Danganronpa Plush Guide

Danganronpa is a bit of a guilty pleasure for me. It’s convoluted, and the writing can be kind of hoaky. Still, it touches that little middle-school version of myself that is slightly overdramatic. I enjoy the over-the-top characters and ridiculous scenarios. 

Warning: This article contains many spoilers for the Danganronpa games, especially Killing Harmony.

Selection Criteria

Availability

The plushies included in this list are all easily found and bought online. As a result, all these plushies are official Danganronpa merchandise. Since they are mass-produced, they are unlikely to run out and with be consistent.

Price

Plushies can get expensive. A good quality plush is worth a lot, but sometimes the market can abuse that and make you pay way too much for a cheap product just for what it resembles. All the plushies I’ve included are reasonably priced for how they are made.

Best Character Appearance

Most of the characters on this list only have one plush to their name that fits the prior criteria. However, some of the most popular characters have more than one option. I’ve compared which of the plushes best represents the character and which plush is better designed in these cases.

The Ultimate Plushies

Currently, most of the available Danganronpa plushies are from the third game, Killing Harmony. The others are special characters, mostly found in the second game, Goodbye Despair. All of the available plushies of the human characters are small, none larger than 10 inches. There are two prominent styles, with a few characters getting their own unique styles.

The few characters from Trigger Happy Havoc and Goodbye Despair are smaller and rounder, meant to be hung from a backpack or keychain. They’ve got stubby little arms and legs without hands or feet. The Killing Harmony characters are bigger with more balanced proportions. They’re thinner and have feet but their faces, especially the eyes, are more simplified. 

Monokuma

As the game’s mascot that already looks like a toy, it’s no surprise that he makes the best plush for the game. It’s hard not to make a Monokuma plush that looks exactly like him, and he is the character with the most options.

Nagito Komaeda

With the exception of Monokuma, Nagito is the most popular Danganronpa character. So I understood why I found a few different plushies for him. The plush I’ve included in this list is probably my favorite style, and it’s a shame that no other characters share it. The eyes’ design includes a surprising about of detail and shading without being creepy. I also like the proportions between the head and the body. The body is big enough to display a lot of costume detail but small enough to make the face the most noticeable part.

Chiaki Nanami

I’ll admit this choice may be heavily influenced by the fact that Chiaki is one of my favorite characters. Still, I think the plush I found for her represents her character well and looks fantastic, so she shares a spot with Nagito. It doesn’t look cheap or fall into the traps of having uncanny eyes or strangely styled hair that other plushies struggle with.

Kaede Akamatsu

Of all the Killing Harmony characters, I found Kaede to make the best plush. Most likely, this is because of how well her design can be simplified. Many of the other characters have crazy anime hair or overly detailed outfits that are difficult to recreate with fabric, but Kaede is already fairly simple so her little plush matches better.

Cross Game Characters

Monokuma

The murderous bear is the most recognizable of Danganronpa’s many characters. I saw and knew him long before I heard of the games. His design is unique and gives an immediate impression of the kind of character he is. His constant presence in the game and toy-like design means plenty of Monokuma plushies to choose from.

The downside is that they are hard to differentiate, as they don’t depict different versions of Monokuma. When buying a Monokuma plush online, be careful; some of the images shown aren’t of the plush being sold. This plush from Walmart was the one I found to be the most reputable and high quality.

Price: $10

Size: 10 inches

Pros

• It’s made of soft, quality fabric.
• It’s a good size.
• It’s a lot cheaper than the options on other online platforms.

Cons

• The snout on the black half of the face is a little droopy.
• The belly button might fall off.

Junko Enoshima

When starting Trigger Happy Havoc, Junko appears to simply be the Ultimate Fashionista, who quickly gets killed off. But she becomes much more, being revealed as the Ultimate Despair and both games’ primary villain. Fans are enamored by her style and shifting personalities, all set to create as much despair as possible.

