translate his response as "That's not hope!" Anyone who knows Japanese will know that he's actually saying his counter-argument CatchPhrase, "No, that's wrong[[note]]Sore wa chigau yo[[/note]]!"
* MetaphoricallyTrue:
** [[spoiler: Everyone thought, when they found the secret exit, that they would be able to leave the building and leave the game, but it turns out the exit is a dead end and the building they're in is at the bottom of the ocean. But the room also leads to the power room that can shut off all the power in the building, including the monitors that drove the victims into committing suicide and everyone's bracelets, so technically they were able to leave the game]].
** [[spoiler:Tengen claims he's not the attacker, but says that everyone has the potential to be. He also reveals that his forbidden action is to answer a question with a lie. It's later revealed that all the victims were simply brainwashed into committing suicide - so technically, he was telling the truth.]]
* MindScrew: The ending of episode 12 [[spoiler:returns to the deceased Yukizome and the theater from ''Side:Despair'', except this time, the equally deceased ''Junko'' joins her.]]
* MiseryPoker: Munakata's attitude towards Naegi is based on this: basically, he believes that being mind-wiped and stuck in a building with a psychopath forcing you and your friends to kill each other is ''nothing'' compared to Munakata's struggles in the disaster-struck outside world, therefore Munakata, having "suffered" more, has more right than Naegi to talk about "hope" and decide what needs to be done.
* TheMole: There's one in the Future Foundation, murdering people when they're unconscious. [[spoiler: There's actually at least two, with Monaka-as-Gekkougahara in cahoots with the real BigBad. Yukizome was definitely one, up until her death, being a brainwashed member of Ultimate Despair.]]
** [[spoiler: Subverted in that the "attacker" turns out to be the victims themselves.]]
* MoodWhiplash: The ending of Episode 9. Makoto and the others start waking up after another Sleep Phase, and they are all in high spirits after having survived it. But then, Makoto notices something: [[spoiler:Kirigiri isn't moving and is bleeding from her left eye, both clear signs that her NG code has triggered and killed her.]] The rest of the episode takes a ''sharp'' nosedive in tone.
* MouthToMouthForceFeeding: During the final murdergame, Ando and Izayoi come across what seems like a door leading outside the building, only for Ando to use the kiss to slip a macaron into Izayoi's mouth, thus triggering his Forbidden Action, and by extension, killing him by doing so. He's completely fine with it, though, but she did do it because she thought that they were going to activate ''ANDO'S'' Forbidden Action, thus forcing her to do it because she thought it was going to save herself from death.
* OfficialCouple: Andou and Izayoi mark the first instance the franchise has pulled this card for a pairing out of the starting gate.
** Munakata and Yukizome are heavily implied to be this, having started a relationship between the two sides of the anime.
* OffscreenMomentOfAwesome: In the time between episodes 6 and 10, [[spoiler: Class 77-B managed to repel an entire Future Foundation fleet and steal one of their ships for themselves.]]
* OpeningNarration: Kyoko narrates the introduction to the Remnants of Despair in the first episode.
* PoorCommunicationKills: While revealing one's NG code is incredibly dangerous, especially with the traitor around, it's also possible for allies to accidentally kill each other if they don't know each others' codes. [[spoiler:Such as when Sakakura gave Mitarai a knee to the gut, inadvertently triggering Bandai's NG code, "Witnessing Violence Between Participants".]]
** Arguably the cause of the rift between [[spoiler: Seiko and Ruruka, leading to their conflict and, ultimately, death. Ruruka thought Seiko was constantly rejecting her sweets because she didn't think they were good enough, and Seiko came to believe that Ruruka was ultimately just using her for her skills and medicines. The truth was that Seiko's condition meant that sugar could be lethal in combination with her medicines, and Ruruka thought she was trying to show Seiko how amazing she thought she was with her talents to get her to try her sweets. If the two had sat down and really talked it out, they might have come to an understanding.]]
* ThePsychoRangers[=/=]SimilarSquad: Munakata, Yukizome, and Sakakura to Naegi, Kirigiri, and Asahina, respectively. Although [[TokenGoodTeammate Yukizome]] never actually antagonized the 78th class trio, [[spoiler: it was confirmed in Epiosde 10 that she is a BrainwashedAndCrazy member of Ultimate Despair]].
** Munakata to Naegi: Both are the charismatic, de facto leaders of their respective groups that work to restore the world and eliminate despair. The difference being is that Munakata is a skilled fighter that believes in MightMakesRight, while Naegi is a NonActionGuy that believes in RightMakesMight.
** Yukizome to Kirigiri: Both are skilled investigators, and serve as the apparently devoted LoveInterests to Munakata and Naegi, respectively. However, in terms of personality, they are complete opposites. Yukizome is usually friendly, energetic but occasionally can be abrasive, while Kirigiri is usually distant and calm, but occasionally has her tender moments. There is also the dark implication that Chisa [[spoiler: has been slowly driving Munakata to despair]], while Kirigiri has done everything she can to keep Naegi hopeful and optimistic.
** Sakakura to Asahina: Both have ultimate talents relating to competitive sports. Arguably, they are the most physically capable of their respective trio. Both are extremely devoted to their friends and will go to great lengths to support and protect them. The main difference between them is that Sakakura usually acts like a {{Jerkass}} to almost everybody, while Asahina is a generally friendly person.
* RecapEpisode: PlayedForLaughs in Episode 9 when Monokuma sets the episode up as one, then immediately drops it.
* RecurringElement: Many points of this arc are similar to the first two games.
** The presence of the GentleGiant, Great Gozu, similar to Sakura in the first game and Nekomaru in the second. [[spoiler:Similarly to them, he also dies.]]
** The first death is [[spoiler:of someone who got the spotlight enough so that it wouldn't be thinkable that they would die. Yukizome was introduced as if she was going to play a major role in the show.]]
** Ruruka Andou represents [[spoiler:the girl who goes crazy midway through the game and kills two other characters, as she killed Izayoi and Kizakura. Just like Celeste in the first game and Mikan in the second.]]
*** In episode 9, she represents another one: [[spoiler:She is the last official victim to be "murdered" and the most brutal death of the game. Similar to Nagito and Mukuro.]]
** A person in the game is told that if they are to survive, one other has to die. Instead, they choose to end their own life, rather than be forced to kill another to survive. They also ensure that they can help the remaining people to survive, even after death. It was Sakura Oogami in the first game, Chiaki in the second, and here it's [[spoiler:Kyoko Kirigiri]].
*** The final death of a participant of the killing game was a [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice]]. In the first game, Sakura killed herself so the killing between friends would stop, in the second, Chiaki gave herself to execution so Nagito's plans would fail. This time, [[spoiler:Juzo, of all people, uses his dying breaths and all his HeroicWillpower to shut down the building's energy and stop the killing game, saving Munakata, Makoto, Asahina and Mitarai]].
** The number of survivors of the Final Killing Game ends up being [[spoiler: roughly the same, 5-6 participants (either 5 or 6, depending on one's point of view),]] as the previous two. The survivors were [[spoiler: Naegi, Munakata, Asahina, Mitarai, Sakakura, and the seemly dead, Kirigiri]]. However, [[spoiler: Juzo dies shortly after the Final Killing Game ends]].
*** Additional, most of the survivors follow the same archetypes of the previous killing game survivors, including [[spoiler: TheProtagonist (Makoto), the [[MsFanservice attractive]] [[AmbiguouslyBrown dark-skinned]] girl (Asahina), the well-dressed {{Jerkass}} who TookALevelInKindness (Munakata, like Byakuya and Fuyuhiko before him.), and the easily frightened/timid guy (Ryota, like Hagakure and Kazuichi before him)]].
** The characters executed for violating their NG codes seem to parallel the order of executed characters of [=SDR2=], excluding Mikan.
*** The first NG Code violator was [[spoiler: Bandai, who happened to be the participant with the NonstandardCharacterDesign]], much like Teruteru, the first executed character of [=SDR2=].
*** The second NG Code violator was [[spoiler: Izayoi]], who happened to share a lot of similarities to Peko. [[spoiler: Both acted as a calm, devoted bodyguard for the person they loved (Ruruka and Fuyuhiko), and ultimately died for them]].
*** Here the order skips over Mikan, as the third NG Code violator, [[spoiler: Koichi]], seems to parallel Gundham instead. Both [[spoiler: Koichi and Gundham are intelligent BunnyEarsLawyer what were able to utilize the traps set up in the building they were trapped in to their advantage. Both also ended up being executed as a result of a HeroicSacrifice]].
*** The final NG Code violator ends being [[spoiler: Kyoko who, like AI Chiaki, was the leading female character and the apparent LoveInterest of the TheProtagonist]].
