Monokuma

Monokuma (モノクマ) is a stuffed robotic bear and the self-proclaimed Headmaster of Hope's Peak Academy who instigates the Killing School Life featured in Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc.

He later takes over the Killing School Trip featured in Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair, kicking out Usami in the process.

He later returns one last time in the Hope's Peak Series, taking over the Future Foundation HQ and starting the Final Killing Game featured in Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School.

Monokuma returns once again in the Ultimate Academy for Gifted Juveniles Series, starting a new Killing Game, the Killing School Semester, featured in Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony alongside his children, the Monokubs.

History
During the refinement in preparation for the Killing School Life, Junko determined that a mascot is necessary as well - not even a host dressed in a sort of a cartoon character outfit would do. Therefore, during the prototype execution featuring Chiaki Nanami, she hosted the broadcast to the Class 77-B with a non-robotic stuffed bear version of Monokuma. At around the same time, she contacted Monaca, the Head of Towa Group's robotics division, to create the robotic version to be used for the Killing School Life, as well as additional units to serve as Junko's army. In order to hide the true nature of the robot, Monaca claimed that she wanted to develop a series of robots that could assist in rescue operations and other scenarios that would be dangerous for humans. The Monokuma units were then secretly distributed to the various branches of Ultimate Despair, with Junko taking several for her plot at Hope's Peak Academy. Junko also creates a personality for Monokuma in the Killing Game while she controls him.

Triva

 * His original Japanese voice actress Nobuyo Ōyama is popular from her voice acting of Doraemon, which Spike Chunsoft purposely made Monokuma sound like. Due to her battle with dementia, she retired from voice acting, with her last in-game role being Cyber Danganronpa VR.


 * His name in DISTRUST was originally Phantom.


 * Monokuma also shares some similarities with Zero lll from Zero Escape including that they are highly advanced technologies structured after animals that are intermediaries behind the mastermind and the players.


 * Another thing that should be noted is that both of them have highly erratic and ecstatic personalities, though occasionally lower their voices in threatening remarks. They are also voiced by TARAKO, which was likely cast in reference to Zero III since both Kotaro Uchikoshi, and Kazutaka Kodaka are known friends.