Top 10 Insane Executions in Danganronpa

“Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair” (2014)
Poor, sweet Mikan…well, that’s what we thought until she killed two people. So, what better way to get rid of the Ultimate Nurse than with a medical treatment? Starting with Mikan strapped to a gurney, Nurse Monokuma rushes out with a large syringe and proceeds to stab…wait, the bed? Okaaayyyyy, that’s actually a giant arm rocket, and is she…enjoying it? Yeah, watching this is like a bizarre music video. Think about it; a nurse straddling a giant fist rocket blasting into space? It gets points for keeping things simple, short, and sweet, but that’s also why it’s not higher on the list.

“Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc” (2014)
Probably not something Mondo had in mind when he became the Ultimate Biker Gang Leader, but there’s a first time for everything! With a stylish pompadour and a kickass bike, Monokuma sends Mondo speeding into the cage. So, class, what happens to the human body when it experiences high velocity and intense electrocution? You get…BUTTER! Or, in this case, Mondo Butter. Fast-paced, extreme, and pretty hilarious, it’s a memorable punishment only Monokuma could cook up. Speaking of cooking, anyone else in the mood for pancakes?

“Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc” (2014)
When the fourth trial ends with no blackened to punish, Monokuma finds a new candidate for his latest punishment; Chihiro’s artificial intelligence program, Alter Ego. You’d think a bat, a hammer, or…hell, any blunt object would work just fine. Then again, this is Monokuma dealing the punishment. An excavator will do just fine. The creepy music makes us sad to see our digital friend destroyed, and yet Monokuma’s oddly thorough destruction makes us laugh. Dude, we hate computer viruses, too, but this is overboard…or is it overkill?

“Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair” (2014)
Chef Monokuma is serving up another special dish for us, and the recipe calls for a pervert named Teruteru. Using a helicopter, Monokuma blasts missiles at a bound-up Teruteru, covering him in egg yolk and breadcrumbs before dropping him to fry in a volcano. Awwww, the scarf is still around his neck! How cute! *Ahem*…Anyways, this was a creative execution to finish off the Ultimate Cook…er…Chef, as Teruteru prefers to be called. It’s kind of bittersweet that his murder was accidental, intending to stop a killing, but becoming a killer instead. Nevertheless, one mystery remains…could we get this with some Mondo Butter?

“Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc” (2014)
Take me out to the ball game. Take me to Leon’s death. He murdered Sayaka using a knife. Now, let’s witness the end of his life! (Whoa, that sounded more demented said out loud…) After being dragged and tied up in a cage, a pitching machine starts firing off hundreds of baseballs, with Monokuma smacking some good ones of his own. His death is left embedded in our heads for how brutal this execution was, and we are left with a haunting image of the former Ultimate Baseball Star, surrounded by the bloodstained baseballs that killed him. Mighty Leon has struck out.

“Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc” (2014)
Sometimes, Monokuma isn’t so immediate in killing off blackened students. When CelestiaLudenberg (or Taeko Yasuhiro, whichever you prefer) is found out, Monokuma has her tied to a stake and prepares to burn her alive. Completing the stage with some gothic architecture and eerie music, the Ultimate Gambler seems ready to accept her fate. What makes this dramatic execution resonate is in how its plays with our expectations. Just as the flames are ready to envelope Celestia, a speeding fire truck leaps off a ramp and instantly kills her. She’ll just have to imagine the fire.

“Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair” (2014)
Who would have thought the guy with hamster—I mean, the Four Dark Devas of Destruction, would get on the chopping block? In this execution, Monokuma leads a stampede of animals heading towards the Ultimate Breeder’s direction. Thanks to Gundham’s “powers of Hell”, he quickly etches symbols into the sand around him, ready to unleash a spell…and fails, miserably. While this entry is another bittersweet goodbye, it’s the ending that makes this a real kicker. Puppies, bunnies, and kittens descend from the sky to carry his body into the afterlife. Awww…hope those hamsters will be okay.

“Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair” (2014)
Now, this could be defined as a gamer’s nightmare, aside from lagging and system failures. Chiaki, known as the Ultimate Gamer, is forced to experience dangerous counterparts of retro games. “Space Invaders” basically becomes a firing squad between Monomis and a massive tank. Then, said tank chases them down a la “Pac-Man” before trapping Chiaki &Monomi in a small room, finishing them off with a brief round of Tetris. Despite its creative style and different nods to gaming’s greatest, we can’t get over this execution given how late it happens in “Danganronpa 2” and how close we grew with Chiaki until this point. The tears are still coming up…

“Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair” (2014)
We’ve had some thrills, chills, and kills on this list, but what puts Peko’s execution high on this list is the tragedy that resulted and how her death affects Fuyuhiko afterwards. Monokuma takes control of Peko’s body via marionette and puts on a spectacle of robot-slicing! However, amidst the chaos, she accidentally cuts Fuyuhiko’s eye, leaving even Monokuma in shock. Her last moment was holding Fuyuhiko’s head to her chest before she was stabbed in the back. This took such a toll on Fuyuhiko that it changes his character from a bratty mafia kid to someone respectful and supportive. You won’t be just a tool to us, Peko.

Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few Honorable Mentions:

Mukuro Ikusaba
“Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc” (2014)

Kyoko Kirigiri & Makoto Naegi
“Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc” (2014)

“Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc” (2014)
Crazy is as crazy does, and Junko is certainly no exception. After experiencing an extreme form of despair, Junko goes off the deep end and subjects herself to every execution her victims suffered from. Blast Off, the 1,000 Blows, Cage of Death, Burning of the Versailles Witch, Excavator Destroyer, and for the finale, After School Lesson. She did it all! Six executions! SIX!! This wouldn’t be called “the Ultimate Punishment” for nothing. Hey, it’s a better way to go out than suffering a humiliating defeat by a magical rabbit with rainbow powers. Oh, wait…she did in the second game, didn’t she?