* RedEyesTakeWarning: The Remnants of Despair are all shown with red glowing eyes in the introduction.
** [[spoiler: Naegi himself after viewing Monokuma's Gloomy Sunday.]]
** Sakakura, as TheBrute, has blood colored eyes.
** [[spoiler: Hajime's glowing red eye at the end of Episode 6.]]
** [[spoiler: The robotic receptionist seen when Togami and his men enter the building at the end of episode 8, just before the building blows up.]]
* RedHerring: In search of the mastermind, Komaru and Toko try to [[spoiler: find Monaca inside her oddly [[NeonSignHideout Neon Signed Tower]]]]. [[spoiler: After being ambushed they find Monaca inside a Monokuma themed van playing videogames]]. Confused, they ask what was going on. [[spoiler: Monaca explains that it was [[NotMeThisTime Not Her This Time]]; she was only there observe Makoto Naegi]]. Although despite that, [[spoiler: she killed Miaya and took her persona as a robot, and made Aoi look dead like a corpse just because [[ItAmusedMe It Amused Her]]]]. Along with this information they were also [[CrypticConversation told a hint]]. Panicked, the two immediately contact Future Foundation. [[spoiler: Komaru told her brother Makoto that Monaca has no involvement in this killing game, and warns him that if he makes a wrong move, one his colleagues from the school killing game will die in the final killing game]].
* RedSkyTakeWarning: The world after The Tragedy has a perpetually red, cloudy sky.
* {{Revenge}}: Seiko and Andou use the DeadlyGame they are caught in as justification for attempting to murder each other, but really they are just trying settle the score they had back in high school.
* SadisticChoice: A few of the NG Codes are specifically designed to force this on the wearer, specifically [[spoiler: Ruruka's (prevent anyone from escaping or die herself) and Kyoko's (ensure that Naegi dies or perish after the fourth time limit)]]. Others aren't as explicit about this, but end up having the same effect [[spoiler:like Kizakura's (let his best friend's daughter die or break his NG code and die himself)]].
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: [[spoiler:Monaca gives up trying to be Junko's successor after she realizes the pointlessness of trying to fight hope, as well as having no desire to end up becoming someone like Nagito. Instead, Monaca decides to exile herself into space to live as a NEET.]]
* SenselessSacrifice: A few characters make noble sacrifices that fail to achieve the intended result. [[spoiler:Kizakura dies to save Kyoko, but she's already doomed if she lets Naegi survive the next knockout -- and she refuses to kill her friend. Izayoi accepts Ruruka's betrayal gracefully, refusing to fight back or seek vengeance as she kills him...but she's the next victim.]]
** [[spoiler: Somewhat averted in the first instance in that, while Kirigiri still died, if Kizakura hadn't saved her, she wouldn't have been able to galvanize Naegi's determination before he confronted Munakata, and Asahina wouldn't have found her notebook and discovered the truth about the killings.]]
* ShipTease: One can make a case that Makoto and Aoi have a decent amount of ship tease. Makoto and Aoi spend most of the anime together with Aoi being his main protector. They have several moments where they comfort and support each other. When Aoi passes out from the poison in episode 11 her last thought is of Makoto. [[spoiler:This all ends up being negated in the end since [[ImpliedLoveInterest Kyoko]] survives to have a heavily implied HappilyEverAfter with him after her own heavy bout of it.]]
* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: Makoto and Munakata in particular represent a conflict of this, with Makoto representing the "idealistic" voice that believes Despair can be rehabilitated, whereas Munakata's "cynical" stance argues that [[KillEmAll eliminating it entirely]] is the only option.
* SocialDeductionGame: The Future Foundation members are forced to play an InUniverse killing game where each member wears a wrist band with a 'forbidden action' that will trigger a lethal injection if the victim does it. The band also forces everyone to sleep at specific intervals while an attacker is given enough time to kill one person, so the players must either root out the traitor or die. [[spoiler:It's subverted since there is no attacker, one person is always left awake every interval and forced to kill themselves by watching a brainwashing video.]]
* SkywardScream: [[spoiler: Munakata at the end of his confrontation with Naegi in Episode 10, when he finds out that Yukizome was EvilAllAlong.]]
* TheStinger: Episode 5 has one. [[spoiler: Munakata patches himself up and injects himself with what looks like the same serum that made Kimura hulk out.]]
** In Episode 8, [[spoiler: Togami and his team finally enter the building. However, they end up triggering a bomb in the process, destroying the building.]]
** In Episode 10, [[spoiler: a boat is sailing away from Jabberwock Island.]]
** In Episode 11, [[spoiler: Mitarai, while talking to Naegi, receives a text message from Tengan.]]
** In Episode 12, [[spoiler: Naegi [[BigDamnHeroes is saved by Hagakure and Togami]], and Izuru/Hajime is shown walking towards into the Future Foundation building after having defeated an army of brainwashed soldiers. This is soon followed by the words, "[[ToBeContinued Continued on the hope side]]".]]
* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome:
** Despite being TheHero, Munakata correctly notes that Naegi's NonActionGuy status is a massive detriment to everyone outside of the Mutual Killing. Sure enough, Naegi is basically stuck as TheLoad, requiring his friends to bail him out of danger due to his inability to fight back.
** The mastermind of this particular game demonstrates a particular reason Junko carried things out as she did. [[spoiler:When the mastermind is out and openly in the middle of a very high-tension, life-and-death situation, as opposed to hiding behind an avatar like Monokuma, he isn't going to have PlotArmor; if someone susses him out, they can absolutely kill him like anyone else. Munakata does exactly that to Tengan.]]
* TheGoodTheBadAndTheEvil: Makoto and those willing to hear him out are the good, those in the Future Foundation wanting to prosecute him are the bad, and Monokuma and the traitor are the evil. [[spoiler: Monaca ends up fitting [[HazyFeelTurn neither]], and Munakata does a HeelFaceTurn back to Good; considering everybody else is dead, there's just the Good and the Evil by now]].
* ThreeLinesSomeWaiting: Generally speaking, there are three main plotlines, each spotlighting a main character:
** Naegi, Asahina, and Gekkougahara's efforts to survive the Final Killing.
** Kirigiri and Mitarai's investigation into the murders.
** Munakata's [[spoiler: slow descent into despair and insanity.]]
* TonightSomeoneDies: At the end of Episode 7, [[spoiler:Monaca claims that Makoto's actions are going to lead to the death of one of his classmates (which the ending {{Cliffhanger}} heavily suggests is Kirigiri at Munakata's hands). Since she isn't the mastermind, and shouldn't know what's going to happen, it remains to be seen how this will pan out.]]
** Subverted until Episode 9. [[spoiler: Kirigiri ends up dying thanks to her forbidden action: "Makoto Naegi survives past the Fourth Phase."]]
* TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth:
** Bandai is a NiceGuy who is in charge of food distribution in the war-torn world. He gets killed rather unfairly due to his [[UnwinnableByDesign NG Code forbidding him from witnessing violence]].
** [[GentleGiant The Great Gozu]] saves Naegi from Munakata and encourages him to keep his hopes up despite the situation, only to be murdered by the attacker during the next sleep phase.
** [[TokenGoodTeammate Seiko]], despite being part of the radical faction, just wants to help people with her medicine, to the point where she's willing to treat her ideological rivals' wounds. During the third sleep phase, she's brutally crucified by the attacker.
** Kizakura promised to Jin Kirigiri that he would protect his daughter, and he does so when he activates his NG Code to save Kyoko from a pit trap.
** [[spoiler:Subverted with Yukizome and Tengan, who are seemingly sympathetic when they are killed, but later it's revealed that the former is a brainwashed mole for Ultimate Despair and the latter is the mastermind.]]
* {{Troll}}: Considering how they [[spoiler:set up an elaborate, prank-like ruse to make it seem like Aoi was dead just to mess with Makoto]], its safe to say that the traitor is this. [[spoiler: Subverted, it was just Monaka being a childish dick.]]
* VillainBasedFranchise: It wouldn't be ''Danganronpa'' if Monokuma didn't show up. He's returned for one last shot at driving the members of the Future Foundation into despair and murder. Subverted however, in that Monokuma is ultimately DemotedToExtra.
* TheUnreveal: In Episode 3, [[spoiler:after Great Gozu is killed his mask is removed only to reveal a paper cloth covering his face, which isn't removed for whatever reason.]] [[spoiler:It was purposely done by Kirigiri; she had to remove his mask to examine both it and his eye wounds, but she wanted to respect the fact that, for whatever reason, he wanted tohide his true identity.]]
** More significantly, in Episode 5 [[spoiler: Tengan reveals to Munakata who the attacker is]], but the viewer is unable to hear due to the audio being muted.
