Danganronpa - Speculations and Theories (First time anime viewers only)

[Sute443]

Originally Posted by HatsuHaruCow

True but I'm pretty sure this is the first televisation of this 'show'. I think we can safely assume the 16 students were actual students at the school before and have had their memory altered or something as there's the photos and stuff that show them all as friends in the school. No one can remember that time though. I'd say they were students there, then the 'something' happened in the outside world that they locked themselves in. Then one of the students went nuts or was involved with what was happening outside and killed the Principal, wiped the memories of the students and started this disturbing game.

There's a chance it's not the Principal but given the evidence and the characters we've been introduced to I think it's highly likely.

I also think if the puppeteer is indeed also involved in what happened outside the school and it was say a mafia type thing it would explain why they can televise it, if the 'good' outside people were either dead or under the control of this group- like a Nazi-esque type thing.

I don't have any particular arguments against the idea that they were genuine students at the school before a disaster occurred and they eventually had their memories wiped (I've been a supporter of that theory for several weeks, actually). And although I don't really think it's the case, it wouldn't surprise me if they had locked themselves inside. Though if they did so I believe they probably did it with the understanding that the game would occur.

Why? Because there's no way one person who went nuts could have set up all those execution methods. And why would the students subject themselves to that? Maybe the Despair-event was so bad that they were willing to enter the game just so they wouldn't have to remember it.

But anyways, back to the Principal and the guy in the rocket. Besides the whole he-really-doesn't-look-old-enough-to-be-the-Principal thing, my biggest reason for believing that he was from a previous game is that he was killed in such an elaborate method. Monokuma has said that the executions are so elaborate because they're for the sake of the entire world's despair, which suggests that that first execution was televised. Why televise the Principal's execution?

Could Monokuma have been showing off to give the viewers at home an idea of what they were in for? Maybe, but I doubt it. That wouldn't have given them enough despair, just like how he couldn't execute Naegi a second time. That's why I think it's probable that Rocket-Guy was from a different game.

And if you're going to ask where the 16 we know were during the previous game, well, nobody said they had to be inside Hope's Peak the whole time. They could have been held somewhere else to await their turn.

[HatsuHaruCow]

I don't have any particular arguments against the idea that they were genuine students at the school before a disaster occurred and they eventually had their memories wiped (I've been a supporter of that theory for several weeks, actually). And although I don't really think it's the case, it wouldn't surprise me if they had locked themselves inside. Though if they did so I believe they probably did it with the understanding that the game would occur.

I actually am pretty sure the disaster event occurred outside the school and is why the videos showed the people they love looking likely dead. Alter-ego calls it the 'biggest most despair inducing event in human history' which leads me to believe it's something that happened on a global level. I don't think one event inside a school could affect the whole globe as the most despair inducing event in all history.
In which case I believe the Principal and the 16 students locked themselves inside the school to keep themselves safe from whatever it was occurring outside. I'm inclined to believe the despair inducing event was caused by a large mafia-type group or corporation or something and that unbeknownst to them one of the students was involved. I don't believe it was a natural disaster or the school would most likely have been destroyed too.

If the Principal and students locked themselves in when the disaster happened and only 16 students walked into the school alive then there can't have been a previous game with other students. Monokuma also talks about the show as if it's the first time it's happened when they are in the Projection room place "This was supposed to be a live-broadcast like no other- the ultimate reality tv show" Not to mention Monokuma says "The only people to enter Hope Peaks academy alive were the 16 honest to goodness highschoolers" That very much sounds like there were only those 16 highschoolers at the time of the despair moment.

Why? Because there's no way one person who went nuts could have set up all those execution methods. And why would the students subject themselves to that? Maybe the Despair-event was so bad that they were willing to enter the game just so they wouldn't have to remember it.

But if the person is part of a larger group outside the school then it could have been planned in advanced.

But anyways, back to the Principal and the guy in the rocket. Besides the whole he-really-doesn't-look-old-enough-to-be-the-Principal thing, my biggest reason for believing that he was from a previous game is that he was killed in such an elaborate method. Monokuma has said that the executions are so elaborate because they're for the sake of the entire world's despair, which suggests that that first execution was televised. Why televise the Principal's execution?

Could Monokuma have been showing off to give the viewers at home an idea of what they were in for? Maybe, but I doubt it. That wouldn't have given them enough despair, just like how he couldn't execute Naegi a second time. That's why I think it's probable that Rocket-Guy was from a different game.

We know that he was Kirigiri's dad so maybe he elaborately executed him to cause despair for Kirigiri? Or for the 16 students who thought he would protect them? Or to show the students they weren't safe afterall? Any of those would have caused despair for the students for the viewers to watch. Then the puppeteer wiped the students' memory after it happened and started the game. I'm pretty sure their memories were altered. We know Kirigiri's had 'amnesia' about who she was and we know the others went to school together and none can remember so it stands to reason their memory was altered. Sakura even says they had been altered in her will before Monokuma stops reading due to nearly reading a "spoiler".

