| “ | Giving up on life and choosing death...is nothing but a blasphemy toward life. It is a violation of the natural order! It is the arrogance of humanity!
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” |
Gundham Tanaka (田中 眼蛇夢), is a student of Hope's Peak Academy's Class 77-B, and a participant of the Killing School Trip featured in Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair and its upcoming remake, Danganronpa 2x2.[14] His title is the Ultimate Breeder (超高校級の「飼育委員」 lit. Super High School Level Animal Breeding Committee Member).
He also appears in Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School, which explores his school life leading up to the Killing School Trip and The Tragedy.
History[]
Early Life[]
Gundham lived with his mother during his childhood. Even though they appeared to have a good mother-son relationship, her cooking skills left much to be desired. Having no choice but to silently endure her terrible cooking as to not make her cry, Gundham began to develop a belief that his body was "poisonous" and carried "a fearsome curse." He then used his home life to create a defensive persona to not let other people touch him, claiming that they would "immediately decompose and wither away." He applied this when he was in grade school, where it was revealed that he never held hands with other children. He would fake a condition and position himself near the teacher to avoid questions. He also regularly skipped folk dances at school,[15] managing to leave without participating, thanks to a nurse who sympathized with him, or as he put it in his own words, "from the same tribe" as him.[4] He also mentioned that he had only been to an amusement park once during his childhood and that no one had ever bought him a toy.[16][17]
Gundham seemed to have an absent father, as his mother is the only parental figure he explicitly mentioned and credited with raising him. He only hinted at his father's existence by describing himself as "the offspring of an angel and a devil" and "a result of a union between a human and a demon."[17][18]
While attending Fazal Commerce High School[9][10], Gundham became a notable member of the Breeding Club due to his ability to tame any animal and his success in proliferating endangered species. A joke rumor circulated that he could also speak to animals.[19] His most noteworthy contribution, however, was running a website related to animal breeding. The true content was never revealed, but he claimed that his research results were eagerly awaited by scientists (or "sorcerers") around the world. The website was said to be highly secured (or "magically enchanted") so only chosen individuals could access it, while ordinary people could only access the dummy site called "Exciting Breeding Journal."[20] Gundham also conducted his own ethical breeding research, with his latest project being a hybrid hamster with "sparkling silver fur" with dominant spots and bands. Alongside this and many other animals he cared for at home, he entrusted their care to people he selected to assist with his breeding duties.[7]
Four Dark Devas of Destruction
Gundham was always seen carrying the Four Dark Devas of Destruction (破壊神暗黒四天王, hakai-shin ankoku shiten-ō lit. Four Heavenly Kings of Darkness and Gods of Destruction), his four pet hamsters inside his scarf.[19] Their names are Supernova Silver Fox San-D (orange and white), Mirage Golden Hawk Jum-P (the ever-sleepy tan fur with a peach underbelly), Crimson Steel Elephant Maga-Z (grey and white with a chipped ear), and Invading Black Dragon Cham-P (orange and plump). Due to their territorial nature, Gundham used his body as "a bed" to tame them, which was why his left hand was always wrapped in bandages.[7][21]
Prior to the Tragedy[]
Attending Hope's Peak Academy[]
First Year[]
Cleaning the classroom
Gundham was scouted by Hope's Peak Academy and enrolled in Class 77-B as the Ultimate Breeder and referred to himself as "Tanaka the Forbidden One." Since attendance was not mandatory for Ultimates as long as they continued to hone their talents, Gundham was not among the classmates who regularly attended class. Nonetheless, he was relatively easy to convince by his homeroom teacher, Chisa Yukizome, to start attending classes to build strong relationships and foster "hope" with his peers alongside honing his talent.[22]
With Class 77-B
Gundham was often seen spending time with his classmates—playing video games, having lunch together, electing Chiaki Nanami, the Ultimate Gamer, as their class representative, and even letting Kazuichi Soda, the Ultimate Mechanic, to play with Four Dark Devas of Destruction.[23][24] He also grew close to Sonia Nevermind, the Ultimate Princess, who, over time, picked up Gundham's unique way of speaking and mannerisms.[25]
With his pet pomeranian
As the Ultimate Breeder, Gundham often trained his pets and brought them to school, including his 'fearsome' Pomeranian. This pet was one of the few that was difficult for him to train,[26] managing to escape and wander the halls of Hope's Peak Academy on its own, prompting him to put up a missing poster for it. Unbeknownst to him, it had encountered Nagito Komaeda, the Ultimate Lucky Student, who accidentally spilled a drink while trying to greet it, only for the Pomeranian to lick it. These drinks were actually laced with the Antagonist drug of Gundham's upperclassman, Seiko Kimura, the Ultimate Pharmacist. This caused the pomeranian to grow into a giant and accidentally wreak havoc in the school gym, leading to a bomb incident. As a result, Nagito was suspended for a year due to his involvement in the incident, while Chisa as his homeroom teacher was placed on probation for one semester with the Reserve Course. Meanwhile, the pomeranian eventually shrank back to its normal size and returned to Gundham, who remained unaware of what it had done.[5]
Second Year[]
Performing with Grizner
In his upperclassman year, Gundham continued to bring his pets to his classroom, even Grizner, a live brown bear, to demonstrate his talent by performing a series of strange gestures with it. This occurred around the same time when students from the Reserve Course students launch a massive protest against the Main Course, blaming them for causing the Tragedy of Hope's Peak Academy. Unbeknownst to most, the true mastermind behind the tragedy was Junko Enoshima, the originator of Ultimate Despair, who manipulated events behind the scenes and framed Izuru Kamukura—the result of the Izuru Kamukura Project—for the incident. The Hope's Peak Academy committee, responsible for the project, was accused of using the exorbitant fees paid by Reserve Course students to create so-called 'murderers'.[6][27]
Twelve Zodiac Generals
Although Gundham and his classmates were seemingly unrelated to the growing protest, they became involved after noticing that Mikan Tsumiki, the Ultimate Nurse, had been absent for some time. Nagito, who had recently returned from his suspension, claimed to have seen her on the school grounds, prompting Gundham, alongside his Twelve Zodiac Generals (each of the Four Dark Devas of Destruction's identical offspring), and the others to search for her while the parade was ongoing, but to no avail.[28]
Contemplating whether to go or not upon Nagito's warning
Gundham and his classmates reconvened in their classroom after failing to locate Mikan and assumed that Nagito had given them false information. However, they were soon shocked when Chiaki returned carrying an unconscious Nagito, and Mikan—whom they had been searching for—also appeared, carrying Peko Pekoyama, the Ultimate Swordswoman, who had been injured in a battle with Junko's twin sister, Mukuro Ikusaba. Chiaki and Nagito had infiltrated Junko's lair, but before Nagito could shoot Junko, Izuru knocked him out. Chisa, who had followed them, intervened just in time to buy enough time for Chiaki to carry Nagito to safety. Gundham, who was initially pleased with the chance to unleash his power to help Chisa, reconsidered once Nagito urged them not to go, warning it might be a suicide mission. However, Chiaki convinced him otherwise.[29]
Rejoining the group
On their way to Junko's lair, their path was blocked by a band of Reserve Course students who wished to take them on in the battle to create placements on the Main Course for themselves. Gundham, together with Nekomaru Nidai, the Ultimate Team Manager, stayed behind to fend them off while the others went ahead. Despite their classmates' concerns for their safety, Gundham and Nekomaru, exhausted from their battle, were able to catch up with the group while walking down the tunnel beneath the Izuru Kamukura statue, due to Mikan, who had phoned them and given the group's whereabouts.[29]
Class 77-B brainwashed
Unbeknownst to Gundham and his classmates, this path to search for Chisa was nothing but a ruse made by Junko, with the help of Mikan and Chisa themselves who had been brainwashed into despair, to lead Class 77-B into what appeared to be the same room later used for the Class Trials. In this very room, Gundham and the others were forced to watch Chiaki executed in a brutal fashion. Gundham was horrified and wanted to find a way to save her, but he was too powerless to do anything. Bearing witness to Chiaki's death caused the brainwashing effect of the video to take hold of Gundham and the others, plunging them into despair.[30]
Witnessing Hope's Peak's destruction
Fully brainwashed into becoming the Ultimate Despair, Gundham and his classmates received their final lesson before "graduation", the one final meeting to discuss their plan to overthrow the world with despair. After Sonia expressed that she would bring her country "peace and no war", Gundham voiced that his class "have all proven to be true comrades". Chisa then activated a bomb that faked the death of Class 77-B so they could be taken off the list of protected students. Later, Gundham and his class stood outside the school grounds as they watched Hope's Peak's destruction.[31]
The Tragedy[]
Leading an army of wild animals
Gundham joined the Ultimate Despair after falling prey to Junko's brainwashing.[31] Alongside his corrupted classmates, he started The Tragedy and kept it ongoing even after Junko's death in the final stage of the Killing School Life.[32] Gundham and his classmates who did not commit suicide to follow their leader Junko soon became known as the Remnants of Despair.[32] They also hacked her body and grafted them onto themselves—though in Gundham's case, the specific body parts he took remain unknown. One of his infamous contributions as a member of the Ultimate Despair was leading an army of wild animals to help him spread despair and destruction.[33]
Remnants of Despair
Eventually, the Future Foundation secured the custody of Gundham and the other fourteen - at first only aware that they were survivors from Hope's Peak Academy. When Makoto Naegi, a survivor of the Killing School Life, by that time a member of the 14th Division of the Future Foundation, realized that the survivors were in fact, Remnants of Despair, he quickly directed them to Jabberwock Island in secret.[32]
Neo World Program
Makoto made them enter the Neo World Program, where their memories were reset to a time prior to their entering Hope's Peak Academy, before they were brainwashed by Junko - resulting in all of them not recognizing each other.[32] The plan was to overwrite Gundham and the others' memories of themselves as Ultimate Despair, replacing them with good ones to undo all the damage Junko had done to them.[32]
Unbeknownst to Makoto, Gundham and the other Remnants had deliberately allowed themselves to be captured.[34] Before they entered the program, one of their members, Izuru Kamukura, the Ultimate Hope and final product of the Izuru Kamukura Project, uploaded Junko's malware AI. This AI became the virus that usurped the Observer Usami's role as teacher. Gaining full control of the program gave her the authority to convert the Neo World Program to the Killing School Trip, thereby subjecting Gundham and the others to a killing game while simultaneously using them as bait to lure Makoto and other Future Foundation members.[32]
Killing School Trip[]
- Main article: Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
Killing School Trip participants
Once inside the realistically simulated environment of Jabberwock Island, Gundham first introduced himself to Hajime Hinata, the original identity of Izuru, at the airport. His grandiose personality, combined with the fact that he carried around his pet hamsters inside his scarf, quickly alarmed Hajime, who immediately flagged him as an eccentric person.[19] Unlike Hajime, however, Gundham seemed to be in a better temper, telling the overly panicking Hajime to cool his head.