** Happens again in Episode 7 when [[spoiler: Monaka reveals she knows who will be killed due to Makoto]] only to refuse to actually answer and instead leave.
** And happens yet again in Episode 10, which ends with [[spoiler: Asahina and Mitarai finding Naegi and Munakata and revealing they know who the attacker is thanks to Kirigiri's notes]], only for the episode to instantly cut to the credits after Naegi and Munakata's reactions.
* UnwinnableByDesign: [[spoiler: Even though no one died after the fifth time limit, the bracelets were still active and the game continued. By conjecture from the mastermind's last message, this is intentional as a way to wipe out the entire Foundation. How intentional this was could be debatable, however, as by this point the mastermind was already dead.]]
* WeaksauceWeakness: The bracelets, worn by the participants, injects its owner with a sleeping drug every two hours, leaving them vulnerable to the Atacker. It also contains a lethal poison, which will be injected in the participant if they violate the Forbidden Action.
** Averted with Miaya Gekkougahara, whose Forbidden Action is [[spoiler:"turning right"]]. Since [[spoiler:the Miaya present in the Final Killing game is a gynoid, neither the poison for violating the forbidden action nor the sleeping drug has any affect on her.]]
* WhamEpisode: [[WordOfGod Kazutaka Kodaka]] openly said he hopes every episode surprises you. Needless to say, he succeeded with flying colours:
** Episode 4 has multiple big bombshells occurring at once; [[spoiler: the 76th trio were all students expelled from Hope's Peak Academy, Tengan manages to talk Munakata down after getting impaled and Gekkougahara is outed as being actually a robotic avatar for Monaka Towa.]]
** Episode 5: [[spoiler: Munakata goes completely off the deep end, killing Tengan and more or less falling into despair. And it's ''heavily'' implied that the traitor's identity is what causes him to snap, which certainly has dark implications...]]
** Episode 6: Holy. Shit. [[spoiler: Izayoi is found dead. Naegi gets a message out to Togami, who reveals that Munakta's sending the Future Foundation's Peacekeeping Force to Jabberwock Island, and Togami agrees to come help them. After the broadcast, Togami and his men talk about how the real Miaya has been murdered. Togami contacts Toko and Komaru, presumably to go and find Monaca, who they believe is in Towa City. And, of course, see WhamShot below for the final scene.]]
** Episode 7: [[spoiler: Surprise, Monaka ''isn't'' the BigBad, or even close to it. The episode then ends in Munakata seemingly about to kill Kirigiri.]]
** Episode 8: [[spoiler: Andou is confirmed to be Izayoi's murderer, and her NG code will kill her if anybody exits the building. Kizakura dies saving Kirigiri; she, Sakakura and Mitarai find the secret exit, and Togami and the rest of the Future Foundation (sans Hagakure) enter the building... just to activate a security system that seems to be making the whole building collapse.]]
** Episode 9 takes the cake with [[spoiler: (Robo)Miaya, Juzo, Ruruka and Kirigiri all getting killed, the former two by Munakata, along with the discovery that the facility the killing game is taking place in has been underwater all along.]]
** Episode 10: [[spoiler: Yukizome was a despair, Munakata pulls a HeelFaceTurn and, at long last, the remaining participants learn the attacker's identity.]]
** Episode 11: [[spoiler:It's revealed that all of the "attacker's" victims actually committed suicide after watching a brainwashing video, Juzo is revealed to be alive and saves Makoto from killing himself, and then he dies after forcefully stopping the game.]]
** '''Episode 12''': [[spoiler: It turns out that Tengan was the BigBad, having organized the Final Killing game for his plan to spread "hope". Oh, and Mitarai decide to [[TakingUpTheMantle continue Tengan's idea of hope ]][[BrainwashingForTheGreaterGood by ''brainwashing the world'']] .]]
* WhamLine: In Episode 10. [[spoiler: "The killing is over! I found out who the attacker is!"]]
* WhamShot:
** At the end of Episode 2, after the sleeping drug knocks everyone out and the attacker strikes, [[spoiler:Makoto awakens and finds Aoi seemingly stabbed in the stomach. It was actually fake.]]
** Episode 4 ends with a shot of [[spoiler:Monaca Towa controlling a robot Gekkogahara, dressed up in her Junko-esque outfit from the end of ''VideoGame/UltraDespairGirls'']].
** Episode 6 ends with [[spoiler: Munakata's peacekeeping forces heading to Jabberwock island, with someone who looks like Hajime watching them from a dock. The final shot has a closeup of his eye, which opens to reveal a red pupil as he says "This is so boring."]]
** Episode 8 ends with [[spoiler: Byakuya's team accidentally triggering a bomb inside the Future Foundation base, causing the building to start sinking]].
** At the end of Episode 9, [[spoiler: when everyone awakens, they discover Kirigiri has died due to her forbidden action.]]
** The end of Episode 11 shows [[spoiler:Ryota's cell phone with a text from the thought-to-be deceased Tengan.]]
* WhateverHappenedToTheMouse: In Episode 12, [[spoiler: it's deduced that Mitarai wasn't supposed to attend the hearing, implying that someone called him to it against Tengan's will]]. Whoever that person is is never revealed, as the point is completely dropped in ''Side:Hope''.
* WhatTheHellHero: Downplayed. [[spoiler: Before Makoto decides to confront Munakata once and for all, Mitarai calls out Makoto for just leaving Kirigiri's body behind and not feeling sad about her death. Makoto explains that while he is sad that she's dead, he understands why she would sacrifice herself and he has to push forward for her.]]
----
* AllForNothing: [[spoiler: Andou's attempts to keep everyone from leaving through the secret exit to prevent her NG code from being broken, like attempting to kill Kirigiri, was all for nothing because the exit was a dead end and they're at the bottom of the ocean. To add insult to injury, she ends up being the fourth victim of the killer]].
* AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs: The Future Foundation's headquarters is attacked in the first episode.
* AnyoneCanDie[=/=]DwindlingParty: It wouldn't be ''Danganronpa'' without this. By the end of the anime, the only survivors are [[spoiler: Makoto, his classmates, Mitarai and Munakata]].
* ArcWords: "I just wanted to save everyone." and "Where did everything go wrong?"
* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: The arc opens by showing the Remnants of Despair running rampant and causing atrocities. Kazuichi makes killer robots, Gundham unleashes a horde of animals, Mikan tortures a guy and Nagito... gets enslaved by children. Granted said children were evil, but still.
* ArtisticLicenceBiology: In Episode 5 [[spoiler: Tengan]] ends up with a SlashedThroat that produces some serious HighPressureBlood, only to hang on say a few words before dying. While surviving for a little while after one's throat is cut is easily possible, that amount of blood would only be produced if one cut the deeper arteries, which would have killed him instantly.
* ArtShift: Like before, Fukawa's fantasies are in a slightly different art style, but not to the crazy degree seen in ''VideoGame/UltraDespairGirls''.
* TheArtifact: Probably used deliberately: in the world outside of Hope's Peak, the former students' Ultimate talents don't count for much. If anything, the CripplingOverspecialization comes back to bite them: those with violent talents (Boxer, Blacksmith) can't keep their heads long enough to figure out a plan that doesn't involve hitting things, those with more practical talents (Farmer, Housekeeper) are completely outside their comfort zone (even though we've seen Chisa be effective in the past) as the world goes to hell, and those used to being in control (Student Council President, arguably the ex-Headmaster) expect to be obeyed as a matter of course without doing anything to earn trust and support, and suffer a FreakOut when they're not obeyed. Only the more flexible ex-78th class, who knew better than to rely wholly on their talents, can really make use of them.
* AscendedFridgeHorror: Remember Makoto saving the Remnants of Despair in ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair''? Turns out, that had very, very serious consequences for him.
* AwfulTruth: [[spoiler:In Episode 5 ([[TheUnreveal but not revealed to the audience until Episode 10]]), Tengan informs Munakata that Yukizome (and possibly everyone else involved with Makoto's trial) was corrupted by despair. Munakata also comes to the conclusion that she murdered several children during The Tragedy. This was so shocking that it [[GoMadFromTheRevelation completely shattered]] what was left of Munakata's sanity.]]
** Episode 11: [[spoiler:there never was an attacker to begin with. All the victims were shown a personalized despair video that drove them so crazy with despair that they were brainwashed into committing suicide.]]
** In episode 12, we find out that it really was [[spoiler:Tegan who was the mastermind.]] [[spoiler:Not only that but he wasn't motivated by a desire for despair and destruction.]] [[spoiler:His goal was to expose Mitarai to excessive despair and cruelty in order to push him to his limits. Tegan knew that Mitarai had created a video that could brainwash the whole world into feeling nothing but hope.]] [[spoiler:After the Future Foundation veered onto a the path of extremism (due to Munakata's leadership after Tegan transferred much of his power to him), he eventually became disillusioned with the Foundation and, thanks to the manipulation of a brainwashed Chisa, became so unstable that he belived that humanity could never beat despair and violence on their own.]]
