| Monokuma | |
|---|---|
| Danganronpa character | |
 Monokuma in Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony (2017) | |
| First game | Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc (2010) |
| Created by | Kazutaka Kodaka |
| Designed by | Rui Komatsuzaki |
| Voiced by |
|
| In-universe information | |
| Controllers | |
Monokuma (Japanese: モノクマ) is a fictional identity adopted by several characters in the Danganronpa series, serving as the mascot and central antagonist of the series. Monokuma first appears in Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc as a disguise used by Junko Enoshima during her killing game in the fictional school of Hope's Peak Academy. Monokuma was created by scenario writer Kazutaka Kodaka and designed by Rui Komatsuzaki. The identity is used primarily as a disguise for the masterminds of each game to conceal their identities while overseeing and organizing killing games, and as such has been voiced by several actors. The character has often appeared in popular culture since its inception, spawning a series of action figures and merchandise. Nobuyo Ōyama and TARAKO voice Monokuma in Japanese, while Brian Beacock provides his voice for the English versions of the games and Greg Ayres provides his voice for the English dub of Danganronpa: The Animation.[4][5]
In the Danganronpa universe, the robotic bear is not unique and is easily obtainable, allowing others to take up its identity. Monokuma regularly interacts with killing game participants and other targets to taunt or threaten them while using a voice changer that hides its true identity, in addition to executing each culprit if they kill another student. In Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair, Monokuma transforms Jabberwock Island Operator Usami into a sister figure which he dubs Monomi, while in the spin-off Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls, two different characters that are similar to Monokuma, the all-white Shirokuma and all-black Kurokuma, appear, in addition to an army of Monokuma robots. In the third main series game, Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony, Monokuma is provided "children" with the Monokubs, consisting of: Monotaro, Monodam, Monokid, Monophanie, Monosuke, and the Nanokumas,[6] as well as a mother figure dubbed Motherkuma, responsible for manufacturing Monokuma's robot bodies.[7]
Critical response to Monokuma has been generally favorable, and he has often been listed as one of the best characters in the entire franchise.
- ^ "Brian Beacock on Twitter: "@Detrimont Hey thanks! (re:Walker). And yes I did play Monokuma! I have the sore throat to prove it! :)"". Twitter. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
- ^ "Danganronpa the Animation English Cast Announcement – Funimation – Blog!". Funimation – Blog!. 2015-04-04. Archived from the original on 2018-12-04. Retrieved 2017-01-20.
- ^ a b "Monokuma Voices (Danganronpa)". Behind the Voice Actors. June 25, 2013. Archived from the original on December 2, 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2014. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^ Del Castillo, Chris (April 23, 2016). "Danganronpa's Monokuma will have a new voice actor in Japan". Nerd Reactor. Archived from the original on April 24, 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
- ^ Hill, Greg (April 18, 2016). "Spike Chunsoft unveil new Monokuma voice actress for Danganronpa V3". God Is A Geek. Archived from the original on April 19, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
- ^ Lada, Jenni (May 10, 2017). "Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony Introduces The Monokubs". Siliconera. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
- ^ Schreier, Jason (September 25, 2017). "How An NFL Joke Slips Into A Japanese Game". Kotaku. Archived from the original on September 27, 2017. Retrieved September 25, 2017.