Building a sand castle
Later, Gundham and his classmates were assembled by Usami at the first island's beach. She reassured the students that there was no need to worry and provided Gundham and the others with swimsuits, encouraging them to fully enjoy their "school trip". Gundham accepted her offer by changing into his swimsuit and could be seen building a sand castle on his own.
The Killing School Trip begins
The promising tropical school trip, however, turned into a nightmare immediately as Gundham learned that the evil animatronic bear, Monokuma, the self-proclaimed headmaster of Hope's Peak Academy, had hijacked their trip and turned it into a killing game. Despite initially refusing to participate, Gundham and the others had no choice but to submit to his authority after Usami was rendered powerless, forcibly renamed Monomi, and made an example by being blown to pieces by the Monobeasts.
Once the killing game started, Gundham regularly joined the morning meeting at the restaurant at the behest of the group's self-appointed leader, the Ultimate Imposter, and also to feed the Four Dark Devas of Destruction. He remained calm and unfazed by the emergence of the countdown and the possibility of a large organization masterminding the killing game. His composure only cracked when Sonia complimented his "cute" hamsters, making him blush and unintentionally igniting a one-sided romantic rivalry with Kazuichi, who was interested in Sonia.
The Party[]
Attending the party
Gundham agreed to join the all-night party the Imposter hosted at the old building. Thanks to San-D, he noticed that the windows in the building had been covered with iron plates, though he didn't know the exact reason why. Once the party started, Gundham started panicking when he realized his "Hell Hound Earring" had gone missing, just a few moments before a blackout occurred. Even after the group made a horrifying discovery of the Imposter's body in the dining hall once the lights returned, it did not stop Gundham's agitation over his lost earring. He revealed that he had received it to commemorate taming the same Pomeranian pet he had at Hope's Peak and had worn it ever since.[26] When Hajime suggested it might have fallen through the gaps in the floorboards, Gundham spotted his earring.
Investigating a potential outside entrance to the floorboards
Gundham then went around the building to look for a way to get under the floorboards. He was later helped by Chiaki, who thought it might be helpful to understand the true nature of the murder. Unfortunately, they were unable to find any access from the outside as the building was surrounded by firm fences. Gundham had yet to call it quits and continued searching for it, making him appear to Hajime as though he had no intention of investigating.
Discovering the secret passage
Gundham's stubbornness, however, proved extremely valuable during the class trial. With the help of Jum-P, he managed to find access to the floorboards through the storage room, where a secret passage was hidden beneath a large assortment of random boxes. He immediately grabbed a lighter from the supermarket before finally retrieving the lost earring he had dropped under the floorboard.
While he was down there, he noted that the only out-of-the-ordinary item he discovered was the glowing paint applied to the knife near where the Imposter's blood was dripping. These discoveries became crucial in proving that the culprit had accessed the floorboards to murder the Imposter from beneath the gaps and relied on the glowing paint to move toward their target. Gundham and the others survived the trial after pinning the crime on the true culprit, Teruteru Hanamura, the Ultimate Cook, resulting in his execution.
Silence and Solitude[]
The following day, Gundham taunted Monokuma upon learning that he had lost one of his Monobeasts, allowing the group to explore the second island, but was stopped from engaging in a pointless activity by Mahiru Koizumi, the Ultimate Photographer. He would also learn that Nekomaru and Kazuichi had knocked out Nagito and tied him up in the old lodge to prevent him from causing trouble, as he was the one who tempted Teruteru to commit murder, a decision Gundham vehemently agreed upon.
One morning, Gundham, who typically spent his time by himself, overheard Kazuichi and Hajime's plan to rendezvous at the supermarket at 2:30 p.m. He went to ask them about it, but was immediately shooed away by Kazuichi. The incident offended him and led Gundham to declare that someone like him, who desired only silence and indifference, would never concern himself with "ants." Despite this, Gundham reappeared at the same time that Kazuichi and Hajime were heading to the beach house. If Hajime talked to him, Gundham would once again remind him that he wished to be left alone, a lie that Hajime could tell by his lonely expression, and wish he had mustered the courage to just say he too wanted to be included in their hangout. During the investigation of Mahiru's murder, Gundham revealed to Hajime that he had discovered their beach party event, once again insisting it was no concern of his as he loved silence and solitude. But by now, Hajime had begun to understand that, despite his claims, Gundham secretly wanted to be invited too.
Descending to the second class trial
During the class trial, Gundham was misled by the true culprit into believing that Hiyoko Saionji, the Ultimate Traditional Dancer, had summoned Mahiru to the beach house, hidden in the closet, and killed her upon her arrival before fleeing the scene. However, once Hiyoko calmed down and testified truthfully, Gundham and the others realized that she was merely being set up as a scapegoat. Gundham then opened a discussion regarding the physical state of the culprit after they had tainted themselves with Mahiru's blood while dragging her to block the roadside entrance of the beach house. This led the group to pinpoint the crime on Peko, who used water bottles in the beach house to wash the blood off her. Gundham later witnessed her execution, which injured Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu, the Ultimate Yakuza whom Peko had secretly served as his hitman, who tried to intervene in the process. Gundham and the others had no other choice but to leave his fate to Monokuma's hand, who ran him off to the hospital, saying that there was no other way than to move forward.
Despair Disease[]
Following the second class trial, Gundham, alongside Nagito, arrived at the morning gathering a bit later than the others. He was shocked to see a sinister-looking memorial for Mahiru, immediately shouting his desire to destroy such a "blasphemous false idol" to pieces. This led the creator, Hiyoko, to burst into tears right after everyone else had complimented her effort. Shortly after, Monomi informed them that she had defeated another Monobeast, allowing the group to investigate the third island. Gundham inspected the hospital and mentioned how it brought back memories stating that he once had his body carved with "the mark of defeating the devil." Hajime didn't bother trying to interpret what he meant, as Gundham himself told him to forget about it.
Gundham was present and baffled when he witnessed Fuyuhiko, who barely recovered, formally reintroducing himself and apologizing for his terrible and aggressive behavior toward the group since the beginning of the killing game. He also attended Fuyuhiko's recovery party later that night hosted by Ibuki Mioda, the Ultimate Musician. However, Gundham didn't expect Ibuki's music to be so intense that it even made the Four Dark Devas of Destruction less lively than usual. The party was soon interrupted by Monomi, who informed the group that Akane Owari, the Ultimate Gymnast, had attempted to duel Monokuma herself, resulting in her execution. However, Nekomaru shielded her at the last second, suffering severe injuries, which led Monokuma to take him away from the group for quite some time for "treatment".