* BaitAndSwitch: Episode 2 ''really'' wants you to think at the end that [[spoiler: Aoi has been killed]]. This is proven to be incorrect by the very next episode.
* BaitAndSwitchCredits: In the tenth episode opening, the survivors' counter claims that [[spoiler:six]] participants are alive, these being: [[spoiler:Makoto Naegi, Aoi Asahina, Ryota Mitarai, Kyosuke Munakata, Juzo Sakakura and Yasuhiro Hagakure]]. However, ''Side: Hope'' reveals that [[spoiler:Kyoko Kirigiri survived thanks to Seiko Kimura's medicine.]]
* BigDamnHeroes: [[spoiler: Juzo does this in Episode 11 to stop Makoto from killing himself.]]
* BlackAndGrayMorality: The Remnants of Despair are TerroristsWithoutACause, whose only goal is to bring death, destruction, and chaos to the entire world. The Future Foundation, an organization dedicated to rebuilding society, is full of [[GoodIsNotNice jerks]] and [[KnightTemplar extremists]], many of whom only seem capable of working together because of their mutual hatred toward despair. They also have little issue with placing execution orders on people they ''suspect'' of being dangerous.
* BlandNameProduct: [[spoiler:Monaka]]'s room in Episode 7 has a box with a "Darazon" logo, with a curved arrow under it similar to the Amazon logo.
* BodyOfTheWeek: Naturally, as soon as the deadly game starts, the Future Foundation members start dropping like flies. And because of the distrust between the members, not much investigating to root out the identity of the traitor happens.
* BolivianArmyEnding: [[spoiler: A wounded and unconscious Asahina is found by the brainwashed soldiers. Munakata is also last seen fighting off the brainwashed soldiers.]]
* BreatherEpisode: Episode 7 is focused entirely on the characters outside the Final Killing and as a result is ''much'' more light-hearted than prior episodes. [[spoiler:[[MoodWhiplash Then the ending happens]].]]
* TheBusCameBack: After being absent in every bit of DR material since the original in contrast to other survivors, Aoi finally returns as a major character. [[spoiler:''Another Episode'' and ''Danganronpa 2'' characters return in Episode 6, when Naegi calls to the Future Foundation outside.]]
* CallBack: Great Gozu lays his coat over [[spoiler: Yukizome]]'s body much like Mondo did for Junko/Mukuro in the anime of the first game. [[spoiler: And then Aoi later does the same thing to ''his'' body.]]
** [[spoiler:Ruruka's]] death is ''very'' similar to Nagito's: impaled, slashed across the limbs, rope/chain somewhere nearby and something stuffed into/across the mouth. [[spoiler:Both deaths were also self-inflicted, and occurred as the victim plunged across the DespairEventHorizon]]. That's not the only reference to Nagito and his demise either -- [[spoiler:after Munakata's attack, Juzo]] ends up impaled through the midriff and minus a left hand.
* CallForward: Archive footage from the Tragedy shows that Fuyuhiko lost his right eye in the real world at some point, just like he does later on in [=SDR2=]'s simulation. Hiyoko and Ibuki are also shown performing together as they do at one point in [=SDR2=].
* CeilingCorpse: [[spoiler:Chisa, Great Gozu and Seiko are all suspended from the ceiling in some way when their bodies are found.]]
* ChekhovsGun: In Episode 2, Asahina tried to use a fire extinguisher on Munakata, but it was defective. In Episode 10, Makoto tries to use that same fire extinguisher against Munakata by throwing it at him. While Munakata deflects it, the fire extinguisher activates and rockets toward Munakata and hits the back of his head.
** In Episode 2, Juzo comments that, with Naegi's luck, it would be easy for him to slip out of ropes if they tied him up. [[spoiler: Guess what happens when Naegi watches the despair anime in Episode 11.]]
** Kimura's Cure W, [[spoiler: which Kirigiri uses to survive her poisoning]].
%%* TheCoatsAreOff: Pretty much everyone does this.
* ContinuityNod:
** When Chisa remarks on Makoto's epithet as "Ultimate Hope", he notes that it wasn't of his responsibility when he decided on it [[VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc (Kyoko actually chose it)]].
** Kirigiri's visibly shown writing in her notebook from the first game.
** During a conversation with Komaru, Naegi ends up referencing the death of [[VideoGame/DanganronpaAnotherEpisodeUltraDespairGirls Yuta Asahina]].
** A very tragic one in Episode 8; [[spoiler:you know that photo of a young Kyoko with her father? Turns out Kizakura was the photographer.]]
* CrapsackWorld: While it was indicated beforehand, this installment hammers home how bad the post Tragedy world is. Even after what's indicated to be at least a year, the world is still wreaked by terrorism and psychopaths. And this is while things are supposedly ''calming down''.
* DarkIsNotEvil: Kimura and Gozu are two characters who are completely dressed in black and associated with dark colors. They are also some of the nicest characters in the show, if not the entire franchise.
* ADayInTheLimelight: Episode 7, is one for the ''VideoGame/DanganronpaAnotherEpisodeUltraDespairGirls'' cast. The episode is even named "Ultra Despair Girls" in homage to this fact.
* DeadlyGame: The Final Killing Game. It's a little different than the previous two, as there are no murder investigations or trials. Instead, everyone is fitted with a bangle that will administer a sleeping drug after a time limit has passed. Once everyone else is asleep, the traitor/attacker has a limited time to kill exactly one person. Everyone also has one action they can't perform, otherwise their bangle will administer a lethal dose of poison. If nobody is killed within the limited window of time, the other participants win. And just like the [[VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc second killing game]], this is all being broadcast live to the entire world. [[spoiler: Except not really.]]
* DeathOfAChild: Episode 10 reveals in a flashback that [[spoiler:Munakata took in children from the Tragedy, only for Chisa to kill them and pass it off as being the actions of someone else as a means to corrupt him. It's implied that this was not a one-off occurrence either.]]
* DiegeticSoundtrackUsage: Nagito is singing the end credits song as he [[spoiler:showers in a waterfall]]. Bonus points for the fact that he canonically sings the EP himself.
* DramaticIrony: Aoi calling Miaya a Warrior of Hope. [[spoiler:While it was meant to be a sign that she considered Miaya an ally, the one controlling her, Monaca, was the leader of the villainous Warriors of Hope in ''VideoGame/UltraDespairGirls''. In fact, Monaca briefly freaks out because she thought Aoi had figured out her true identity.]]
* DyingMomentOfAwesome: [[spoiler:Juzo uses his last moments before bleeding out to FORCEFULLY END THE GAME!]]
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: As expected, Episode 1 functions as one for much of the cast:
** Munakata is introduced loudly declaring that Naegi must be executed and disrespecting Tengan in the process. His scene with [[LivingEmotionalCrutch Yukizome]] proceeds to establish his more emotional side.
** [[NiceGirl Yukizome]]'s scene with Naegi where she tells him that she hopes that he and Munakata can work together for a greater future.
** [[ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption Sakakura]] physically assaulting Naegi after he's placed in handcuffs.
** [[OfficialCouple Andou and Izayoi]] are introduced with Izayoi nestling his head in Andou's lap as she pets it and feeds him sweets. [[AlphaBitch Andou]] proceeds to then start acting abrasive and threatens Asahina with Izayoi, with Izayoi throwing his kunai to prove she's serious.
** Bandai's bizarre voice and WordSaladPhilosophy. [[spoiler: This ends up being all the characterization [[MauveShirt he]] really gets.]]
** The Great Gozu threatening Munakata should he act out of line.
** [[ShrinkingViolet Mitarai]] is introduced bumping into Kirigiri in the hallway, acting nervous and being late for the meeting itself.
* EtTuBrute: Yet again, the Mastermind enforces betrayal by means of a killing game. Several NG Codes are geared towards this, but they're hardly needed once paranoia and fear set in. The most notable instances include [[spoiler: Ruruka murdering her lover by setting off his NG Code, and Munakata's murder of both his mentor and his best friend]].
** As it turns out, even before the game, [[spoiler: Chisa was a traitor to Munakata.]]
* EveryoneWentToSchoolTogether: All the Future Foundation leaders present are former students or faculty of Hope's Peak Academy. Not all of them attended school at the same time, however. Still, more than half of them attended in the same five year span.
* ExpositoryHairstyleChange: Everyone has their hairstyle changed to some degree. Makoto has cut his hair shorter, Kyoko has undone her braid and now ties her hair in a ponytail, Aoi's hair is slightly longer and in a lower ponytail and Yasuhiro's is now tied back.
