Danganronpa is originally a visual novel adventure game and not an adaptation from the usual source material, which is the manga.
Maybe that explains the dramatic and kind of noon-time game show style of delivering their dialogues. But it’s not in a bad way, though; the dramatic poses and speeches make it entertaining to watch.
Danganronpa also has cool and beautiful character designs, vibrant colors, and signature anime unique hairstyles.
But despite its cutesy style in appearance, Dangaronpa is a violent anime with lots of death, sexual themes, and gore.
Minors are not allowed to watch the franchise because of its graphic content, as the show is meant to be R18+, so viewers’ discretion is advised.
But these contrasting elements are what makes it so worth watching because it’s thrilling and allows the viewers to think with the characters and figure things out themselves.
If you are into this type of anime genre where survival is the main theme, then Danganronpa is right for you.
If you are interested in watching Danganronpa, keep reading to find the best watchlist!
Danganronpa Watch Order By Chronological Order of Events
The best way to watch the Danganronpa anime is by chronological order of events.
Watching the first few episodes of the first season allows the viewers to get a gist of the anime’s unconventional storytelling and concept.
Different perspectives will also be featured in the franchise, so watching it in succession will not cause confusion to the streamers of the show.
Watch Order | Title |
---|---|
1 | Danganronpa: The Animation (2013) |
2 | Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope’s Peak High School – Future Arc (2016) |
3 | Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope’s Peak High School – Despair Arc (2016) |
4 | Super Danganronpa 2.5: Komaeda Nagito to Sekai no Hakaimono (2017) |
5 | Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope’s Peak High School – Hope Arc (2016) |
Can You Watch Danganronpa Without Playing Any of the Games?
Yes, viewers can watch the anime without playing the game.The anime sticks to the storyline of what is being featured in the game, just in animation form.
However, if you want in-depth information about the game and more character details, you will need to play the game. Moreover, more sub-stories in the game are not present in the anime adaptation.
Where to Watch Danganronpa (October 2022)
US | Hulu, Funimation, Crunchyroll |
Canada | Funimation, Hulu, Crunchyroll |
UK | Funimation |
Australia | Funimation |
For US and Canada, the best streaming platform to watch Danganronpa is Hulu and Crunchyroll.
If you are from the UK and Australia, you can stream on Funimation.
However, it is important to note that not all streaming sites have all the shows available.
If the show is not available to watch in your country, then a VPN is needed to gain access to the anime.
Complete Summary of Danganronpa Anime
# of Episodes | 37 (including the special episode) |
Runtime | Approximately 23 – 24 minutes per episode |
Manga Canon Episodes | 1-37 |
Anime Canon Episodes | 0 |
Special Episodes | 1 |
OVA | 1 |
Movies | 0 |
Danganronpa was first released on November 5, 2010, in the form of a visual novel adventure game by Kazutaka Kodaka called “Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc.” It was developed and distributed to the public by Spike.
In the next year, two manga adaptations were made from the first Danganronpa, which was released between June 24, 2011, and October 18, 2013.
The manga was illustrated by Saku Toutani and published in Enterbrain’s Famitsu Comic Clear web magazine.
In May 2013 and September 2014, another mangaka artist named Takashi Tsukimi wrote the manga adaptations, which were serialized into 4 tankōbon volumes on Shōnen Ace.
In addition, the first Dangonranpa anime release was on July 4, 2012, on MBS’ Animeism programming.
Not to be confused about the manga and anime; plotwise, the manga and anime stick to the original material in the game.
The manga sequentially follows the anime, which follows the visual novel game, so if we were to put it, it’s game, anime, and then the manga.
Danganronpa Complete Anime Synopsis
1. Danganronpa: The Animation