Adding to the group's newfound troubles, Gundham and the others discovered that Nagito, Akane, and Ibuki had contracted the Despair Disease, which not only gave them a high fever but also drastically altered their personalities. Since the disease would continue spreading until a murder occurred, Gundham and the other healthy students decided to quarantine the sick students, with Mikan, Hajime, and Fuyuhiko volunteering to care for them. Gundham suggested that he and the rest should stay at the nearby motel in case anything happened. Not only that there was the possibility that the disease might have spread to Hotel Mirai and their cottages, he also wanted to keep his pet hamsters safe.
Despite their best efforts to prevent a murder, Hajime discovered a body at the music venue, which was later identified as Ibuki's. He then went to the motel to break the news and found Gundham, Monomi, and Chiaki first. Gundham initially suspected that Hajime had caught a similar lying disease to Nagito, but Chiaki believed him. She and Hajime returned to the crime scene, while Gundham offered to watch over the motel in their absence. When Gundham arrived at the crime scene much later with the rest of the group, however, they discovered not only Ibuki's but also Hiyoko's body.
Jum-P retrieving the stuck slip of paper on the baton ceiling
During the investigation, Gundham inspected the baton lighting where Hiyoko's body was strapped. He noticed a scrap of thick paper stuck at the top and ordered Jum-P to retrieve it by running around until it fell into his hand. In the class trial, this paper was revealed to be a scrap of wallpaper the culprit had used to cover Hiyoko's body which the culprit used to manipulate the group's perception that Hiyoko had died after Ibuki. However, Gundham argued that Hiyoko couldn't have died before Ibuki on the basis that there was no blood on the crime scene. Hajime and Chiaki objected, proving that the killer wiped the blood off, forcing him to retreat. He also got into a childish quarrel with Kazuichi, threatening to kill each other over suspecting Sonia as a possible culprit.
When the evidence began to point toward Mikan, Gundham was initially in disbelief that a "slow-witted woman" could commit murder but eventually ceased to defend her, as no one else could have committed the murder. After Mikan was executed, Gundham and the others went to the beach on the first island, feeling hopeful about reuniting with Nekomaru, whom Monokuma claimed was waiting for them there—only to discover that he had been completely transformed into a robot.
The Funhouse[]
Riding a roller coaster
Aside from adjusting to Nekomaru's new appearance, Gundham and the others grew wary of the Future Foundation and the traitor they sent to infiltrate the group—the organization Mikan claimed was responsible for transporting them to Jabberwock Island and was, therefore, their collective enemy. This was partially true, as Mikan spoke from the perspective of the Remnants of Despair. This was why Gundham and the others initially refused to explore the fourth island opened by Monomi but eventually went after Monokuma promised them ship parts and their Hope's Peak student profiles as a reward. To earn the promised prize, Gundham satisfied Monokuma's request by joining everyone on the roller coaster at the amusement park, visibly scared as he tried to steady his heart. The prize turned out to be a school file related to the Killing School Life, which, instead of helping them understand their circumstances, only confused them further.
Train to the Funhouse
The group then decided to visit the Funhouse only accessible when everyone was present, to find the promised ship parts or more information about their Hope's Peak student profiles. Gundham referred to it as an act of sheer madness, as they plunged themselves into Monokuma's trap, which made everything the more interesting to him. True to his words, when he and the others boarded the small train heading to the Funhouse, they were gassed with white smoke that knocked them all unconscious. When they woke up, they found themselves to be inside the Funhouse's Strawberry House. It turned out Monokuma had subjected them to an escape game, where he wouldn't allow anyone to escape the Funhouse except through murder.
In the contact elevator
Instead of wallowing in their new circumstances, the group decided to explore the building using a map provided to them in search of an exit. Gundham and Sonia were the first to pair up and began exploring before Kazuichi even had a chance to ask Sonia to team up with him. Although he had enlisted Four Dark Devas of Destruction to search the areas for him, he failed to find an exit. Gundham and the others would later travel to the second building, the Grape House, using the contact elevator at Monokuma's behest. There, the animatronic bear revealed that he would no longer provide food or drinks, using their hunger as a time limit until a murder occurred. Rather than helplessly panicking, the group agreed to explore the Grape House in the same pairs, leading Gundham and Sonia to team up once again, ditching Kazuichi for the second time in a row.
San-D pressing the Strawberry Tower's door button
Though the group failed to find any possible exit in either tower, Gundham at least discovered a sufficient food source for his hamsters—seeds from the flowers planted in Strawberry House's indoor park. He also discovered an extremely small radio-controlled toy, which turned out to be the promised ship part from Monokuma who never specified it would be a real one. Lacking the energy to be upset, Gundham and the others listened to Chiaki's theory that the two towers were actually the same building. They went to confirm this, and Gundham once again showcased his command over his hamsters, sending San-D to press the button to open the Strawberry Tower door. When nighttime fell, the group assigned themselves rooms, with the boys—excluding Hajime—staying in Strawberry House. Gundham won at rock-paper-scissors, securing one of the two Deluxe Rooms, and retired for the night.
On the third day of confinement in the Funhouse, Gundham attended Monokuma's Tai Chi lesson he planned to do regularly every 7 AM to exhaust and starve the students further to push them into killing. Judging by how irritable everyone was, he believed it would boil down to either everyone starving to death or someone committing murder before that could happen. Gundham personally believed that choosing death and giving up on life was nothing but blasphemy against life—a violation of the natural order and a mere act of resignation. Driven by his belief that it was better to fight for survival than to let anyone starve to death, Gundham resolved to commit murder.
At some point between the end of the Monokuma Tai Chi lesson and the following morning, Gundham entered the Final Dead Room, a challenge where participants could access the Octagon to claim the promised Ultimate Weapon from Monokuma. Solving the escape room puzzle and completing a 1/6 Russian Roulette game granted him access to the Octagon. There, he discovered the true layout of the Funhouse and devised a killing plan using this secret.
Murder preparation
First, Gundham wanted to isolate the groups from each houses by disabling the contact elevator from the Strawberry House side. He did so by tampering with the control panel using tools he obtained from the Octagon. He then manipulated the clocks in both buildings, setting them back by two hours. In the Strawberry House lounge, he set the wall clock's alarm to 5:30 a.m. to provide himself with an alibi later. After completing his preparations, Gundham went to Strawberry Tower with the tools from the Octagon, waiting for Nekomaru's arrival. He knew that Nekomaru's built-in radio clock would wake him at the actual time of 7:00 a.m. for Monokuma Tai Chi at the Grape Tower. However, due to the disabled elevator, Nekomaru had no choice but to head to the Strawberry Tower, which, after Gundham's tampering, showed 5:00 a.m. on the Funhouse's clocks.
Standoff with Nekomaru
Once Nekomaru entered the Strawberry Tower, Gundham challenged Nekomaru to a duel to the death—an intent that Nekomaru immediately sensed. Gundham praised Nekomaru for neither running away nor calling for help, recognizing that, at that moment, Nekomaru was equally resolved to kill him. He also noted that the situation would have been more complicated if the intended murderer became the victim. However, Gundham had the advantage because he already knew about Nekomaru's robotic functions, which Nekomaru himself had mentioned a few days prior, including the Good Night Button at the back of his neck. Using this knowledge, Gundham commanded the Four Dark Devas of Destruction to sneak up on Nekomaru and forcefully press the button, forcing him to enter sleep mode and rendering him immobile.
Setting up the murder while Nekomaru was immobile
Gundham then set the alarm in Nekomaru's chest to 7:30 a.m. to wake him up at that time. He tied Nekomaru with a metal wire, tied with a loop at the wire's tip, and hung it on the doorknob. Afterward, he exited the Strawberry Tower and destroyed its door button from the hall, preventing anyone in Strawberry House from entering the tower and uncovering the building's true structure—two towers stacked on top of each other.
Murder plan completed
Finally, Gundham used the secret Octagon passageway to travel to Grape House, and upon arriving at Grape Hall, he pressed the button to open the tower. This caused the elevator-liked floor of the tower to descend, causing Nekomaru's tied body to dangle midair from the wire, signaling his setup's success. Gundham placed a hammer on the floor to mislead the group into believing it was the murder weapon. He also wrapped a chain around the back door, creating the illusion that access to the tower from Strawberry Hall was impossible.
Failed alibi setup
After finishing his setup, Gundham returned to his room using the secret passage, intending to establish an alibi for when Nekomaru would eventually die from the fall. However, he didn't anticipate Fuyuhiko, who had seen Nekomaru descending earlier, still sitting in the lounge. This ruined Gundham's perfect plan, preventing him from returning to his Deluxe Room, which was located past the lounge. As a result, he was forced to appear before Fuyuhiko and the others when the alarm he had set for 5:30 (which was actually 7:30 in real time) went off, a mistake that would bite him hard later in the class trial.
