Danganronpa 3 Abridged is an Abridged Series of Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School, by Labrat
. It has fourteen episodes thus far (seven for the Future Arc, seven for the Despair), and is very entertaining. As with most everything in the Danganronpa franchise, there will be unmarked spoilers!
Can be viewed here, except for Despair 7, which is instead here.
This series provides examples of:
- A-Cup Angst: Natsumi mocking Sato's flat chest is just another one of the reasons the latter hates her.
- Adaptational Dumbass: While Chisa could sometimes be a little spacey in the original anime, she was still very competent. Abridged, however, turns her into a complete idiot.Chisa: I ate a pencil earlier. It tasted like splinters!
- Kizakura's alcoholism is taken up to eleven in the Abridged series, and as a result he's always so drunk that he barely even knows what's going on, compared to the original anime where he is generally portrayed as fairly competent.
- Adaptational Early Appearance: Izuru isn't created until the end of Episode 5 of Despair in the original anime. Here, he shows up at the end of Episode 3.
- Adaptational Villainy:
- Whereas in the original Tengan tries to dissuade Hajime from participating in the Kamukura Project, here he pushes him to join it.
- Kyosuke was a well-intentioned Knight Templar in the actual series. Here, his extremism in eradicating despair is extended from anyone who shows it, to everyone in the world. He's also completely self-centered, to the point that when he realizes what the mastermind's game is, he muses he should have thought of it first.
- Both Sato and Natsumi are worse here, with Sato being ready to murder Natsumi from the get-go and Natsumi burning down Mahiru's house twice.
- While Nagito's actions were always a bit questionable, at worst he's usually a Knight Templar operating off of Blue-and-Orange Morality. However, in Abridged, he seems to have a habit of killing small animals for no reason other than so he can "give them to God".
- Ambiguous Gender: Lampshading his very girlish design, Ryota's first appearance is asking Kyoko where the gender-neutral bathrooms are since he's not sure what he is. Juzo confirms he's a dude, though.
- Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking:
- Makoto's crimes against the Future Foundation include hiding the Remnants of Despair, sticking them on Jabberwock Island, forcing them to partake in a killing game...and eating the last bagel.
- When listing off the potential side-effects of the Izuru Kamukura Project, Tengan mentions loss of memory, loss of body control, extreme nightmares, violent fits of rage, loss of personality, chronic migraines, crippling depression...and massive hair growth and farting a lot.
- Badass Boast: Kyosuke gets this one in Side: Future Episode 2:Kyosuke: You call that a knife? (pulls out a katana) This is a knife.
- Black-and-White Insanity: Kyosuke's ruthlessness and Knight Templar attitude is, if possible, even more extreme. He literally thinks the solution to destroying despair is killing everyone in the world, outright believes morals are for the weak, and goes through so many leaps of Insane Troll Logic that Makoto can't even wrap his head around it.
- Black Blood: Averted and lampshaded. Juzo apparently punched Makoto so hard it turned his blood red.
- Brick Joke: One of Makoto's complaints about being in another killing game is that he's still attending therapy for the first one. This receives a nod later down the line in Despair 7, when Soshun thinks to himself that he's probably going to need therapy after his killing game starts.
- Comedic Sociopathy: Nekomaru apparently killed six students with the resulting explosion from his bowel movements, and is going to jail. This is waved off with a laugh by Chisa, the other students, and the faculty.
- Double Entendre: Chisa says that she and Kyosuke like to play a special game a lot, and that Juzo would like to play too, but she won't let him.
- Dwindling Party: As in the original, the Future Foundation members quickly start being picked off.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Despite apparently dismissing her death, Kyosuke is furious when Tengan involves Chisa in his Trash Talk.
- Faceless Masses: The Reserve Course students are drawn this way. Lampshaded by Hajime.Hajime: (thinking) WHY IS EVERYONE BLUE?!
- Fate Worse than Death: Played for Laughs. Hajime's mental screaming in the midst of the Faceless Masses suggests he sees being in the Reserve Course as this.
- Flat "What": Chiaki's reaction to being told she's been elected to the class rep position.
- For the Evulz: Does Monokuma really need any other reason?Monokuma: I'm going to make you guys kill each other until I get bored of it.
- Foreshadowing:
- In episode one of Side Future, Chisa (who is an Ultimate Despair at this point) is humming the Imperial March from Star Wars. In episode 6 of Side Despair, Junko hums it, an indication of what is going to happen to Chisa.
- Hajime's line about being in the Reserve Course because Hope's Peak is "preparing" for him and he's "the most talented person ever" is a pretty big arrow pointing to the Kamukura Project.