Size: 5 inches

Pros

• The small size and chibi design make this plush very cute.
• The flat hair works well for the pigtails.
• Includes a surprising amount of detail on the body.
• It comes with a key ring that is easily hidden by the hair.

Cons

• This plush depicts Junko in her first appearance, which actually turns out to be Junko’s sister, Mukuro.
• The hair clips don’t sit very well and look like an afterthought.

Goodbye Despair Characters

Hajime Hinata

Hajime is the protagonist of the second Danganronpa game, Goodbye Despair. Unlike the other students, he doesn’t remember his talent. He doesn’t have the same strong personality as many others, so the player can project themselves onto him easily. Compared to the other characters, his design is very simple, and not much is lost when turning him into a tiny plushy.

Size: 5 inches

Pros

• His face looks hopeful and determined.
• It also has an easily hidden or removed key ring.
• The hair is shaped to look exactly like the game.

Cons

• The shoe color is pale and makes him look barefoot.
• The flat hair looks strange from the side.

Izuru Kamukura

Izuru is not a student participating in the killing game or one of the masterminds behind it, unlike most other characters here. He’s a character revealed at the end of the game as an alternate, despair-filled version of Hajime. His hair is much longer, his eyes are red, and he has a broody demeanor.

Size: 5 inches

Pros

• I really like the way the hair completely encompasses the body.
• The expression excellently conveys the character’s personality.

Cons

• The head shape and colors make the neck area look very strange.
• The key ring can’t be hidden if you aren’t using it as a clip, though it should be cut carefully.

Monomi

The second game introduced the second stage toy-like creature of the series, Monomi. She acts as the teacher of the class and is constantly overpowered by Monokuma. When the game begins, she looks like a white rabbit in a magical girl costume, but Monokuma quickly gives her a makeover. For the rest of the game, she has the color split Monokuma is known for but with pink instead of black, and the facial features match each side.

Monomi plushes have the same issue as Monokuma plushes. There’s no shortage of them but judging the quality online is difficult. The link for Monomi here also includes a Monokuma, but he isn’t the same quality as Monomi.

Size: 10 inches

Pros

• The diaper has buttons and lace detailing.
• The plush is very soft and cuddly.

Cons

• This plush prioritizes softness, so it isn’t firm enough to be used as decoration.
• The bottom of the mouth is slightly crooked.

Nagito Komaeda

Nagito, the Ultimate Lucky Student, represents all the insanity of the Danganronpa games. He initially appears to be a normal guy, maybe a little too reverent of the Ultimates he is surrounded by, but overall well-meaning. Then as the game progresses, his radical ideologies become more and more apparent. I admit, though he is a fan favorite, I have always found him annoying. Yet I have to admit, his popularity has given him a high-quality plush.

Size: 8 inches

Pros

• His eyes look exactly like the game’s art style without being too detailed.
• His coat comes off.
• The pattern on his jacket is very detailed.

Cons

• The hair isn’t as messy as it looks in the game.
• The bottom of his coat isn’t hemmed and might fray if handled roughly.

Nanami Chiaki

With her chill attitude, clever thinking, and kind demeanor, I’m a fan of Chiaki, the Ultimate Gamer. Her supportive role throughout the game makes her endearing. Even when she’s revealed to be an agent of the Despair project, she doesn’t seem evil or insane like the other villains.

Size: 5 inches

Pros

• Includes many elements of her outfit, even the hoodie ears.
• Her expression is kind and soft.
• The hair clip is solidly attached.

Cons

• Does not include her cute backpack.
• Her bangs aren’t cut right.

Despair Hinata

Despair Hinata is a different version of the character not seen in the games, appearing only in the despair arc of the anime. In this version, Hajime wears a black suit instead of his school uniform. It is how he appeared after the strategy when he and the rest of the class were becoming the Remnants of Despair. I’ve included this version of Hinata and his game design in this list because I find this to be a quality plush, even if it’s more obscure.

Size: 8 inches

Pros

• Good for people who enjoy not just the games but the anime as well.
• I like the angry expression, fitting for a character going down a dark path.