Hearing the sound of Nekomaru's falling to his death
When Nekomaru's radio alarm rang at exactly 7.30 AM, he began to panic as he found himself tied midair. He swung his body to try to break free, but the doorknob which he had half-broken a few days prior couldn't handle the strain. As a result, it broke, sending Nekomaru falling to his death from the fourth floor to the first. The sound echoed throughout the Funhouse, heard by everyone except those who occupied the deluxe rooms, creating a glaring anomaly for Gundham, a resident of one such room. Later during the class trial, Chiaki speculated that Gundham couldn't hide until the excitement died down, fearing that Fuyuhiko and Kazuichi might check his room and discover his absence.[35]
During the investigation, Gundham, who purposefully trapped himself in the Strawberry House, contributed significantly less than the others.
Gundham's Fate[]
In the early to mid-stages of the class trial, Gundham maintained his usual demeanor, with his remarks occasionally receiving positive and supportive reactions from Sonia, and the exact opposite from Kazuichi. He also challenged the group's assumption that Strawberry House and Grape House were connected horizontally by questioning how the contact elevator functioned. Additionally, he disputed the idea that Nekomaru had fallen to his death.
Gundham's position shortly before the lounge alarm rang
Gundham became a prime suspect after the group realized how odd it was that, as someone staying in the soundproof Deluxe Room, he could have heard the lounge alarm ringing. When suddenly accused, Gundham became noticeably panicked and out of character, but he quickly rebounded, questioning how he could have traveled between the two houses. Hajime refuted him by revealing the secret passage connecting the 3rd floor of Strawberry House and the 1st floor of Grape House, which Nagito had discovered in the Octagon and which Gundham had also used during the murder. The group also proved that Gundham must have cleared the Final Dead Room, as the tools he used during the murder were only available in the Octagon.
Revealed as the culprit
Out of all the accusations, it was Nagito's assumption that Nekomaru was killed "without" fighting him that infuriated and offended Gundham the most. In response, Gundham challenged the group one final time, arguing that it wasn't easy for him to press Nekomaru's Good Night Button, especially in a one-on-one situation against the physically strongest person in the group. Hajime and Chiaki countered him, suggesting that he could have used "the power of hamsters," sending his exceptionally smart and trained Four Dark Devas of Destruction to do the deed for him. Gundham was impressed by their deduction and how they complimented his "subordinates'" capabilities, which led him to confess to his crime.
After being correctly voted as the Blackened, Gundham corrected one misconception: contrary to the group's belief that Nekomaru didn't fight, he revealed that Nekomaru had accepted his challenge to a duel, fought bravely, but ultimately lost and was sacrificed. Furthermore, he explained that succumbing to starvation was blasphemy against life, and he believed it was better to kill for survival than to give up on life. As Sonia tearfully begged Monokuma to spare Gundham from execution, Gundham gently told her that it was unbefitting of a noble like her to stop a man from going to his death. He then delivered one final grandiose speech before being dragged to his execution.
Gundham's execution began with a stampede of animals led by Monokuma charging toward him. Having already accepted his fate, Gundham calmly placed the Four Dark Devas of Destruction atop a nearby rock for safety. He proceeded to draw a magic circle on the ground using a wooden staff, attempting to cast a defensive spell as the stampede closed in. The spell failed, and Gundham was violently trampled, his body flung into the air before falling back to the Earth. As he lay dying, his saddened hamsters approached him, and instead of being cast into hell as he desired, angelic animals carried his body to the sky and heaven.
After his death, Sonia and the others chose to honor Gundham's speech by moving forward, continuing to live, and believing in each other—lest he crawl out of hell and be very cross with them. Agreeing with this, Akane and Chiaki suggested everyone refresh themselves by eating enough food and getting restful sleep, determined not to give up their fight to escape the island—just as Gundham and Nekomaru would have wanted. Gundham's deceased portrait in the class trial courtroom could be seen in the fifth trial.
Gundham briefly reappeared as an illusion shortly before the countdown ended, as the Neo World Program began glitching. Sonia revealed that she had been taking care of the Four Dark Devas of Destruction after Gundham's death and had taken them for a walk when Gundham briefly appeared near her due to the glitch. Gundham vanished once the survivors stepped inside the ruins.[36]
The illusory Gundham was later conjured in a scenario made by Alter Ego Junko to persuade Hajime and the remaining survivors to graduate. Had she succeeded, it would have allowed her to upload her AI into the comatose bodies of the "dead" Remnants of Despair, effectively reviving them as copies of herself. In this sequence, Gundham asks the group if they wish to be "awed by the sight of my prowess."[32]
Post-Killing School Trip[]
Revived Gundham and his classmates
After Alter Ego Junko's defeat, Gundham remained in a coma alongside his classmates, while the survivors waited for them to wake.[32] Eventually, Izuru Kamukura—now merged with Hajime's personality and memories—revived them. Purged of Junko's brainwashing, Gundham who was now alive and awake from Neo World Program, boarded the boat with the rest of Class 77-B and they all then headed for the Future Foundation HQ, to stop the Final Killing Game involving Future Foundation leaders.[8]
Resurrection and Atonement[]
Engaging in battle
Gundham and his classmates arrived at the island where the Future Foundation's off-shore facility was located, having left from Jabberwock Island. Having rescued Byakuya Togami and Yasuhiro Hagakure, two members of the Future Foundation and survivors of the Killing School Life, from beneath the rubble, the group set out to confront their one and only classmate, Ryota Mitarai, the Ultimate Animator, who Junko had coerced into creating the brainwashing video that transformed Ibuki and the others into the Ultimate Despair.[6][28] Unlike Gundham and the rest, he avoided being turned into Ultimate Despair due to his contribution. Thus, Class 77-B's fight with the brainwashed rescue squad troops, including the Former Super High School Level Elite Task Force, began.
Seizing his opponent's falcon
Gundham battled the Super High School Level Falconer on the rooftop, unlocking the seal on his name, previously "Tanaka the Forbidden One" to "Gundham Tanaka" and unleashing his full power. This allowed him to seize control of his opponent's falcon, ultimately defeating him. Gundham's Twelve Zodiac Generals also increased in number, suggesting the possibility of them reproducing while Gundham was in the Neo World Program.
Confronting Ryota
Later, Gundham helped convince Ryota to abandon his plan to brainwash the world. During the confrontation, Ryota expressed his belief that he and the other Remnants of Despair could never be forgiven for allowing Junko to plunge the world into despair. In response, Hajime offered Ryota the chance to join them in returning to Jabberwock Island to atone for their sins together. Gundham also proclaimed that he, as "The Lord of War", welcomed all who would walk his path. Ryota eventually broke down in tears and agreed, stopping the countdown mere seconds before the brainwashing was completed. Gundham and the others later came to his side to comfort him.
Claiming themselves as the mastermind behind the Final Killing Game
Gundham and the other former Remnants of Despair shouldered the blame for the Final Killing Game by sending a broadcast video to the Future Foundation. They presented themselves in their despair personas and preserved the Future Foundation's credibility and power to rebuild the world. Having accomplished their atonement, Gundham and his classmates returned to Jabberwock Island and he was last seen talking with Sonia as the boat took them home.
Real Fiction[]
- Main article: Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
Gundham cosplayed by Tsumugi Shirogane.
In Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony, it is alleged by the mastermind Tsumugi Shirogane, the Ultimate Cosplayer, that the entire Danganronpa franchise is fictional in-universe; a series of games, anime, and later live-action dramas performed actors. In particular, Tsumugi, who is the Ultimate Cosplayer, claims she is only able to cosplay fictional characters (breaking out into a bright pink rash whenever she tries to cosplay a real person), and the fact she is able to cosplay as the whole cast of Danganronpa characters including Gundham Tanaka is used as evidence to support her claim that all of the cast are fictional. However, due to a number of holes in Tsumugi's story which make her an unreliable narrator, whether or not she was telling the truth is deliberately left up to the player's interpretation; as a result, it is up to the player whether they believe Gundham's story within the Danganronpa series was real, or a fictional story written by Team Danganronpa and performed by an actor.[37]
Creation and Development[]
| Translation Credit: Kaibutsushidousha on Tumblr |
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According to series creator Kazutaka Kodaka, Gundham's character originated with his Super High School Level Animal Breeding Committee Member title, with his personality and backstory fleshed out from that concept. Kodaka revealed that he enjoys developing characters by incorporating risky elements, and Gundham exemplifies this approach, having developed a unique lore of his own. Initially, his character was conceptualized as a self-proclaimed mouthpiece that existed only to communicate the thoughts of sapient hamsters, but this idea was discarded due to its confusing and nonsensical nature. The concept was simplified into the version that appeared in the game.[38]
Character designer Rui Komatsuzaki stated that Gundham's sanpaku eyes were a design element he decided on for a Danganronpa 2 character even before Kodaka had created any. He envisioned this particular character as being overly self-conscious about how he dresses, overcompensating for his insecurity with strange fashion choices, such as his scarf, bandages, and enough accessories to complete his design. He also added the hamsters because it was decided that Gundham would be a breeder, and later incorporated the earring as part of a murder trick.[39] Komatsuzaki also believed that the Four Dark Devas of Destruction would go on to live in Sonia's clothes after his death in the Killing School Trip, though he was unable to reflect this in her sprites.[38]
Tomokazu Sugita, Gundham's Japanese voice actor, also commented on his character:
- "Gundam Tanaka is an eccentric character, but he's also strong-willed and understanding. A man with a character akin to a king who mustn't be named. But he's so full of energy that I almost lost my voice at the end of his recording (laughs). One of the best things about this game is how you navigate an extreme situation that shows who people really are, and you overcome its dangers with words alone, no weapons or superpowers. Take a good look at what all characters are doing, not just Tanaka."[38]
Name[]
The kanji in Tanaka (田中) means "rice field" and "center," a generic surname purposefully chosen to make his first name, "Gandamu" (眼蛇夢), which uses irregular readings, fully stand out. His first name can roughly be interpreted as "snake-eye dreams." He is named after a Ramenman character who share similarities with Gundham. Both characters have to change their name in their respective anime to avoid sounding like the popular Japanese mecha anime, Mobile Suit Gundam. Gundham's execution refers to a particular scene from the original anime as well.[38][40]
In Gundham's case, it was most likely due to the risk of copyright infringement from Sunrise. This led to Gundham's first name in Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc never being mentioned, even in the credits. In-universe, he claims that his first name is "cursed" and cannot be spoken aloud, thus given the nickname "Tanaka the Forbidden One" (封印されし田中).[22][40] It is a direct reference to the Yu-Gi-Oh! card, "Exodia the Forbidden One". However, in Danganronpa 3 - Side: Hope, Gundham breaks the seal on his name and declares himself to be Gundham Tanaka. Interestingly, Gundham's unsealing speech mentions "the rising sun will burn the multiverse to ash", which is most likely a reference to the Sunrise company.[41]
The names of Gundham's four hamsters are: San-D, Jum-P, Maga-Z and Cham-P. All of the names are references to shōnen manga magazines (Sunday, Jump, Magazine, and Champion).
Alternate Fates[]
Island Mode and Ultimate Talent Development Plan exist in two separate alternate universes where Gundham still attends Hope's Peak Academy, but no students are in peril. As they are alternate universes, these events are non-canonical, but because Gundham's personality is unchanged, backstory information shared by him in these events is considered questionably or dubiously canonical rather than fully non-canonical.
Free Time Events are also considered somewhat questionably canonical due to the nature of how Free Time Events are accessed (in that some characters' Free Time Events cannot be fully completed during the course of the canon game storyline due to limitations on the number of interactions you can have with them during one playthrough, and thus can only be accessed after they have canonically died either through a second playthrough or via Island Mode). However, due to Free Time Events being largely experienced during the canon game storyline, Free Time Events are more grounded in canon than Island Mode and Ultimate Talent Development Plan and are largely considered canon by the majority of players.
Appearance[]
Gundham wears a long, black jacket that stops below his knees and is always left open, with dark red coloring on the inside; which is part of his former school uniform. He also pins a dog breeder badge on the left side of his jacket. The left sleeve is rolled up to the elbow and fastened to the jacket with silver pins. Gundham is also known for his long purple scarf, which wraps around his neck and covers his chin. Vertical symbols are emblazoned on the back of his jacket and the ends of his scarf. Underneath his jacket, Gundham wears a white button-up layered over a slightly darker shirt with a purple cross design on the chest. His black pants are tucked into black boots riddled with straps. He wears an undercut, and the top section of his hair is slicked back into a single curl. His hair looks more wild and jagged when he's enraged. His hair color is black with light grey streaks through it.
Gundham has a noticeably pale and grey skin tone and has no eyebrows.[42] He has grey eyes but he wears a red contact lens in his right eye. The grey scar that runs through his left eye onto his right cheek appears to be a tattoo. He is always seen with his hamsters, the Four Dark Devas of Destruction. The Devas often camp out inside the scarf that Gundham always wraps around his neck, but they frequently appear during conversations or at his command. Due to their territorial nature, Gundham bandaged up his left arm with a single red bead hanging from the bandage knot, which he refers to as his "cursed arm," up to the elbow to protect his skin.[7] Gundham's Hell Hound Earring hangs from his right ear, and he wears silver rings on the index and middle fingers of his right hand.
Finishing Gundham's Free Time Events yields the item 'Gundham's Undergarments' which are invisible to those who have too low of an "astral level". This hints that Gundham possibly doesn't wear them.
While attending Hope's Peak Academy, Gundham wears the school's standard male uniform. He accessorized the uniform with the same scarf, shirt, belt, and boots he wore during the Killing School Trip. Instead of just the Hell Hound Earring, he wears an earring in each ear. He still wears an undercut, but the longest pieces of the top section frame his forehead.
As a member of Ultimate Despair, Gundham appears to wear a type of straitjacket underneath a large jacket with a fluffy white collar. His face has more tattoos, including a scar-like tattoo on his right cheek and an obscure symbol on his forehead. Using his talents as the Ultimate Breeder, Gundham controls armies of beasts. He seems to always keep his eyes closed. Instead of carrying the Devas, a large, dark snake wraps around his body.
His swimsuit in Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp consists of a pair of black swim trunks with a black drawstring waistband and a purple cross-shaped design on the right side, the same cross that appeared on his shirt shown during the Killing School Trip. He is shirtless but retains his signature purple scarf and his left hand remains wrapped in bandages. He still carries the Four Dark Devas of Destruction with him.
.png "Danganronpa 3 - Character Profiles - Gundham Tanaka (Despair design sketches).png (1,006 KB)")
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(Danganronpa S)
Four Dark Devas of Destruction[]
San-D is an average-sized hamster with white and orange fur, dark-tipped ears, and pink hands, feet, and nose. She also has small black eyes and rosy cheeks. Jum-P is also an average-sized hamster with white and brown fur and pink feet, nose, and cheeks. Jump-P is usually seen with his eyes closed, a snot bubble, and Z marks flowing from it, indicating he's sleeping. Maga-Z is a fairly average-sized hamster with white and brown fur and a chipped ear. He has black eyes, rosy cheeks, pink feet, and a pink nose. Cham-P is a large Golden hamster with orange fur, chubby cheeks and pink hands, feet, and nose. He has small black eyes, rosy cheeks and a pink rosy mouth.
