Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School
A conclusion to the Hope's Peak Academy arc.
Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School is a mystery horror anime television series produced by Lerche and directed by Daiki Fukuoka. It serves as the second animated series based on Spike Chunsoft's Danganronpa video game franchise and concludes the story arc established in the first two games. The series is divided into three parts: Future Arc, Despair Arc, and a finale called Hope Arc.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Mystery, horror
- Creator
- Spike Chunsoft
Facts from the source article.
Plot
The story is split into two alternately airing chapters: Future Arc and Despair Arc, followed by a finale called Hope Arc. Future Arc takes place after the events of Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair. Makoto Naegi is arrested by Kyosuke Munakata of the Future Foundation for hiding students in a virtual world. Monokuma appears and starts a killing game where participants wear bangles that induce sleep, during which an attacker kills one person. Chisa Yukizome is the first victim, leading Kyosuke to distrust others and attempt to kill Makoto. Participants also face deadly poison if they perform a forbidden action. Members of the Future Foundation die one by one: Daisaku Bandai, Sonosuke Izayoi, and Koichi Kizakura are poisoned; Kazuo Tengan and a robotic copy of Miaya Gekkogahara are killed by Kyosuke; Great Gozu, Seiko Kimura, and Ruruka Ando are killed by the attacker. Makoto discovers Kyoko Kirigiri has been poisoned for her forbidden action. Makoto confronts Kyosuke, and they make peace. Juzo destroys the monitors but dies from blood loss after being wounded by Kyosuke.
Production
The series was the final chapter of the Hope's Peak Academy arc within the Danganronpa franchise. The development staff found it difficult to work on both the anime and the third game simultaneously. Initially an adaptation of Danganronpa 2 was planned, but the staff opted to make an anime set after that game. Head writer Kazutaka Kodaka felt the Danganronpa 2 characters' story had ended and turned the conclusion into an anime. He aimed to create content that could only be expressed in animation and wanted a distinctive narrative rather than fan service. Kodaka said some fans called the idea of a happy ending pandering, but he wanted to give proper endings, leading to the Hope Arc. A producer from Lerche inspired him. Kodaka reduced action and created a psychological struggle based on the killing game. He believed newcomers could understand Future Arc, but Despair Arc required knowledge of Danganronpa 2. He separated Makoto's group from Hajime's using two story arcs, with Makoto's theme being hope and Hajime's being despair.
Other media
A manga spin-off titled Danganronpa Gaiden: Killer Killer, illustrated by Mitomo Sasako, began serialization in Kodansha's Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine from March 9, 2016. Initially released as Killer Killer, its third chapter revealed it to be a side-story of Danganronpa 3. The series focuses on Misaki Asano, a Future Foundation investigator, and Takumi Hijirihara, a serial killer who kills other serial killers. Two comic anthologies were released on September 9, 2016, and another on October 25, 2016, by Kadokawa Shoten. A stage play based on the anime premiered on July 20, 2018, with Shun Nishime as Makoto Naegi. Themed food and drinks were sold in a collaboration between Spike Chunsoft and the Cure Maid Cafe. A Danganronpa 3 collaboration appears in the mobile game Hōkai Gakuen 2. A promotion in Tokyo in 2016 allowed fans to interact with voice actors, including Takayama reprising Hajime.
Reception
Fans received the series well. Charapedia ranked it ninth among the most anticipated anime of 2016. Polygon reported that Western fans named it the tenth best new anime series from 2016, and noted that Junko Enoshima gained popularity through the anime. HobbyConsolas called it one of the best anime series released in 2016. In a Manga.Tokyo poll, Future Arc placed 21st for the season, while Despair Arc placed 33rd. Goo Ranking voters ranked the whole series 19th among Summer 2016 anime. A Biggest in Japan poll placed Future Arc sixth and Despair Arc eighth for that summer. GamesRadar's Kenneth Shepard praised the narrative as fitting despite the shift from games to television. USGamer considered it a better Danganronpa anime than the earlier one. HardCore Gaming recommended viewing both arcs together. THEM Anime Reviews' Tim Jones gave it two out of five stars, criticizing the heavy exposition and the need to follow both arcs to understand the plot. He also faulted the antagonist's limited screen time and the dark tone. Chris Beveridge of The Fandom Post agreed that Future Arc requires Despair Arc for full enjoyment.
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