- Makoto defends his decision to help Class 77 by saying they were brainwashed, and then asks Kyosuke what he'd do if that had happened to Chisa. As anyone who watched the original anime knows, that is exactly what happened to her.
- Gilligan Cut: Used several times.
- When Kyoko remarks things could be worse, she specifically mentions they could be in Towa City. The scene switches to Komaru cowering behind a counter as Monokuma kill people.
- At the end of Despair 1, Chisa says she thinks her teaching job will go just fine. Cue The Tragedy.
- When Makoto says he's the Ultimate Lucky Student and we all know how real that is, Nagito's death scene in Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair is shown.
- Tengan says if Hajime doesn't want to go through with the Kamukura Project, he can just stay in the Reserve Course. The next scene shows Hajime silently screaming in the midst of the Faceless Masses, then cuts back to Tengan saying "I rest my case".
- Natsumi swears she'll get into the Main Course even if it kills her. The next scene is her death being announced.
- Gosh Darn It to Heck!: Chisa and Miaya (via Usami) use words like "poopy" in lieu of actual swearing.
- Groin Attack: Juzo does this to Makoto and Ryota on two separate occasions.
- Inferiority Superiority Complex: Hajime talks a lot about how great and talented he is, but it's pretty clearly a way to cover up his issues with being average.
- Incompatible Orientation: The Great Gozu's in love with Makoto, but the latter very gently tells him he doesn't swing that way.
- Innocently Insensitive: Chisa casually talks about Fuyuhiko's sister and Mahiru's friend "getting their heads smushed"...right in front of Fuyuhiko and Mahiru. She doesn't seem to see anything wrong with this.
- Insane Troll Logic: As far as Kyosuke's concerned, he's always right, and he'll twist any which way to prove it. For example:Ruruka: I bet Naegi's behind this!Makoto: I've been in confinement!Kyosuke: He admits it! Juzo, hold him down!
- Leaning on the Fourth Wall: Makoto claims Aoi's apparent death shocked him so much it made his voice change, reflecting how he got a new voice actor in the third episode.
- Mood Whiplash:
- Both the first episodes are rather whimsical and funny...and then end on dark notes, with Side:Future having Monokuma act completely serious as Chisa's corpse is dropped into the group, and Side:Despair showing a montage of the Tragedy. And then they whip right back to being funny with a one-liner delivered after.
- Despair 7 starts out par course for an abridged series, with the usual flippant jokes...until Junko starts The Tragedy of Hope's Peak Academy. Save a handful of snark and a Brick Joke, the slaughter of the students has very little humor and is portrayed as seriously and horribly as it is in canon.
- Mythology Gag:
- The game Chiaki is playing in Despair 1 is a murder mystery visual novel, which Hajime remarks on hating. When we get a glimpse of her game screen, it shows she's playing Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony.
- Music from the second game's class trial plays when Hajime analyzes Juzo in Despair 3.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: As in the main series, Juzo beating down Hajime crushes his self-esteem and resolves his mind in favor of going through the Kamukura Project.
- "No More Holding Back" Speech: As per the anime, Junko does this in Side: Despair 7 while the Student Council kill each other.Junko: Hope is such a sweet harmony. Peaceful and aspiring, and all that other sentimental bullshit. Despair is so much more. Despair is free, wild and unpredictable. It has so much more to offer. I know you said the concept bores you, but you need despair. The unpredictability intrigues you because it's the closest thing to excitement you will ever see.
- Official Couple: Sohnusuke and Ruruka. Kyosuke and Chisa are also explicitly confirmed to have been having sex at least in Despair 2.
- Oh, Crap!: Kyoko's reaction to seeing her NG code.Kyoko: (mentally) Oh shit.
- Only Sane Man: Makoto is by far the most normal person among the Future Foundation. Ditto for Chiaki and Class 77.
- Pet the Dog: In the post-credits scene of Future 2, Juzo admits to missing Chisa.
- The Pig-Pen: The Imposter mentions his personal smell puts people off. Mikan's also stated to smell like garbage.
- Precision F-Strike: Makoto of all people drops the first one when the Future Foundation blames him for being under attack, even though he's been in confinement. After hearing this and being held down, all he can snap is "well fuck all of you!"
- Rage Breaking Point:
- Throughout the duration of Side:Future, Kyosuke has maintained a relatively calm, uncaring demeanor. All that flies out the window when Tengan digs up Chisa.
- Ruruka telling Seiko she's been a terrible friend is what makes the latter snap, as Ruruka spends all her time manipulating her.
- Rapid-Fire "No!": Makoto lets out a series of these upon realizing he's back in another killing game.