Personality[]
Gundham is an eccentric and larger-than-life character, having delusions of grandeur caused by his chūnibyō syndrome. As "the offspring of an angel and evil,"[18] he proclaims himself as evil personified, one who has claimed dominion over evil, and thus a being that transcends humanity.[43] To further embellish his villainous persona, he adopts grandiose titles such as the Supreme Overlord of Ice and Tanaka the Forbidden One.[19][22][43] He also refers to his pets as his loyal subordinates under the dominion of the Tanaka Empire and gets offended when others call his Four Dark Devas of Destruction "hamsters."[44] Gundhams talks in an exaggerated, theatrical style reminiscent of a cartoon supervillain, using pompous, old-fashioned, esoteric vocabulary, allowing him to inflate mundane interactions. His speeches, dripping with poetic, cryptic, and metaphorical language and terms, often irritate and confuse others, especially those who are not used to interacting with him, ultimately causing Gundham to push them away from him. He perceives "normal people" as inferior beings incapable of comprehending the full extent of "his power," calling them "mere humans," "fools," and "fiends," among other dismissive terms.[19][20][39]
In conjunction with being the "great and powerful Gundham Tanaka," he acts self-centered and aloof—alienating himself from others to focus on caring for himself and the Four Dark Devas. Though Gundham appears prideful and shuns spending time with mere mortals, he appears to be lonely. This is exemplified by how he attends the morning meetings at the restaurant without fail and accepts the Imposter's invitation to the all-night party.[21] He also hints to Hajime that he wants to be included in Sonia's beach party. He claims that he only desires silence and solitude, though his lonely expression later on suggests otherwise. Hajime can tell Gundham wants to be invited but never directly asks, instead retreating into his usual aloof persona.[45][46]
This loneliness and his inability to express his true wants and needs without resorting to his overly dramatic "evil lord" jargon, may stem from Gundham's extreme social awkwardness. It starts with his belief that his existence is "cursed" and that "poisons" run through his blood due to enduring his mother's terrible cooking. He uses this to justify his strictness about avoiding physical contact with others since childhood, disguising his fear of intimacy. He goes so far as to fake illnesses to avoid folk dances and playing with other children.[4] The only person he is willing to become vulnerable to and capable of touching is a "singularity" he describes as "a being who can make the impossible possible by overcoming various limitations." In simpler terms, this could refer to someone like Hajime, someone who continues to bond with him despite his "defenses" and genuinely considers Gundham a friend he wants to survive the killing game with.[18]
His social awkwardness can make him come across as inconsiderate.[19] This is particularly apparent during the investigation of the Imposter's murder, where he stubbornly prioritizing recovering his Hell Hound Earring over actively participating in the investigation, though his discoveries helped solve the murder.[39] Gundham also has a habit of pretending to know more than he actually does. When he can't provide the knowledge to others, he will immediately distract them by throwing unrelated speeches in his signature evil overlord style.[47]
In sync with Sonia
Gundham's harsh facade conceals a softer, more sensitive side, which is frequently shown through his interactions with Sonia. He bonds with Sonia during both their time at Hope's Peak and the Killing School Trip due to their complementary interests—Sonia's fascination with the occult, her genuine admiration of his "evil" persona, and most importantly, her fondness for his "cute hamsters" and his strong and trusting relationship with them. Her sincere appreciation often leaves Gundham uncharacteristically flustered, causing him to stutter and blush.[21] In the original Japanese, she is also the only one that Gundham does not refer to as kisama (貴様, an old-fashioned term for 'you' that was once used to address social equals or inferiors, but in modern usage, it is almost exclusively used by men in a derogatory manner) or by their last name, instead calling her "she-cat" at one point or "the Dark Lady", his fantasized version of Sonia.[48] They are compatible with each other and have great teamwork as shown while attending Hope's Peak, with the two growing so close over time that they could even finish each other's sentences due to Sonia latching to Gundham's eccentric personality.[25] While trapped in the Funhouse, they are the first to pair up and leave, while everyone else is still deciding who to partner with to explore the building. They later become a very effective duo during the fourth class trial.[43]
Other than Sonia, Gundham seems to be less harsh toward women. He has a good relationship with his mother and endures her terrible cooking to avoid making her cry, prompting Hajime to note that he is a "good guy" deep down. He also gains sympathy from a nurse at his grade school, who often allows him to leave without participating in folk dances.[4] With his female classmates, he allows them to choose their desired rooms before the boys do while trapped in the Funhouse, even referring to them as "kittens."[48] He is often agreeable with Ibuki's opinions, calling her remarks "nice lines."[45] When Mikan gets accused as a culprit, he initially comes to her defense claiming that a "slow-witted woman" like her is incapable of murder.[44] He also appears unaffected by Hiyoko's demeaning attitude and mean comments about being embarrassed by his outlandish dialogues, contrasting his reactions with fellow men. When Fuyuhiko gives him a backhanded compliment, Gundham threatens to crush him into dust. His interactions with Kazuichi take this up a notch, where he dismisses almost anything Kazuichi says about him.[39]
Letting Kazuichi to play with his hamsters
Gundham's relationship with Kazuichi highlights his indifference toward trivial matters, such as Kazuichi's one-sided romantic rivalry over Sonia. He primarily finds Kazuichi annoying when he insults the Four Dark Devas, dismissing him as a "lowly human," similar to his view of most others. However, while attending Hope's Peak, their relationship appears slightly better, with Gundham occasionally allowing Kazuichi to touch his hamsters.[24]
Another trait and ability often showcased by Gundham is his level-headedness. In class trials, while not always the most prominent contributor to the trials, whenever he does contribute, it is quite substantial. He is also willing to stand corrected and retreat from a debate when evidence proves his understanding of a situation false, as showcased in the second and third class trials. He is the one who suggests that the healthy students stay at the motel during the Despair Disease outbreak, just in case anything happens to the affected students.[49] He is also smart enough to plan a complicated murder using the Funhouse's unique structure, which is only ruined by pure coincidence beyond his control.
He also has a deeper understanding of certain situations and isn't lost in his own world. For example, Gundham is among the first to openly acknowledge Nagito's grey morality, recognizing that it is impossible to establish a relationship with someone like Nagito, who he deems unpredictable by the usual human standards rooted in experience, making Nagito a fearsome individual.[45] Nagito's erratic behavior, such as his willingness to be sacrificed as a stepping stone for his classmates' hope and how he actually pushed Teruteru into committing murder, eventually leads Gundham to not mind if Nagito "retires permanently" when he contracts the Despair Disease.[49] His perceptiveness and contemplative nature strangely reveal that he cares about his classmates, albeit in his own distant way. He contemplates where the souls of the Imposter and Teruteru go after their avatars' deaths, and advises Hajime to pray for their souls so they can be saved.[45] He also perceives Peko as a "foolish soul" for remaining a slave, yet he accepts her choice to stay loyal to Fuyuhiko.[49]
Gundham also possesses a great respect for nature and its laws. He understands that nature is indiscriminate in its harsh cruelty, noting that "pleasure and pain are irrelevant as long as you have a purpose, and take action for that sake."[20] He also does not fear death and strongly dislikes mankind's malicious ways. Notably, Gundham hates the idea of giving up without a fight, for he believes that all creatures are born to fight tooth and nail to survive. According to him, giving up your life willingly is blasphemous toward nature (and by extension, oneself). This philosophy is what leads him to commit murder, refusing to let himself or his classmates actively choose to starve to death instead of fighting to cling to life. As such, he allows his target, Nekomaru, a fair chance to fight him and show the same resolve to uphold his belief—a duel to the death to reignite everyone's will to survive, in which he comes out victorious. When he is cornered in the class trial, the only accusation that elicits the strongest reaction from him is Nagito's claim that Nekomaru went down without a fight—an insult to both his beliefs and Nekomaru. He eventually surrenders after Hajime and Chiaki acknowledge that he used his "subordinates," the Four Dark Devas, to subdue Nekomaru. Though the nature of Gundham's actions is never fully justified as purely selfish, purely selfless, or somewhere in between, Hajime and Chiaki are inclined to believe that he sacrifices himself for the group, based on how he didn't resist as much during the class trial. Gundham, however, as someone who firmly believes that murder is murder regardless of motive, blatantly denies this.[50]
Attitude Toward Animals[]
| “ | My Four Dark Devas of Destruction are not tools, nor are they slaves... They are healthy underlings...and also friends whose loyalty is matched by their devotion to military rule! At times, we clash over our ideals and our tempers flare... But that only bolsters our power, and allows us to reach greater heights! That is why I will one day exist as the Supreme Overlord of this world!
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” |
Though he may be awkward around other people, Gundham deeply cares about animals he often refers to as "magical beasts" and pets as "familiars".[20] He claims that anything that can talk "will eventually betray you," hinting at the possibility that he has been hurt by others before. This idea is supported in his Final Free Time Events, where he accuses Hajime of being a "Kotodama user" a label he seemingly attaches to people who try to manipulate him with "false words" and "cheap tricks", believing Hajime is one and doubts his sincerity when calling him a friend.[18] As a result, Gundham prefers to trust animals for their loyalty and sincerity.