Cons

• His eyes look brown instead of green.
• His hair is a lighter color than it should be.

Killing Harmony Characters

Kaede Akamatsu

The third Danganronpa game sets itself apart from the others, the first being the twist involving Kaede, the Ultimate Pianist. She initially seems to be fulfilling the protagonist role Naegi and Hajime had before her, but in the first class trial, she is exposed as the killer and executed. Before her memories were wiped, she wanted to participate in the killing game due to her lack of faith in humanity.

Size: 6 inches

Pros

• The hair looks absolutely amazing. It perfectly captures her style.
• The pastel colors are very pleasing.

Cons

• The eye style of the Killing Harmony plushies makes them all seem like they’re looking down.

Kaito Momota

This Ultimate Astronaut has one of the more confusing talents in my eyes. Astronaut isn’t much of a skill, and he cheated his exams and hasn’t even been to space. However, his boldness makes him endearing, and he is determined to accomplish anything he sets his mind to. A trait leftover from his original life where he wanted to participate in the killing game just to murder someone and win.

Size: 6 inches

Pros

• His pointy little beard is very cute in plush form.
• He’s the only Killing Harmony plush with a unique expression.

Cons

• His hair looks cheap and just plain stupid.
• This plush can’t accommodate the coolest part of his design, the space pattern lining of his coat.

Maki Harukawa

The Ultimate Assasin, disguised as the Ultimate Childcare Giver, Maki keeps her feelings under wraps but has a soft spot for a select few. She maintains a cool and critical demeanor when participating in the killing game, ensuring no one suspects her true talent. 

Size: 6 inches

Pros

• Her pigtails are actually stuffed instead of being flat cut-outs.
• Her bangs help to convey her stand-offish attitude.

Cons

• There is a strange seam on her chin.
• The red of her shirt is a bit too bright.

Rantaro Amami

Although he doesn’t know it, Rantaro is a seasoned pro at the Killing game, being one of the only survivors of the 52nd season and being moved on into the 53rd season that we see in-game. This is how he got the title Ultimate Survivor. His experience makes him worried and suspicious of their circumstances when the killing game begins, and rightfully so.

Size: 6 inches

Pros

• The fabric and pattern of the shirt look exactly like his shirt in-game.
• His eye color works better than most with the Killing Harmony plush style.

Cons

• His hair looks nothing like it should. The color is too light, and the style too messy.
• Since there are no hands, he’s missing his jewelry, making his design very plain.

Kokichi Oma

Kokichi is very secretive about his fabricated past, never quite giving a clear answer about why he was given the title of Ultimate Supreme Leader. He likes to be in control of the situation and does his best to prevent being a pawn in the Killing Game.

Size: 6 inches

Pros

• The way the hair fans out is cute, if inaccurate.
• I like the little checkered bandana,

Cons

• He also has a strange face seam below his mouth.
• The pant belts look stupid.

Shuichi Saihara

For the first time, we see a duplicate ultimate talent as Shuichi shares the title of Ultimate Detective with Kyoko from Trigger Happy Havoc. He’s tricky and clever, entering the killing game to use his intelligence to create an unsolvable murder. For most of the game, he uses his skills to solve the other murders and keep the game from ending.

Size: 6 inches

Pros

• The hair is neat and lays well.
• Good detailing on the buttons and crest of his jacket.

Cons

• He is missing his hat.
• His shoes are bright blue instead of black.

Summary

Danganronpa has a huge cast of colorful characters. It would be quite a task to make plushies for all of them, so only a select few are available from official sources. Currently, the third game sees the most plushies, the only one where the characters are just regular participants rather than protagonists, villains, or traitors. The two older games have a few characters available, but they all play special roles or appear in multiple games. 

Even though many characters are left out, there are still plenty of choices, and most plushes resemble their characters well. If you’ve got a desire for a little soft friend from your favorite twisted franchise, then you’ll most likely find one that’s right for you. Even if you don’t find one among the official merchandise, many other fans are ready to make you one of your own.

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