* ExtremelyShortTimespan: The killing game takes place over the course of a single night, with the main conflict being resolved just as the sun rises.
* FalseFlagOperation: [[spoiler: The Final Killing Game is one orchestrated by Chairman Tengan to press Mitarai into enacting a HeelFaceBrainwashing scheme on the entire planet. Ultimate Despair has [[NotMeThisTime no role]] in the killing game this time, only represented at all in the storyline by [[BrainwashedAndCrazy Chisa]], the first victim, and Monaca, who is only spectating on her own and shortly thereafter says ScrewThisImOutOfHere and takes off for space.]]
* ForeverWar: Apparently, in what seems to be at least a year in-universe, the battle between [[VideoGame/DanganronpaAnotherEpisodeUltraDespairGirls the children and adults of Towa City]] is ''still'' going on. This is despite the destructive battle in the source game being about a week long.
* ForgottenFallenFriend: Averted to hell and back. When Makoto starts succumbing to the brainwashing, he starts having visions of ''all'' of his fallen classmates from the very first ''Danganronpa'' game, [[spoiler:which now includes Kirigiri]].
** Kimura and Juzo seem to remember all those that died in the game.
** Played straight with [[spoiler:Ruruka]], whom nobody remembers and was not even mentioned after [[spoiler:her]] death, even though they must have assumed someone died during the fourth sleeping period.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Wouldn't be DR without this:
** The OP has plenty.
*** In the beginning montage of the participants, Tengan is shown striking an action pose, hinting at the later revelation to him being a tough old man.
*** Each one of the death images in the intro demonstrates how each participant will be killed. [[spoiler: Though not in the way you might think - they're symbolic representations of the characters' deaths.]]
*** Aoi Asahina's death image shows her stabbed with a knife. [[spoiler:Guess what happens to her in Episode 2?]] [[spoiler:[[RedHerring Or rather not]], since it turns out to be nothing more than a toy knife and some tomato sauce. The ''real'' knife ended up in the actual victim noted below.]]
*** Daisaku Bandai's death image shows him grabbing his chest. [[spoiler: He would later do the same action while dying from poison]].
*** The Great Gozu's death image shows his corpse being hung from chains. [[spoiler:As the ''real'' victim of Episode 2, we see him hanging from the ceiling, tied up in electrical wires, and he's the one who got stabbed with a real knife.]]
*** Juzo Sakakura's death image shows him being cut by a katana, [[spoiler:foreshadowing Munakata's betrayal.]] [[spoiler: Juzo being cut in half also refers to his death by blood loss, caused when he cut off a part of his body (his arm) to get rid of the bracelet.]]
*** Miaya Gekkougahara's death image is being vertically split in half. Ultimately, [[spoiler:she was "killed" in the exact same manner as her death image]].
*** Kyoko Kirigiri's death image is her being hung by a rope, [[spoiler:a common method of suicide. One can argue that by violating her NG code by refusing to kill Makoto before the 4th round she technically committed suicide.]]
*** Sonosuke Izayoi's death image is him being burned while tied to a cross, [[spoiler:a combination of Joan of Arc's and Jesus's deaths - both known martyrs.]] [[spoiler:Letting himself die so his girlfriend can live makes Izayoi a pretty big martyr.]]
*** Kazuo Tengan's death image is him being electrocuted by live wires. [[spoiler:He was strangled by his many convictions to different parties and ultimately dies because of them.]]
*** Ryota Mitarai's death image is him being hit by arrows, [[spoiler:the same arrows as the ones from Tengan's chuusen. Sure enough, Tengan completely and utterly fucks Mitarai over.]]
*** During the opening, there is [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/danganronpa/images/1/1b/Danganronpa_3_%28Future_Arc%29_-_OP_02_%28Textless%29_%2839%29.png/revision/latest?cb=20190104140717 an image of the Future Foundation building with a very detailed reflection of it]]. [[spoiler:It's revealed that the "reflection" is in fact an actual building located below the original building, under the sea]].
** Tons towards Gekkougahara [[spoiler:being Monaka's robotic avatar.]]
*** [[spoiler:Her design is very, very similar to Monaka's. Both have the same distinct hair clumps, both sit in wheelchairs and the ScarfOfAsskicking even mimics the ribbon on Monaka's DRAE outfit.]]
*** When the voice actors were being revealed, Gekkougahara was revealed with Asahina, Hagakure and Monomi. [[spoiler:All three of those are returning characters, hinting that she was someone fans already knew.]]
*** Despite being purportedly a Therapist, Gekkougahara is completely mute and seems to have a massive expertise in electronics. [[spoiler:Monaka was a well-established robotics expert.]]
*** When everyone [[spoiler:is taking votes on who the traitor could be]] Kizakura casually points at Gekkougahara on a hunch. Keep in mind that he's described to have a good intuition, and he's a talent scout, so it's his job to figure out when people have talents... [[spoiler:Like deception.]]
*** Gekkougahara's death image shows absolutely no blood and she never once blinks. [[spoiler:Both of these make a lot more sense when you know she's a robot.]]
*** Gekkougahara claims that her Forbidden Action was to turn right, but when told to escape with Naegi she turns right, [[spoiler:and yet she's somehow unharmed.]]
** Notice how, despite Monokuma saying the Final Killing is being broadcast, there isn't a single camera in plain view? [[spoiler:That's because, as Episode 6 reveals, that fact is a complete and utter lie.]]
** Despite Munakata's hypothesis that the mastermind's ultimate plan requires Naegi alive, [[spoiler:Monaka mentions that she's helping Naegi and Asahina because they amuse her.]] Turns out that [[spoiler:Monaka isn't the BigBad.]]
** Three of the NG Actions revealed in Episode 8 were heavily hinted at by prior episodes; [[spoiler:Sakakura, despite his talent, is never shown punching anyone (using either weapons or his legs), Izayoi throughout the killing game kept rejecting Andou's sweets (despite unquestionably eating them in every other instance), and Kizakura is always shown with his left hand in his pocket.]]
** Kyoko appears horrified when she checks her bracelet in Episode 2. [[spoiler:That's because it's "passing the fourth time limit with Makoto Naegi alive".]]
** Kyoko noticing the lack of the dent in the wall left by Izayoi and avoiding using the Secret Exit hinted at the secret behind the game stage.
** There were actually plenty of hints to the identity of the attacker, [[spoiler:or attackers,]] before the reveal in Episode 11.
*** The most significant one being [[spoiler:the brightly lit monitors next to the body of each victim]].
*** During the case of the second victim [[spoiler:Gozu was closer to the monitor than Naegi, Asahina, and Gekkougahara]].
*** The closed-room cases of the second and fourth victims, [[spoiler:Gozu and Ruruka]], especially since [[spoiler:no one was near Ruruka during the time of her death]].
*** In episode 7, Monaca states that [[spoiler:she didn't know who the mastermind was, even though she would have likely seen the attacker, due to Gekkougahara being active during the sleep cycles, indicating that the attacker and the mastermind were not one in the same]].
** In Episode 3, Tengan is rather lax when they wake up after the second sleeping time, which Kyoko notes. [[spoiler:This foreshadows that he knows the mechanics of the game.]]
*** Likewise, the fact that [[spoiler:Tengan already seemed to know Sakakura's NG Code.]]
** After Kizakura figures out Sakakura's Forbidden Action ([[spoiler:"attacking someone barehanded"]]), he observes that the game would be extremely one-sided if Sakakura didn't have his RestrainingBolt. The same applies to one other key participant: [[spoiler:Mitarai, whose Brainwashing Video would allow him to instantly pacify everyone if he was allowed to use it]].
** When the group [[spoiler: discuss Tengan's dying message, Mitarai stares at his phone and starts muttering]]. It later turns out that [[spoiler: the "hope" Tengan was referring to was the brainwashing program on Mitarai's phone.]]
* FormulaBreakingEpisode: The DeadlyGame in ''Side:Future'' is ''not'' the Mutual Killing from previous game, being a TenLittleMurderVictims scenario closer to events in the side novels.
* FourIsDeath: [[spoiler: Kyoko's NG Code is "Allow Makoto Naegi to survive past the fourth time limit". Also, four people triggered their NG Codes, and four people successfully committed suicide due to the despair anime.]]
* FreezeFrameBonus: In episode 9, when the group rush towards [[spoiler:Kyoko's not moving body]], a tiny bottle can be seen rolling away on the ground. [[spoiler: It turns out in ''Side:Hope'' that it was actually a special drug Kyoko obtained from Seiko's body, which allowed her to avoid being killed by the poison.]]