Although it is only a rumor that he can speak with animals, what remains true and recognized by those around him is that Gundham genuinely understands the feelings of animals and is often seen with a gentler, softened expression and a smile when talking about them. His empathy towards animals leads him to pity livestock for being raised for the sole purpose of human consumption.[51] He is also highly responsible toward the animals under his care, consistently providing them with plenty of exercise, high-quality food, and a good place to sleep—especially for the Four Dark Devas of Destruction amid the killing game.[7] He dedicates most of his cottage space to their large cage and an extensive hamster tunnel sprawled across the floor. His consistent caring and responsibility enable the mutual trust and strong bond he shares with his pets, allowing his commands to be heeded, whether they are hamsters, falcons, bears, or notoriously difficult Pomeranians. His love for animals, however, doesn't extend to anthropomorphic cartoons of animals "who walk on two legs and speak human languages," which he finds highly offensive. This also extends to Monokuma and Monomi, as they "can talk" and, most importantly, aren't "cute."[51]
In his Island Mode, it is revealed that Gundham is fond of reading encyclopedias about animals from around the world and can become emotional when watching movies related to animals.[52][53] Gundham also comes to love pumpkins not only because they contain high nutrients and are versatile for various cooking methods, but also because their seeds provide an effective food source for his Four Dark Devas of Destruction.[20]
Four Dark Devas of Destruction[]
San-D appears to have a quite cheerful personality, often cheering with her paws up and enjoying eating sunflower seeds. However, she can be greedy for more territory and shown to knock Jum-P aside from his territory.[7] She is also shown to be quite agile, able to skillfully press the Strawberry Hall button.[48] Jum-P, despite almost constantly appearing to be asleep, is capable of moving around and carry out Gundham's order. He discovers the secret passage in the storage room of the old building and retrieves a thick scrap of paper by running around it during the third investigation. When Hajime first meets Gundham during the Killing School Trip, Gundham claims that Jum-P has something to say: "We're not used to going easy on our enemies... so don't make us angry. You wouldn't like us when we're angry."[19]
Maga-Z appears to be slightly more aggressive than the others, with his squinted eyes giving him a meaner look. He is seen biting Kazuichi's finger when he attempts to touch him.[24] He once lost his temper when Jum-P accidentally stepped his foot on his territory, and as a result, he attacked Cham-P and then Gundham's arm when he intervened.[7] Cham-P often appears to have a jolly and relaxed expression, and Gundham implies he is the most docile and smartest out of the hamsters, because unlike the others he understands fear. He also tells Cham-P once to "exert your strength to your heart's content!"[48]
Talent and Abilities[]
Ultimate Breeder[]
Gundham's official talent in English localization is the "Ultimate Breeder". However, in the original Japanese release, the more literal and accurate translation to it is "Super High School Level Animal Breeding Committee Member", or in the Funimation subs, "Animal Raising Committee Member". It is a common after-school club in many Japanese schools dedicated to caring for animals (usually small birds, reptiles, and rodents) kept within the school grounds.
Gundham did splendidly as a club member due to his proficiency in training and caring for any animal and his success in proliferating endangered species.[19] He revealed that his secret technique to taming animals is by starting with the basics, chanting "Good girl, good girl," and ensuring they understand that he has no ill will. To achieve this, one must appear innocent and recognize which animals enjoy being touched and which do not. He then spends a long time with them until he begins to hear their words. Hajime comments that this must be something only the Ultimate Breeder can experience.[51]
Commanding the Four Devas to force Nekomaru into sleep mode
On a more serious note, Gundham has a natural aptitude for taming animals. This is best exemplified by his pet hamsters, the Four Dark Devas of Destruction, which he carries around in his scarf and shirt. He put considerable effort into training them, allowing them to follow commands ranging from basic to advanced—demonstrated multiple times during the Killing School Trip—such as retrieving small objects from high places, scouting an entire floor, and even sneaking up to press Mechamaru's Good Night Button, rendering him immobile.[44][43] While attending Hope's Peak, he often brings his pets to school as part of their training. It includes his Pomeranian, which he claims as one of the hardest to tame, but over time managed to master.[26] He is also able to command a brown bear to perform tricks by following his gestures.[6] He is also capable of taming wild animals, demonstrated during his time as an Ultimate Despair, where he commanded an army of beasts to unleash chaos, despair, and destruction.[33] The rumor of him being able to speak with animals, though never confirmed, was demonstrated directly during his battle against the Super High School Level Falconer, where he effortlessly commands the falcon to switch allegiance to him simply by unsealing his true name.[41]
As a Breeding Club member, Gundham's most noteworthy contribution, to which he dedicated a significant amount of time, is running a website related to animal breeding. While the true content is never revealed, he claimed that scientists worldwide eagerly await his research findings. The website is said to be highly secured so only chosen individuals could access it, while ordinary people can only access the dummy site called "Exciting Breeding Journal."[20] Gundham also conducts his own ethical breeding research, with his latest project being a hybrid hamster with "sparkling silver fur" with dominant spots and bands. Alongside this and many other animals he cares for at home, he entrusts their care to people he selected to assist with his breeding duties.[7] His breeding skill enables the Four Dark Devas of Destruction to produce healthy offspring known as the Twelve Zodiac Generals, and by the conclusion of the Final Killing Game, their numbers continued to increase.[28][41] Gundham is also knowledgeable about various breeds of hamsters and never forces himself to keep one he's incompatible with, such as the Roborovski hamster.[7]
| Ultimate Breeder official translations in other languages | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Language | Talent | Translation | |
| Japanese | 超高校級の「飼育委員」 | Super High School Level Animal Breeder | |
| French | L'Éleveur Ultime | The Ultimate Breeder | * |
| Ultime Éleveur | Ultimate Breeder | * | |
| German | Super-Highschool-Tierzüchter | Super Highschool Animal Breeder | * |
| Italian | Super Allevatore Liceale | Super High School Level Animal Breeder | * |
Free Time Events & Bonus Mode Guides[]
The links below are full transcripts and indepth guides for Gundham Tanaka's relationship routes in Free Time Events, Island Mode, Ultimate Talent Development Plan, and Danganronpa S Development Mode including his MonoMono Machine Present preferences and most effective dialogue options.
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| Free Time Events | Island Mode | Ultimate Talent Development Plan |
Danganronpa S Development Mode |
Quotes[]
Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
Prologue:
- "Kehehe, would you like to know my name? Others may see your courage as recklessness... However...I welcome it. In honor of your courage, I shall reveal to you my name. May you never forget is as long as you live! You may call me...Gundham Tanaka! Remember it well, for it is the name that will one day rule this world!"
- "Hmph! Is it wrong to call trash "trash"? Trash like you should not dare to speak to one as grand as me! Who do you think I am? I am the great and powerful Gundham Tanaka, Supreme Overlord of Ice!"
- "Taming evil by using myself as a bed... Truly, this is the secret art of the Tanaka Empire!"
- "One of my Four Dark Devas of Destruction, Mirage Golden Hawk Jum-P, has this to say: "We're not used to going easy on our enemies...so don't make us angry. You wouldn't like us when we're angry."
- "If you wish to know, you must pay my price... After all, this world is ruled by the law of equivalent exchange... However, is someone like you capable of offering a tribute that would satisfy a tyrant such as myself?"[54]
Chapter 1:
- "A bold boast... However, let me give you some advice. The truly strong...do not raise their voice so recklessly."
- "All civilizations are destined to collapse... Nothing begets existence...and existence begets nothing..."
- "No problem... No matter how large this organization may be, they will not be able to stand against us... They are destined to fall and turn to ash at the might of my Four Dark Devas of Destruction!"
- "Even though that man is a lowly worm, it appears his cooking skills are most impressive, indeed... Nevertheless, even his food cannot stand against the gourmet cuisine of the multiverse..."
- "...All is not what it appears to be."
- "Such a fine day... Countless lives gasp their first breath... And countless more go the way of all flesh..."
- "You humans...are so satisfied with clothing yourselves in layers of false knowledge! But even with all those layers, you still will not survive the winter! Tch! It was foolish of me to rely on you fools... Fine, I shall do something about it on my own. Now if you'll excuse me, I must go save the world."
- "As long as the probability is greater than zero...that will suffice."
- "Remember this well! A main character arrives when he intends to!"
- "Simply listening is...acceptable... However, I won't allow it to end with mere play! Now then, let us lift the curtain for a bloody spectacle!"
- "Kehehe... It's understandable. After all, you fools only view the world through eyes of glass... But I am different! With the power of my Four Dark Devas of Destruction, it is of no concern! Truly, this is the "Evil Fourth Eye!" Before the might of the "Evil Fourth Eye," all visual chaos is rendered asunder!"
- "Fuhaha! Tremble with fear, fools! Behold my power!"
- "Very well... Even if we are not able to change the future, I guess I should at least change my tomorrow..."
Chapter 2:
- "He is cursed... A child who summons misfortune, so to speak."
- "Though this is merely the prelude, the climax will occur soon after... Now then, let me hear your scream! I shall make such sweet music for you!"
- "A new land has opened... However, it does not mean we will find salvation there... Griefs is all that awaits us...but that would be quite entertaining!"
- "Monokuma...I shall listen to you spout nonsense all you want, while I puff cigar smoke at your lifeless body."
- "The wind is running amok today... It's carrying the lost souls of Byakuya and Teruteru. Are they destined to be cradled against the Heavenly Mother's bosom, or to burn in the fires of Gehenna...? Perhaps you should pray for them, human child... It's possible that prayer might save their souls..."
- "Hmph, that's truly a nice line. Every fiber of my being agrees with you. That's right, there is no existence more troublesome than that of an incomprehensible human... What they like and what they hate... What makes them happy, what makes them angry... It's normal for all beings to have standards rooted in experience so they can predict their opponent's actions. But at times...those standards do not work on certain opponents. Those are the most fearsome opponents of all. Establishing a relationship with such a human...is impossible."
