Danganronpa/Transcript

This is the transcript for the 2018 Maloing/Paramount animated film, Danganronpa.

Opening logos
(2012-present Paramount Pictures logo plays)

(Maloing Entertainment logo plays)

Text: PARAMOUNT PICTURES presents

Text: a MALOING ENTERTAINMENT production

Act 1
Makoto: Before we go any farther, I guess I should introduce myself. My name's Makoto Naegi.

(Makoto appears on screen)

Makoto (narrating): As you can see, I'm nothing but a hopelessly average high school student. Average on the outside, average on the inside. I really don't have much going for me when it comes to grades, special abilities, even personality. I mean yeah, I have hobbies and stuff I like to do, but it's not like I'm a psychic or mutant or whatever. Like, if you asked me what my favorite song was, or my favorite movie or TV show... They'd all just be whatever's most popular at that particular moment. Even among the average, I'm completely average. So I can't even say I'm your "everyday hero" type. That's just who I am. Anyway, I figure it's always good to introduce yourself right off the bat. But if I have any kind of "strong point," so to speak... I'd say I'm a little more gung-ho than other people. I mean look at me. I'm completely ordinary, but still... Here I am, standing in front of the anything but ordinary Hope's Peak Academy.

Makoto: I still can't believe I'm standing here. I wonder if someone like me can survive in a place like this.

Makoto (narrating): It's got this overwhelming presence...like it's trying to swallow me whole. But it's no wonder I would feel that way. What you have to understand is... Well, let me just tell you about the "preparation" I did last night to get ready for today. Hope's Peak only invites those students who are the truly elite in their field. It's such a popular topic, there are threads online dedicated to talking about the school's attendees. So to prepare, I looked up some of the those threads. And all I saw was talk about "ultimate" students, who were way beyond your average high schooler. For example, one incoming student is the "Ultimate Pop Sensation." I guess she's a high school girl who's also the lead singer for a pop group famous all over the country. There's also the "Ultimate Baseball Star." He was the cleanup hitter for the national high school champs. Pro teams already have their eyes on him. Then there's the "Ultimate Fashionista." She's been on the cover of tons of fashion magazines. She's what every high school girl wants to be. Oh, and they mentioned the "Ultimate Biker Gang Leader." The scary thing is, he's the de facto leader of every biker gang in Japan. Gangs everywhere love the guy. On top of that, there's the Ultimate Martial Artist, the Ultimate Fanfic Creator, the Ultimate Gambler, The Ultimate Swimming pro, the Ultimate Programmer, the Ultimate Clairvoyant, and then some. Reading that made me realize how totally powerless I was. It was the country's finest, top to bottom. I felt like a tame little house cat who'd wandered into a pride of lions. But still, there was something I couldn't stop thinking about. You see, there were a few students who I couldn't find any info on, no matter how much I looked. With all those "ultimate" students, I'm the only one without any kind of worthwhile talent. But then, what about those other new students who didn't seem to pop up anywhere.

Makoto: Could they be just average students like me, without any talent or anything?

Makoto (narrating): That thought was kind of encouraging. I mean, I know I don't have much in the way of personality. But beyond that, there's an even bigger issue... How did such an unbelievably average student like me get picked to come to this "ultimate" high school? I mean, I guess there is a reason... You just have to take one glance at the acceptance letter they sent me to see why. "We recently held a lottery to select one ordinary student to attend our school. As a result, you have been selected, and we invite you to join us as the Ultimate Lucky Student." They spelled it out plain as day--I got invited by pure luck. Honestly, I probably would have been better off just declining their offer. But after hearing how graduating was a "guarantee for success" later in life, I just couldn't say no. But then, actually standing there in front of the school... I started to feel lost, like I didn't belong there. I could feel myself losing my nerve.

Makoto: But still...I can't just stand here in front of the gate forever...

Makoto (narrating): Frozen in place, murmuring to myself, I looked down at the acceptance letter clutched in my hand. It said there'd be a meeting for all incoming students in the main hall at 8 a.m. The meeting still isn't for a little while, but...

Makoto: I should probably just head in. Yeah... Yeah, let's do this!

Makoto (narrating): gathered up all my determination and tried to act like I'd done this a million times before. And I took my first step towards the main hall...

Makoto: This is where we're supposed to meet, right? I guess I'm the first one here. I was so wound up, I got here way too early.

Makoto (narrating): I have plenty of time before the meeting. Just standing around waiting isn't exactly... I should take a look around the school. Maybe that'll help me calm down a little.