* GrossUpCloseUp: [[spoiler:Leon Kuwata]]'s bloody, bruised face in [[spoiler: Naegi's brainwashing dream in episode 11]].
* HappyEndingOverride: ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair'' ended on a relatively hopeful if ambiguous note with Naegi seeing the Remnants of Despair off. From the first episode, it's shown that Naegi got court-martialed, much of the Future Foundation besides his friends hate him and everyone gets thrown into another DeadlyGame. [[spoiler: ''Side:Future'' Episode 6 shows things aren't going so hot for the Remnants either.]]
* AHouseDivided: Despite being trapped in a killing game, most of the Future Foundation members are more interested in settling personal grudges rather than actually trying to find the killer.
* InMediasRes: The first two episodes ColdOpen at roughly the halfway point of each episode.
* InterfaceSpoiler: A variation; on the official website, characters are divided into two sets, the initial cast and important additions are added to one portion, while more minor characters or un-recurring characters are added to a second set. [[spoiler:After Episode 4, Monaka was added to the latter, giving away that she had a more minor role than first impressions would have you believe.]]
* InternalReveal:
** In Episode 10, Munakata finally reveals that [[spoiler:Chisa is one of the Remnants of Despair]].
** In Episode 11, [[spoiler:Sakakura reveals to Naegi that Junko blackmailed him from telling Munakata about her actions. And Mitarai reveals that Junko used his animation techniques to create her brainwashing videos]].
* {{Irony}}: The whole mess started when the most powerful members of the Future Foundation wanted to execute Naegi for becoming a "traitor" and shielding the Remnants of Despair, maintaining that only death was an appropriate punishment for Hajime and Co's despair-filled actions. [[spoiler:Not only does it turn out that Naegi is one of the very few members of the FF who ''wouldn't'' turn on his friends at the slightest provocation, the FF has always been sheltering one of the most dangerous Remnants - Chisa, who played a major role in dragging her class into Junko's clutches. And, unlike class 77-B (plus Hajime), she's been running around unchecked]].
* IronicEcho: "As long as there is despair in people's hearts". That phrase is used in the first and last episode of ''Side: Future'' and what that phrase implies changes between these episode. In the first episode, Monokuma uses that phrase to explain why he's still alive but in the last episode [[spoiler:Mitari uses that phrase to justify his plan to brainwash people to good.]]
* JuxtaposedHalvesShot: In the OP, Naegi and Kirigiri both have their faces juxtaposed against Monokuma: Naegi against the black half, and Kirigiri against the white.
* KillTheCutie: [[spoiler:Chisa Yukizome]] is the series' first casualty. [[spoiler: However, as of Episode 10, she appears far less cute due to her apparent slaughter of a preschool. Episode 9 of ''Side:Despair'' does show that she was brainwashed by Junko, but that doesn't make her actions any less horrific.]]
* LightIsNotGood: Munakata and [[PinkMeansFeminine Andou]] are heavily associated with clear colors, they are also two of the biggest jerks of the franchise, both being disliked by the fandom. [[spoiler: Yukizome is also associated with bright colors, however it's revealed that she was a Remnant of Despair in episode 10.]]
* LostInTranslation: For Makoto's ShutUpHannibal moment towards [[spoiler:Munakata]] in episode 10, Funimation decided to translate his response as "That's not hope!" Anyone who knows Japanese will know that he's actually saying his counter-argument CatchPhrase, "No, that's wrong[[note]]Sore wa chigau yo[[/note]]!"
* MetaphoricallyTrue:
** [[spoiler: Everyone thought, when they found the secret exit, that they would be able to leave the building and leave the game, but it turns out the exit is a dead end and the building they're in is at the bottom of the ocean. But the room also leads to the power room that can shut off all the power in the building, including the monitors that drove the victims into committing suicide and everyone's bracelets, so technically they were able to leave the game]].
** [[spoiler:Tengen claims he's not the attacker, but says that everyone has the potential to be. He also reveals that his forbidden action is to answer a question with a lie. It's later revealed that all the victims were simply brainwashed into committing suicide - so technically, he was telling the truth.]]
* MindScrew: The ending of episode 12 [[spoiler:returns to the deceased Yukizome and the theater from ''Side:Despair'', except this time, the equally deceased ''Junko'' joins her.]]
* MiseryPoker: Munakata's attitude towards Naegi is based on this: basically, he believes that being mind-wiped and stuck in a building with a psychopath forcing you and your friends to kill each other is ''nothing'' compared to Munakata's struggles in the disaster-struck outside world, therefore Munakata, having "suffered" more, has more right than Naegi to talk about "hope" and decide what needs to be done.
* TheMole: There's one in the Future Foundation, murdering people when they're unconscious. [[spoiler: There's actually at least two, with Monaka-as-Gekkougahara in cahoots with the real BigBad. Yukizome was definitely one, up until her death, being a brainwashed member of Ultimate Despair.]]
** [[spoiler: Subverted in that the "attacker" turns out to be the victims themselves.]]
* MoodWhiplash: The ending of Episode 9. Makoto and the others start waking up after another Sleep Phase, and they are all in high spirits after having survived it. But then, Makoto notices something: [[spoiler:Kirigiri isn't moving and is bleeding from her left eye, both clear signs that her NG code has triggered and killed her.]] The rest of the episode takes a ''sharp'' nosedive in tone.
* MouthToMouthForceFeeding: During the final murdergame, Ando and Izayoi come across what seems like a door leading outside the building, only for Ando to use the kiss to slip a macaron into Izayoi's mouth, thus triggering his Forbidden Action, and by extension, killing him by doing so. He's completely fine with it, though, but she did do it because she thought that they were going to activate ''ANDO'S'' Forbidden Action, thus forcing her to do it because she thought it was going to save herself from death.
* OfficialCouple: Andou and Izayoi mark the first instance the franchise has pulled this card for a pairing out of the starting gate.
** Munakata and Yukizome are heavily implied to be this, having started a relationship between the two sides of the anime.
* OffscreenMomentOfAwesome: In the time between episodes 6 and 10, [[spoiler: Class 77-B managed to repel an entire Future Foundation fleet and steal one of their ships for themselves.]]
* OpeningNarration: Kyoko narrates the introduction to the Remnants of Despair in the first episode.
* PoorCommunicationKills: While revealing one's NG code is incredibly dangerous, especially with the traitor around, it's also possible for allies to accidentally kill each other if they don't know each others' codes. [[spoiler:Such as when Sakakura gave Mitarai a knee to the gut, inadvertently triggering Bandai's NG code, "Witnessing Violence Between Participants".]]
** Arguably the cause of the rift between [[spoiler: Seiko and Ruruka, leading to their conflict and, ultimately, death. Ruruka thought Seiko was constantly rejecting her sweets because she didn't think they were good enough, and Seiko came to believe that Ruruka was ultimately just using her for her skills and medicines. The truth was that Seiko's condition meant that sugar could be lethal in combination with her medicines, and Ruruka thought she was trying to show Seiko how amazing she thought she was with her talents to get her to try her sweets. If the two had sat down and really talked it out, they might have come to an understanding.]]
* ThePsychoRangers[=/=]SimilarSquad: Munakata, Yukizome, and Sakakura to Naegi, Kirigiri, and Asahina, respectively. Although [[TokenGoodTeammate Yukizome]] never actually antagonized the 78th class trio, [[spoiler: it was confirmed in Epiosde 10 that she is a BrainwashedAndCrazy member of Ultimate Despair]].
** Munakata to Naegi: Both are the charismatic, de facto leaders of their respective groups that work to restore the world and eliminate despair. The difference being is that Munakata is a skilled fighter that believes in MightMakesRight, while Naegi is a NonActionGuy that believes in RightMakesMight.
** Yukizome to Kirigiri: Both are skilled investigators, and serve as the apparently devoted LoveInterests to Munakata and Naegi, respectively. However, in terms of personality, they are complete opposites. Yukizome is usually friendly, energetic but occasionally can be abrasive, while Kirigiri is usually distant and calm, but occasionally has her tender moments. There is also the dark implication that Chisa [[spoiler: has been slowly driving Munakata to despair]], while Kirigiri has done everything she can to keep Naegi hopeful and optimistic.
** Sakakura to Asahina: Both have ultimate talents relating to competitive sports. Arguably, they are the most physically capable of their respective trio. Both are extremely devoted to their friends and will go to great lengths to support and protect them. The main difference between them is that Sakakura usually acts like a {{Jerkass}} to almost everybody, while Asahina is a generally friendly person.
* RecapEpisode: PlayedForLaughs in Episode 9 when Monokuma sets the episode up as one, then immediately drops it.
* RecurringElement: Many points of this arc are similar to the first two games.