Media | Series |
# of Episodes | 13 |
Original Release | July 4 – September 26, 2013 |
Runtime | Approximately 24 minutes per episode |
IMDb Rating | 6.8/10 |
The first season follows Makoto Naegi and 16 other students enrolled in a prestigious school named “Hope’s Peak Academy.”
But despite the school’s clean and posh outer appearance, it is not what it seems. Behind it lies a sinister motive and a bloody ending for those involved.
The school is spearheaded and supervised by an animatronic bear named Monokuma. Monokuma appointed himself as the Headmaster of the academy.
It told the students that in order for them to graduate, they must murder each other, but there’s a catch.
If somehow the others figured out that you are the suspect, then you are to be executed.
But if the suspect remains to be unknown, then only the killer gets to graduate, and the others will be executed.
Naegi is an optimistic and righteous young man who values morals over his obligation to kill. However, he must move forward and become everyone’s ultimate hope, and save lives as much as he can.
2. Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope’s Peak High School – Future Arc

Media | Series |
# of Episodes | 12 |
Original Release | July 11 – September 26, 2016 |
Runtime | Approximately 24 minutes per episode |
IMDb Rating | 7.1/10 |
Makoto Naegi and his other fellow surviving classmates had managed to escape the impenetrable force of Hope Peak’s Academy. They are now venturing off to what’s left of the world that has fallen into ruins.
Soon they stumbled upon an organization that is committed to conquering despair, and that is the “Future Foundation.”
Things were starting to look up for Naegi and the gang when suddenly Neagi was thrust into a difficult situation. He was arrested for defending a group from the Remnants of Despair.
Things continued to progress to the worst possible scenario. The foundation’s security was hijacked by none other than the malicious bear that brought them trauma and horror- Monokuma.
Not soon after hacking into the security system, he declared the start of another killing game. This time with only one murderer and no class trials to help in confronting and defending themselves. And the start of another catastrophe begins.
3. Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope’s Peak High School – Despair Arc

Media | Series |
# of Episodes | 11 |
Original Release | July 14 – September 22, 2016 |
Runtime | Approximately 23 minutes per episode |
IMDb Rating | 7/10 |
This arc focuses on another protagonist named Hajime Hinata.
He is an ordinary boy in the midst of unique individuals of Hope Peak’s Academy, who aspires to be special and yearns to have talent.
A section of the school is an odd bunch, so to speak. It has a variety of students, ranging from unique personalities and styles, one being a yakuza, the other a nurse, and many more.
With these students put into one classroom, trouble is bound to happen. So Chisa Yukizome, the homeroom teacher of class 77-B, must take on the task of disciplining them and creating a strong bond between the students.
One day, Hinata encounters Chiaki Nanami, a student of class 77-B. He felt hopeful of finally attaining the life he was striving to have.
However, what Hinata does not know is that his life is about to take a turn, but not in the way that he has hoped.
4. Super Danganronpa 2.5: Komaeda Nagito to Sekai no Hakaimono (2017)

Media | OVA |
Original Release | January 12, 2017 |
Runtime | Approximately 25 minutes |
IMDb Rating | 6.4/10 |
The plot kicks off with Nagito Komaeda, who is probably the most unlucky boy in the whole franchise. Everywhere he goes, he attracts trouble in the most seemingly impossible ways.
Once he steps out of his home, chaos ensues. Moreover, he’s left with injuries from a series of unlucky incidents just from walking to school.
He could never go through a day without being in an inconvenient situation. But despite being unlucky, he was happy and content with his otherwise normal life.
However, that normal life that he is satisfied with is about to change when he meets a mysterious boy who claims to be the “Destroyer of the World”.
5. Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope’s Peak High School – Hope Arc (2016)

Media | Special |
Original Release | September 29, 2016 |
Runtime | Approximately 24 minutes |
IMDb Rating | 7/10 |
The series goes back to Makoto Naegi’s perspective. He is in a hurry to stop Mitarai Ryota from televising his brainwashing scheme called the “Hope Video.”
Ryota plans to use it at an international scale to make despair disappear but at the expense of mankind’s free will.
With the appearance of Hajime Hinata on the scene with the other students in class 77, they must work together to put a stop to this madness.
The ever-so-kind and understanding Naegi, along with Hajime and the others, believe that Ryota should not carry such a burden all alone. Hence, they try to persuade him not to broadcast the video.