- "Reason You Suck" Speech: Junko delivers one to Izuru when he calls her delirious.Junko: "Delirious"? The only one delirious here is the red-eyed chap who's been stuck in this room. And why is that? Is it because you don't live up to the expectations of your makers? How despair-inducing. There's nothing more boring than following the plans and ideals of life. Being created solely to be created must be even more dull. They made you and now they're done with you. Like last month's subscription of Naughty Nurses. Don't you wish to be free? Don't you wonder how you should live? I can show you the best way to live. Through despair. Oh? What's the matter? No witty comeback? Did I strike a nerve? Or did I intrigue you? Not surprising. There's nothing more amazing than despair. The unpredictability of it all is to die for. No simplicity, no predictability, no boredom. It's the only way to live. And I think you're the perfect person to experience it, honey buns.
- Record Needle Scratch: The calm background music in the preview for Despair 3 comes to a screeching, abrupt halt when Hajime off-handedly mentions an unspecified "girl" around Chiaki, who immediately whips around and gives him a Death Glare.
- Rousing Speech: The Great Gozu tries one when Future Foundation comes under attack. It doesn't work.
- Running Gag: "It's a good thing you're pretty" is used quite often, said by one character to another that is either dumb or being bone-headed: Makoto to Chisa, Kyosuke to Chisa, and Chiaki to Hajime.
- Sex God: Kyosuke and Chisa apparently have a very healthy sex life. She mentions giving him a "mouth present" as compensation for doing poorly on her investigation and says she can barely walk after they "play games" together.
- Ship Tease: As in the anime, it's present between Hajime and Chiaki. His reaction, upon watching her wave goodbye to him, is as follows:Hajime: ...I'm gonna marry her someday.
- There's also a suspect line where Kyoko tells Juzo to lay off "her bitch" when he punches Makoto.
- Between Kyosuke and Juzo. Juzo would happily suck his dick if he asked, and Kyosuke's only objection is that Chisa might still be alive. Once it's confirmed she's dead, he tells Juzo to go right ahead.
- Shoryuken: Chiaki actually shouts out the Trope Namer when punching Teruteru.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: Like in canon, Chisa slaps Nagito when he derogatorily refers to himself as a psychopath. Unlike canon, the shock of being slapped by his teacher outweighs the emotional encouragement, causing him to cry. Meanwhile, Chisa gets sent to the Reserve Department for laying her hands on a student.
- Suspiciously Specific Denial:
- Chiaki, after Hajime comments that it sounds like she has no social life, quickly fires back that she does have friends. Tons of friends! They just aren't here right now. Episode 2 confirms she really doesn't have any.
- Hajime himself, upon being asked by Chisa if he's in the Reserve Course, mutters "maaaaaaaybe" and then says it's only because Hope's Peak is trying to make room for him and he's "the most talented person ever".
- Chiaki later denies to herself that she misses Hajime in Despair Episode 4, working herself up into anger at him for disappearing without warning. Then a bird craps on her head and she starts telling herself to not cry.
- Tamer and Chaster: Downplayed. Despair 7 cuts out two Fanservice scenes (the camera lingering on Junko's body and one of Mikan's "trips") that were present in the original. What makes this only downplayed is that the deaths of the student council are still shown in full, horrifying detail.
- Take That!: Bandai complains that the communications being cut off means he can't get on the servers for Pokémon GO. Kyosuke dryly asks "when could you?"
- Tempting Fate:
- Chisa, upon being asked how she thinks her teaching job will go, answers "I think it'll go just fine!" The very next shot is a Gilligan Cut of the Remnants of Despair destroying the world.
- Natsumi swears to get in the Reserve Course even if it kills her. Sure enough...
- In Side:Despair Episode 4, Seiko muses to herself how absolutely nothing can break her concentration as she whips up her next concoction. Cue Nagito popping up behind her and very loudly saying hello.
- Threesome Subtext: When mentioning a "game" that she and Kyosuke play together, Chisa mentions that Juzo likes to try joining in sometimes too. Though she mentions that's not allowed, since its "hard walking as it is".
- Too Dumb to Live: Kyoko has no idea how Aoi survived the First Killing Game. Chisa's also regarded as a bit too stupid to be a teacher, much less a Future Foundation leader.
- Trash Talk: Tengan delivers an epic burn to Kyosuke in Future Episode 4 during their battle.Tengan: Oh yeah? Well if Yukizome can survive being around you long enough, I’m sure I can!
- Yandere: Sato for Mahiru, definitely.
- You Are Better Than You Think You Are: When Ryota starts beating himself up over his uselessness in Future 4, both Kyoko and Aoi jump to reassure him otherwise, listing the times he's helped them out. He looks absolutely touched by it.