** The presence of the GentleGiant, Great Gozu, similar to Sakura in the first game and Nekomaru in the second. [[spoiler:Similarly to them, he also dies.]]
** The first death is [[spoiler:of someone who got the spotlight enough so that it wouldn't be thinkable that they would die. Yukizome was introduced as if she was going to play a major role in the show.]]
** Ruruka Andou represents [[spoiler:the girl who goes crazy midway through the game and kills two other characters, as she killed Izayoi and Kizakura. Just like Celeste in the first game and Mikan in the second.]]
*** In episode 9, she represents another one: [[spoiler:She is the last official victim to be "murdered" and the most brutal death of the game. Similar to Nagito and Mukuro.]]
** A person in the game is told that if they are to survive, one other has to die. Instead, they choose to end their own life, rather than be forced to kill another to survive. They also ensure that they can help the remaining people to survive, even after death. It was Sakura Oogami in the first game, Chiaki in the second, and here it's [[spoiler:Kyoko Kirigiri]].
*** The final death of a participant of the killing game was a [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice]]. In the first game, Sakura killed herself so the killing between friends would stop, in the second, Chiaki gave herself to execution so Nagito's plans would fail. This time, [[spoiler:Juzo, of all people, uses his dying breaths and all his HeroicWillpower to shut down the building's energy and stop the killing game, saving Munakata, Makoto, Asahina and Mitarai]].
** The number of survivors of the Final Killing Game ends up being [[spoiler: roughly the same, 5-6 participants (either 5 or 6, depending on one's point of view),]] as the previous two. The survivors were [[spoiler: Naegi, Munakata, Asahina, Mitarai, Sakakura, and the seemly dead, Kirigiri]]. However, [[spoiler: Juzo dies shortly after the Final Killing Game ends]].
*** Additional, most of the survivors follow the same archetypes of the previous killing game survivors, including [[spoiler: TheProtagonist (Makoto), the [[MsFanservice attractive]] [[AmbiguouslyBrown dark-skinned]] girl (Asahina), the well-dressed {{Jerkass}} who TookALevelInKindness (Munakata, like Byakuya and Fuyuhiko before him.), and the easily frightened/timid guy (Ryota, like Hagakure and Kazuichi before him)]].
** The characters executed for violating their NG codes seem to parallel the order of executed characters of [=SDR2=], excluding Mikan.
*** The first NG Code violator was [[spoiler: Bandai, who happened to be the participant with the NonstandardCharacterDesign]], much like Teruteru, the first executed character of [=SDR2=].
*** The second NG Code violator was [[spoiler: Izayoi]], who happened to share a lot of similarities to Peko. [[spoiler: Both acted as a calm, devoted bodyguard for the person they loved (Ruruka and Fuyuhiko), and ultimately died for them]].
*** Here the order skips over Mikan, as the third NG Code violator, [[spoiler: Koichi]], seems to parallel Gundham instead. Both [[spoiler: Koichi and Gundham are intelligent BunnyEarsLawyer what were able to utilize the traps set up in the building they were trapped in to their advantage. Both also ended up being executed as a result of a HeroicSacrifice]].
*** The final NG Code violator ends being [[spoiler: Kyoko who, like AI Chiaki, was the leading female character and the apparent LoveInterest of the TheProtagonist]].
* RedEyesTakeWarning: The Remnants of Despair are all shown with red glowing eyes in the introduction.
** [[spoiler: Naegi himself after viewing Monokuma's Gloomy Sunday.]]
** Sakakura, as TheBrute, has blood colored eyes.
** [[spoiler: Hajime's glowing red eye at the end of Episode 6.]]
** [[spoiler: The robotic receptionist seen when Togami and his men enter the building at the end of episode 8, just before the building blows up.]]
* RedHerring: In search of the mastermind, Komaru and Toko try to [[spoiler: find Monaca inside her oddly [[NeonSignHideout Neon Signed Tower]]]]. [[spoiler: After being ambushed they find Monaca inside a Monokuma themed van playing videogames]]. Confused, they ask what was going on. [[spoiler: Monaca explains that it was [[NotMeThisTime Not Her This Time]]; she was only there observe Makoto Naegi]]. Although despite that, [[spoiler: she killed Miaya and took her persona as a robot, and made Aoi look dead like a corpse just because [[ItAmusedMe It Amused Her]]]]. Along with this information they were also [[CrypticConversation told a hint]]. Panicked, the two immediately contact Future Foundation. [[spoiler: Komaru told her brother Makoto that Monaca has no involvement in this killing game, and warns him that if he makes a wrong move, one his colleagues from the school killing game will die in the final killing game]].
* RedSkyTakeWarning: The world after The Tragedy has a perpetually red, cloudy sky.
* {{Revenge}}: Seiko and Andou use the DeadlyGame they are caught in as justification for attempting to murder each other, but really they are just trying settle the score they had back in high school.
* SadisticChoice: A few of the NG Codes are specifically designed to force this on the wearer, specifically [[spoiler: Ruruka's (prevent anyone from escaping or die herself) and Kyoko's (ensure that Naegi dies or perish after the fourth time limit)]]. Others aren't as explicit about this, but end up having the same effect [[spoiler:like Kizakura's (let his best friend's daughter die or break his NG code and die himself)]].
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: [[spoiler:Monaca gives up trying to be Junko's successor after she realizes the pointlessness of trying to fight hope, as well as having no desire to end up becoming someone like Nagito. Instead, Monaca decides to exile herself into space to live as a NEET.]]
* SenselessSacrifice: A few characters make noble sacrifices that fail to achieve the intended result. [[spoiler:Kizakura dies to save Kyoko, but she's already doomed if she lets Naegi survive the next knockout -- and she refuses to kill her friend. Izayoi accepts Ruruka's betrayal gracefully, refusing to fight back or seek vengeance as she kills him...but she's the next victim.]]
** [[spoiler: Somewhat averted in the first instance in that, while Kirigiri still died, if Kizakura hadn't saved her, she wouldn't have been able to galvanize Naegi's determination before he confronted Munakata, and Asahina wouldn't have found her notebook and discovered the truth about the killings.]]
* ShipTease: One can make a case that Makoto and Aoi have a decent amount of ship tease. Makoto and Aoi spend most of the anime together with Aoi being his main protector. They have several moments where they comfort and support each other. When Aoi passes out from the poison in episode 11 her last thought is of Makoto. [[spoiler:This all ends up being negated in the end since [[ImpliedLoveInterest Kyoko]] survives to have a heavily implied HappilyEverAfter with him after her own heavy bout of it.]]
* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: Makoto and Munakata in particular represent a conflict of this, with Makoto representing the "idealistic" voice that believes Despair can be rehabilitated, whereas Munakata's "cynical" stance argues that [[KillEmAll eliminating it entirely]] is the only option.
* SocialDeductionGame: The Future Foundation members are forced to play an InUniverse killing game where each member wears a wrist band with a 'forbidden action' that will trigger a lethal injection if the victim does it. The band also forces everyone to sleep at specific intervals while an attacker is given enough time to kill one person, so the players must either root out the traitor or die. [[spoiler:It's subverted since there is no attacker, one person is always left awake every interval and forced to kill themselves by watching a brainwashing video.]]
* SkywardScream: [[spoiler: Munakata at the end of his confrontation with Naegi in Episode 10, when he finds out that Yukizome was EvilAllAlong.]]
* TheStinger: Episode 5 has one. [[spoiler: Munakata patches himself up and injects himself with what looks like the same serum that made Kimura hulk out.]]
** In Episode 8, [[spoiler: Togami and his team finally enter the building. However, they end up triggering a bomb in the process, destroying the building.]]
** In Episode 10, [[spoiler: a boat is sailing away from Jabberwock Island.]]
** In Episode 11, [[spoiler: Mitarai, while talking to Naegi, receives a text message from Tengan.]]
** In Episode 12, [[spoiler: Naegi [[BigDamnHeroes is saved by Hagakure and Togami]], and Izuru/Hajime is shown walking towards into the Future Foundation building after having defeated an army of brainwashed soldiers. This is soon followed by the words, "[[ToBeContinued Continued on the hope side]]".]]
* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome:
** Despite being TheHero, Munakata correctly notes that Naegi's NonActionGuy status is a massive detriment to everyone outside of the Mutual Killing. Sure enough, Naegi is basically stuck as TheLoad, requiring his friends to bail him out of danger due to his inability to fight back.
** The mastermind of this particular game demonstrates a particular reason Junko carried things out as she did. [[spoiler:When the mastermind is out and openly in the middle of a very high-tension, life-and-death situation, as opposed to hiding behind an avatar like Monokuma, he isn't going to have PlotArmor; if someone susses him out, they can absolutely kill him like anyone else. Munakata does exactly that to Tengan.]]