Makoto: I am a student here now, so there shouldn't be any problem with me having a look around, right?

Makoto (narrating): It'll help me kill some time, if nothing else. Trying to play it cool, I took my first step into Hope's Peak Academy. It was also my first step toward starting a new life at a new school. At least, that's what I was hoping for.

♪ Music cuts out. ♪

(school warped twisted into black fade)

Makoto: What the--!?

Narrator: But the instant I took that first step forward... My view became warped, twisted. It was like some kind of delusion, melting away and mixing together into something else. Spinning, mixing, melting away, then spinning again... And the next moment... Everything went black. That was how it all began... And how life as I knew it came to an end. At that point I should have realized... The reason I was brought to Hope's Peak Academy wasn't because I had ultimate good luck. It was so I could experience ultimate despair.

(Shows the film's title)

Act 2
Makoto: ............Nng?

Makoto: Wh-What...? Where am I?

Makoto (narrating): I woke up with my head resting on top of a hard wooden desk. My body feels...heavy. It's pretty normal for me to zonk off in the middle of some boring class or whatever, but... What was I doing asleep here just now? This isn't a classroom I've ever been in before.

Makoto: What the heck is going on...?

Narrator: It's a dangerous world we live in. I guess they have these to keep weirdos from just wandering in. In any normal classroom, that's where a window should be. But it looks like some kind of metal plate has been bolted over it. And if I were to knock on it...

(Bang bang)

Makoto (narrating): Yup. Definitely metal. Thick, too. Very solid.

Narrator: Wait, that's not what matters here. More importantly, why are there metal plates over the windows? It was just after 7 when I first got here. Has it really been almost and hour since then? The school *is* funded by the national government, so I guess it's not that weird to have TVs in here... Something feels...off.

Makoto: An orientation guide...? It's some kind of cheap-looking pamphlet. And there's something handwritten on it.

Makoto: What the hell? Is this someone's idea of a joke?. Okay, let's see. So what might have happened is..

Makoto (narrating): I got myself so wound up, I passed out in the main hall. And then someone carried me here...? If that's true it must mean... This is a classroom inside Hope's Peak.

Makoto: But then if *that's* true...

Makoto (narrating): That just raises more questions. This is all really strange. I mean, those metal plates covering the windows... It's like it's a prison or something. None of this makes any sense...

Makoto: I should probably head back to the main hall. It's already past the meeting time. There might be other students there now.

Makoto (narrating): So let's go see what the hallway looks like.

Makoto: Jeez... This hallway is kind of weird, too.

Makoto (narrating): This is getting stranger by the second. I honestly have no idea what's going on...

Makoto: Well, for now I'll just head to the main hall...

Makoto (narrating): "Despair Hotel"...? I guess it's a place for people to stay overnight.

???: Whoa, hey! Another new kid?

Makoto: Huh? Then you guys are all...?

???: Yeah... We're all new here.

???: So counting him, that makes fifteen.

Makoto: Um...how's it going? My name's Makoto Naegi. Sorry I'm late. A bunch of stuff happened, and then all of a sudden I was just...asleep.

Hiro: Whoa, you too?

Celeste: Things just keep getting curiouser and curiouser...

Hifumi: So strange... I declare beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is a strange situation indeed!

Makoto: Um...what are you talking about? I honestly have no idea what's going on right now.

Taka: Just a moment! There's something else we must address! Makoto! Your tardiness is unacceptable! Surely you were aware the meeting was to start at 8 a.m. sharp! To be late on your first day is unspeakable! I must report you, and you must accept your due punishment!

Junko: What's your problem? It's not like he *wanted* to be late. He didn't have any control over it.

Hina: Everyone just calm down! Listen, why don't we all go around and introduce ourselves?

Mondo: The hell!? Now's no time for friggin' introductions!

Celeste: Maybe, but it may be good to at least find out who we all are before digging into the bigger problems here. I mean, how are we even supposed to talk to each other if we do not know each other's names?

Chihiro: That's a good point...

Sayaka: Okay, so let's get introductions out of the way, then we can move on to whatever else. Sound good?

Makoto (narrating): ''I'm still totally lost, but I think it's best to just focus on getting to know each other for now. So I guess this is as good a chance as I'm gonna get. I already looked everyone up on that Hope's Peak Academy thread online, but... I still don't really know what kind of people they actually are.''

More coming soon!