Danganronpa - 3

To start off, I'm sorry about this review being late - there weren't any subbed releases out yesterday, so I had to wait until today for one to be released. I don't know why it took an extra day, but I'm not really fussed, because Danganronpa has continued to impress me with its third episode. I'd definitely recommend you watch it, as this entry to the series is as thrilling as it is thought-provoking.

So, this is the classroom trial,. They are locked and loaded - they even have an ultra high FOV!

This episodes starts right where the last one finishes - Naegi (or Makoto) has been accused of murdering Maizono, even though we, the viewers, know he is innocent. The classroom trial is about to commence. This is where the anime shows its video game roots - the whole episode is set out like it has game mechanics, a little reminiscent of Scott Pilgrim. This is backed up with a bunch of stylish camera angles. It is also incredibly tense for a collection of people debating who the culprit is - the fact that if they don't select the right character as guilty, everyone dies apart from the culprit weighing down on them. I'd like to compare it with Phoenix Wright's cases - they actually play out completely differently than everyone thinks at first. This is something I really liked.

Kirigiri's serious.

Even though you aren't doing the solving yourself, it feels so satisfying when the characters uncover the correct solution to each problem, especially when all the evidence comes together. I usually do a synopsis, but this episode has plenty of intricacies and twists (like the Phoenix Wright case), meaning that it this review would go on forever if I went through everything. However, I will do a brief synopsis. (If you don't want to read it, skip the next two paragraphs).

There are so many weird yet beautiful things about a hench guy drinking tea.

The episode starts out with the majority thinking that Naegi was the culprit, but Asahina and Ohgami explain how when they were in the kitchen, they witnessed Maizono take a knife. Kirigiri then talks about how Naegi wasn't the killer, as the bathroom door was broken open, and since the murder took place in his room, he knew the technique to opening the bathroom door properly. The culprit would also think that the room Maizono was in was a girls room, as she had switched around the name tags. Naegi was the only other person who knew about the switch, meaning him committing the murder would be less likely. It is then revealed that Maizono gave a letter to someone, inviting the person to her room. Through analysing the evidence, it is found that she actually tried to murder the person with the kitchen knife, but they defended themselves and overpowered her, took the weapon and then stabbed her.

Naegi's also serious.

The number 11037 was written on the wall where the murder took place. Naegi deduces that if you rotate the number 180 degrees, it says Leon, which is part of Kuwata's name. Naegi then explains how Kuwata would've incinerated the evidence, as part of it was left on the floor in the incinerator room during the investigation. As he was the super-duper high school baseball player, he took Hagakure's crystal ball and threw it at the exact right place to open the gate to the room. After some more evidence is presented, the group conclude that Kuwata is the culprit, and Monobear confirms that they are right. It is then we are shown our first execution scene, which is similar in style to the opening of the first episode, and I have to mention that this looks pretty awesome. As he is the baseball player, it involves him getting hit with volleys of baseballs incredibly quickly, which would kill anyone. Understandably, everyone is shocked, but don't worry, because Monobear still doesn't give a damn.

He got killed so hard he died.

To conclude, Danganronpa is the second best anime I've watched this season. Its exciting, tense, and intelligent. I am shaking with anticipation for the release of the next episode, and you should be too. If you aren't watching Danganronpa yet, I sincerely recommend you do.

Here's a dose of Monobear, because, well, Monobear.