* TheGoodTheBadAndTheEvil: Makoto and those willing to hear him out are the good, those in the Future Foundation wanting to prosecute him are the bad, and Monokuma and the traitor are the evil. [[spoiler: Monaca ends up fitting [[HazyFeelTurn neither]], and Munakata does a HeelFaceTurn back to Good; considering everybody else is dead, there's just the Good and the Evil by now]].
* ThreeLinesSomeWaiting: Generally speaking, there are three main plotlines, each spotlighting a main character:
** Naegi, Asahina, and Gekkougahara's efforts to survive the Final Killing.
** Kirigiri and Mitarai's investigation into the murders.
** Munakata's [[spoiler: slow descent into despair and insanity.]]
* TonightSomeoneDies: At the end of Episode 7, [[spoiler:Monaca claims that Makoto's actions are going to lead to the death of one of his classmates (which the ending {{Cliffhanger}} heavily suggests is Kirigiri at Munakata's hands). Since she isn't the mastermind, and shouldn't know what's going to happen, it remains to be seen how this will pan out.]]
** Subverted until Episode 9. [[spoiler: Kirigiri ends up dying thanks to her forbidden action: "Makoto Naegi survives past the Fourth Phase."]]
* TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth:
** Bandai is a NiceGuy who is in charge of food distribution in the war-torn world. He gets killed rather unfairly due to his [[UnwinnableByDesign NG Code forbidding him from witnessing violence]].
** [[GentleGiant The Great Gozu]] saves Naegi from Munakata and encourages him to keep his hopes up despite the situation, only to be murdered by the attacker during the next sleep phase.
** [[TokenGoodTeammate Seiko]], despite being part of the radical faction, just wants to help people with her medicine, to the point where she's willing to treat her ideological rivals' wounds. During the third sleep phase, she's brutally crucified by the attacker.
** Kizakura promised to Jin Kirigiri that he would protect his daughter, and he does so when he activates his NG Code to save Kyoko from a pit trap.
** [[spoiler:Subverted with Yukizome and Tengan, who are seemingly sympathetic when they are killed, but later it's revealed that the former is a brainwashed mole for Ultimate Despair and the latter is the mastermind.]]
* {{Troll}}: Considering how they [[spoiler:set up an elaborate, prank-like ruse to make it seem like Aoi was dead just to mess with Makoto]], its safe to say that the traitor is this. [[spoiler: Subverted, it was just Monaka being a childish dick.]]
* VillainBasedFranchise: It wouldn't be ''Danganronpa'' if Monokuma didn't show up. He's returned for one last shot at driving the members of the Future Foundation into despair and murder. Subverted however, in that Monokuma is ultimately DemotedToExtra.
* TheUnreveal: In Episode 3, [[spoiler:after Great Gozu is killed his mask is removed only to reveal a paper cloth covering his face, which isn't removed for whatever reason.]] [[spoiler:It was purposely done by Kirigiri; she had to remove his mask to examine both it and his eye wounds, but she wanted to respect the fact that, for whatever reason, he wanted tohide his true identity.]]
** More significantly, in Episode 5 [[spoiler: Tengan reveals to Munakata who the attacker is]], but the viewer is unable to hear due to the audio being muted.
** Happens again in Episode 7 when [[spoiler: Monaka reveals she knows who will be killed due to Makoto]] only to refuse to actually answer and instead leave.
** And happens yet again in Episode 10, which ends with [[spoiler: Asahina and Mitarai finding Naegi and Munakata and revealing they know who the attacker is thanks to Kirigiri's notes]], only for the episode to instantly cut to the credits after Naegi and Munakata's reactions.
* UnwinnableByDesign: [[spoiler: Even though no one died after the fifth time limit, the bracelets were still active and the game continued. By conjecture from the mastermind's last message, this is intentional as a way to wipe out the entire Foundation. How intentional this was could be debatable, however, as by this point the mastermind was already dead.]]
* WeaksauceWeakness: The bracelets, worn by the participants, injects its owner with a sleeping drug every two hours, leaving them vulnerable to the Atacker. It also contains a lethal poison, which will be injected in the participant if they violate the Forbidden Action.
** Averted with Miaya Gekkougahara, whose Forbidden Action is [[spoiler:"turning right"]]. Since [[spoiler:the Miaya present in the Final Killing game is a gynoid, neither the poison for violating the forbidden action nor the sleeping drug has any affect on her.]]
* WhamEpisode: [[WordOfGod Kazutaka Kodaka]] openly said he hopes every episode surprises you. Needless to say, he succeeded with flying colours:
** Episode 4 has multiple big bombshells occurring at once; [[spoiler: the 76th trio were all students expelled from Hope's Peak Academy, Tengan manages to talk Munakata down after getting impaled and Gekkougahara is outed as being actually a robotic avatar for Monaka Towa.]]
** Episode 5: [[spoiler: Munakata goes completely off the deep end, killing Tengan and more or less falling into despair. And it's ''heavily'' implied that the traitor's identity is what causes him to snap, which certainly has dark implications...]]
** Episode 6: Holy. Shit. [[spoiler: Izayoi is found dead. Naegi gets a message out to Togami, who reveals that Munakta's sending the Future Foundation's Peacekeeping Force to Jabberwock Island, and Togami agrees to come help them. After the broadcast, Togami and his men talk about how the real Miaya has been murdered. Togami contacts Toko and Komaru, presumably to go and find Monaca, who they believe is in Towa City. And, of course, see WhamShot below for the final scene.]]
** Episode 7: [[spoiler: Surprise, Monaka ''isn't'' the BigBad, or even close to it. The episode then ends in Munakata seemingly about to kill Kirigiri.]]
** Episode 8: [[spoiler: Andou is confirmed to be Izayoi's murderer, and her NG code will kill her if anybody exits the building. Kizakura dies saving Kirigiri; she, Sakakura and Mitarai find the secret exit, and Togami and the rest of the Future Foundation (sans Hagakure) enter the building... just to activate a security system that seems to be making the whole building collapse.]]
** Episode 9 takes the cake with [[spoiler: (Robo)Miaya, Juzo, Ruruka and Kirigiri all getting killed, the former two by Munakata, along with the discovery that the facility the killing game is taking place in has been underwater all along.]]
** Episode 10: [[spoiler: Yukizome was a despair, Munakata pulls a HeelFaceTurn and, at long last, the remaining participants learn the attacker's identity.]]
** Episode 11: [[spoiler:It's revealed that all of the "attacker's" victims actually committed suicide after watching a brainwashing video, Juzo is revealed to be alive and saves Makoto from killing himself, and then he dies after forcefully stopping the game.]]
** '''Episode 12''': [[spoiler: It turns out that Tengan was the BigBad, having organized the Final Killing game for his plan to spread "hope". Oh, and Mitarai decide to [[TakingUpTheMantle continue Tengan's idea of hope ]][[BrainwashingForTheGreaterGood by ''brainwashing the world'']] .]]
* WhamLine: In Episode 10. [[spoiler: "The killing is over! I found out who the attacker is!"]]
* WhamShot:
** At the end of Episode 2, after the sleeping drug knocks everyone out and the attacker strikes, [[spoiler:Makoto awakens and finds Aoi seemingly stabbed in the stomach. It was actually fake.]]
** Episode 4 ends with a shot of [[spoiler:Monaca Towa controlling a robot Gekkogahara, dressed up in her Junko-esque outfit from the end of ''VideoGame/UltraDespairGirls'']].
** Episode 6 ends with [[spoiler: Munakata's peacekeeping forces heading to Jabberwock island, with someone who looks like Hajime watching them from a dock. The final shot has a closeup of his eye, which opens to reveal a red pupil as he says "This is so boring."]]
** Episode 8 ends with [[spoiler: Byakuya's team accidentally triggering a bomb inside the Future Foundation base, causing the building to start sinking]].
** At the end of Episode 9, [[spoiler: when everyone awakens, they discover Kirigiri has died due to her forbidden action.]]
** The end of Episode 11 shows [[spoiler:Ryota's cell phone with a text from the thought-to-be deceased Tengan.]]
* WhateverHappenedToTheMouse: In Episode 12, [[spoiler: it's deduced that Mitarai wasn't supposed to attend the hearing, implying that someone called him to it against Tengan's will]]. Whoever that person is is never revealed, as the point is completely dropped in ''Side:Hope''.
* WhatTheHellHero: Downplayed. [[spoiler: Before Makoto decides to confront Munakata once and for all, Mitarai calls out Makoto for just leaving Kirigiri's body behind and not feeling sad about her death. Makoto explains that while he is sad that she's dead, he understands why she would sacrifice herself and he has to push forward for her.]]
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