Also Monokuma could execute Naegi a second time and indeed planned to saying "we'll just have to punish him again" after Kirigiri rescues him. They called him out on cheating and saying it was unfair to the viewers so that Monokuma has to give them a chance to solve the mystery to save face with his viewers.



All conjecture but it makes the most sense to me. If the Principal isn't the rocket guy then who else could it be given there was only the 16 students and the Principal and the 16 students are the only ones that were alive when the game started? Plus we know the puppeteer must be one of the 16 students and if all the others knew each other beforehand it's very likely they also knew the puppeteer beforehand whic makes this game somewhat personal to the puppeteer as they were classmates. Which also leads me to believe these are the only people they would have played the game with.

[Sute443]

We probably aren't going to be able to persuade each other about Rocket-Guy, since we just don't have enough evidence.

But I don't think the school acted as any sort of refuge against the Biggest and Baddest Despair-inducing Event in Human History. What else could have caused the one room on the fifth floor to get covered in blood? I suspect that the rest of the school was once in similar condition prior to being fixed up for the game. That doesn't mean it was localized entirely in the school (it certainly wouldn't deserve it's name if it was), but the school was probably affected in some very direct, very violent way.

[SquirrelLuvsPnut]

O____________________O
I...I did not see that coming... I think I have a new favorite character!!!!

[HatsuHaruCow]

I was pretty certain that person was the killer which is why I didn't try and guess in this thread.

I'm also pretty sure now that my other guesses in my earlier post were correct regarding the Principal being Rocket Boy and the school being a refuge for the students whilst something awful was happening in the outside world.

[Dengar]

I don't think there's any doubt left about the identity of rocket guy.

[Sute443]

Originally Posted by Dengar

I don't think there's any doubt left about the identity of rocket guy.

Yeah. I would've liked to see the Principal's face to be really sure, but given what he was wearing, it looks like Mr. Kirigiri took a trip to space. Disappointing, but settled.

[Solitaired]

In the game, it never did explain who is the guy in the rocket execution.

However, with the bones found, Monokuma being headmaster instead, only 16 students alive in the school from the beginning, and so much more hints. It is undeniable that that guy is the true headmaster, Kirigiri Jin.

Will post a picture if you need when I get home, but don't go searching for it online. He is a character in the prequel story, but many pictures and details are spoilers to DR1 and SDR2.

[Calca]

It's the principal, they both have the same cracks in the skull in the execution and in the box.

[Solitaired]

Here is the concept picture on Kirigiri Jin, found in DR0. DO NOT look at other pictures from DR0.

[Calca]

I'm kind of disappointed the principal who looked like that went out screaming like a girl before he was loaded onto that rocket. His daughter would have taken it more manly than him.

[jeroz]

Perhaps Major Tom was ambushed, hence the panic

[Jan-Poo]

He looks a lot cooler than I thought.

[AC-Phoenix]

You what the irony is?
he has both the star)as well as Monokuma's despair eye on his emblem lol

[Klashikari]

The lightning is actually part of Kibougamine emblem. In fact, Monokuma design was obviously done in order to mock Kibougamine by using the lightning as one of its eye in red.

[Jan-Poo]

Originally Posted by Klashikari

The lightning is actually part of Kibougamine emblem. In fact, Monokuma design was obviously done in order to mock Kibougamine by using the lightning as one of its eye in red.

Isn't it possible that Monokuma wasn't created or designed by the despair mastermind then (taking from what you said in the Q&A thread)?

It is already ridiculous that such level of technology exists, but I guess that the fact that there are super duper geniuses in the kibogamine academy capable of doing crazy stuff is something that falls under the premises of this story.

So well I can use my suspension of disbelief and simply accept that since Chihiro is a super duper programmer than he can create a super duper AI in a few days on a laptop.
But thinking that someone who isn't supposed to have any exceptional, unrealistic talent of that sort can create similar stuff goes on another level entirely.

It would make more sense if Monokuma was created by a previous super duper mecha girl or guy that already graduated or something, similarly to how the super duper botanist created that giant carnivorous plant.
This would also explain why the Kibogamine symbol was used.

[Klashikari]

Well... I can't say more other than that Junko isn't just a "Fashionista", when you consider her sister could be a flawless mercenary. Junko calls herself as a "genius" as well.

[White Manju Bun]

Originally Posted by Calca

I'm kind of disappointed the principal who looked like that went out screaming like a girl before he was loaded onto that rocket. His daughter would have taken it more manly than him.

Espc since he was voiced by Koyama Rikiya.