- "The wind is very quiet...I do hope it is not an ominous portent..."
- "Despite your lowly intellect, you humans attempt to create worlds within games, but... Fuhahahahaha! How humorous, how pitiful! You humans behave like gods in your fictional worlds... That act alone is an imitation of us. Because... The reality you humans cling to and believe to be real is merely one of the countless board games we won!"
- "What sort of supreme ruler feels concern for the ants who are destined to be crushed!? My name is Gundham Tanaka! I am the forbidden ruler who makes even the god of darkness flee in terror! All I desire...is silence and indifference..."
- "There is nothing you can hide from me, the supreme overlord who wields the Four Dark Devas of Destruction. It matters not, for what I love is silence and solitude..."
- "You should be honored... A mere human such as yourself will be present to witness the beginning of the end!"
- "Tanaka may be an ordinary family name, but it's far better than Sato or Suzuki!"
- "The investigation conducts universal chaos..."
- "Your stance is neither white nor black, but gray... And you do not yearn for your life, or even for victory..."
- "Among flowers, the cherry blossom. Among men, the samurai." I commend your decisiveness, at least... Very well. If you admit it, this ends now! Let's cast our votes!"
- "There are no second chances in life... We cannot return to what has already transpired... There is no other way than to move forward, like an arrow of light piercing through the darkness..."
Chapter 3:
- "...Humans are such foolish creatures."
- "Kehehe, for you to actually greet me in the morning... I praise your admirable endeavor, slave. Speaking of slaves... Peko, too, was a foolish soul... I accept her desire to merely remain her owner's loyal tool. However...that's a limitation of base creatures. My Four Dark Devas of Destruction are not tools, nor are they slaves... They are healthy underlings...and also friends whose loyalty is matched by their devotion to military rule! At times, we clash over our ideals and our tempers flare... But that only bolsters our power, and allows us to reach greater heights! That is why I will one day exist as the Supreme Overlord of this world!"
- "I would not mind if Nagito retired...permanently..."
- "Kehehe...there's no need to panic. Even I...attend to the needs of my Four Dark Devas of Destruction."
- "Fret not...we are not going to abandon you. I shall station myself nearby in case anything happens. We must be vigilant about protection! I have those who I must protect!"
- "That is an unkind thing to say, you fiend...! How dare you call my Four Dark Devas of Destruction, "hamsters"!"
- "...You seriously are a loud one. Your presence alone ruins tense situations. ...Ever since your character was formed!"
- "Like last time...if this means no one of us killed these two... Then...we cannot let this be."
- "Abandon your overdependence and complaints this instant... Those have no place in this world."
- "Pitiful humans...they refuse to lift their heads up for fear of doubting the authenticity of the blue sky..."
- "Hmph, it's about time I showed my serious side."
- "Jeez, how troublesome... But I suppose I can display my true power for the sake of our two fallen comrades."
- "Kehehe... How light... Your words are so light, as light as the sylph's feather... Fuhaha! Your opponent is out of your league! It is too absurd to try to perplex me so inadequately!"
- "Fuhaha, is that it!? A shepherd dressed in his Sunday's finest still reeks of lamb, Hajime Hinata!"
- "Does that mean you have a rebuttal?" ...Hmph, that's a good line. But...are you sure you're sure? If I show you how serious I am, this world might be destroyed, you know! You're so frightened you can't even make a sound... It seems you've realized our difference in status. However, the time for conviction starts now! You better entertain me to the fullest!"
- "It appears that...it is wiser to retreat for now... Fine then... But regardless of good or evil, there's no deceit in upholding one's convictions."
- "Hmph. Kazuichi... It seems you have quite the fashion sense... Do you want me to incinerate your clothes? Perhaps I could do that while you're wearing them?"
- "Of course... I've already overlooked no less than then ten opportunities to kill you...!"
- "I agree...it is truly difficult to believe someone could be killed by such a slow-witted woman..."
- "If you are happy...you should honestly greet him with open arms. Perhaps those who have been taken from us would do the same if they still lived..."
Chapter 4:
- "I don't know what you're planning, fiend, but we're not going to fall for it...!"
- "Is a mere human going to offer his opinion to me, an Overlord? Fascinating, fascinating, you fiend! I'll play your game, you rogue. Come, tell me... Try to satisfy my Four Dark Devas of Destruction!"
- "...I already told you. Hamsters are merely their temporary form. A fiend like you is incapable of imagining what would happen once they shed their transient guises. Kehehe, ignorance is horrendous... That's why it's only interesting to converse with humans once in a while."
- "Be still...my heart!"
- "Plunging yourself into a trap is an act of sheer madness... Fuhahaha! That's what makes it truly interesting!"
- "Fuhahahaha! The madder the action, the more interesting it is!"
- "He probably wants to live like humans as much as he can... Such is the sad nature of robotic organisms..."
- "I have waited for you, Invading Black Dragon, Cham-P! Exert your strength to your heart's content!"
- "Where were you? I swear, making an Overlord wait... Very well... But this won't happen a second time."
- "Kazuichi... You should be grateful to Sonia. If you'd gotten your hands on my Four Dark Devas of Destruction, your body would be incinerated by hellfire!"
- "Kazuichi...and you lowly humans... Fall to your knees and show your gratitude to me, the Overlord of Ice of the Destroyed World of Death!"
- "Allow me to tell you a little old story... I was born as a result of a union between a human and a demon, and my existence was shunned by both races... Perhaps it's because nobody has ever bought me a toy before, but I believe this is truly remarkable..."
- "Have you fiends made up your mind? Don't forget to pray to your god. Well, it's not like I have a god to pray to, anyway... I already know...God has been wiped out by my very own hands!"
- "Emissary of evil... In accordance with our ancient contract... The time has come to lend me your aid... Pierce through! Supernova Silver Fox San-D!"
- "I see, your eyes managed to follow San-D's movements... As expected of the Dark Lady, you have my praise."
- "Now then, kittens! Choose which house you would like!"
- "So I take 2nd place... That's fine. I was getting bored of always being on top."
- "Wait to die from impending starvation... Or wait for someone to kill someone else before that happens... At any rate, it's a rather difficult situation."
- "It's a tantamount to being killed twice... Truly...he was a man burdened by terrible misfortune..."
- "...Is this acceptable? If I show my serious side, things will not end with mere child's play."
- "The killer's intent... I can think of only one explanation. Perhaps...they intended to keep me from entering the scene of the crime. Which means the killer was afraid! Afraid of the conclusion promised by my assumptions!"
- "The time has come to destroy all murderous illusions...!"
- "Even mongrels like you possess a soul... And that soul resides within your heart... But no matter how hard you search the insides of this machine, you will never find a heart. So where did Nekomaru's soul wander off to...? It's interesting to think about, don't you agree?"
- "It appears that the Netherworld is behind this occurrence. Fortunately, for you humans... The portal created by the demon's power was too small, so it existed in this realm for only a brief second... But the portal's impact managed to dislodge the chain... And it was sucked into the portal as it closed shut! This is the truth behind the chain's disappearance!"
- "I agree. I detect the scent of danger. Even my familiars are saying, "Do not go inside..." How interesting! If you can kill me, you're welcome to try! Try stabbing your sword through my very heart! Fuhahahahahaha!"
- "That's right...you've seen it clearly. Because I, the one who has claimed dominion over evil, am the Ultimate Weapon! I am he who cuts the insolent catalyst which flows out from the chaos with the sword of victory... It's only fitting that I deserve to be called the Ultimate Weapon...!"
- "There is no such thing as murder for the sake of hope. Murder is simply murder... Forcibly sacrificing others for one's own desires...! Even one as diabolical as I would avoid such actions!"
- "Hmph... Don't just make things up when you don't know the method..."
- "There's no point in saying that. "If" does not exist in this world!"
- "If the bell of catastrophe rings throughout the night, it is the universe's providence to stop it..."
- "Answer me this... Including myself and my Four Dark Devas of Destruction, how many ears do we possess? The answer is ten... That's right, I possess ten ears... That means I have five times the hearing of a normal human! The soundproof system here may as well not exist!"
- "D-Do not panic... The truth...shall now commence!"
- "At the time, I left my room to go to the bathroom. By coincidence, I heard the alarm. That's right, that's all it was... The world is always so simple."
- "Kehehe...I was simply at a loss for words after being dumbfounded by your pathetic assumption... In fact, I shall deny the very basis! Your assumption has been wrong since the beginning! Fuhaha, have you learned your lesson, pitiful humans!? You cannot overcome this contradiction!"
- "Hmph, if you value your life...you should stop with your scrutiny..."
- "Don't make me angry! You wouldn't like me when I'm angry!"
- "Hold on...y-you, what did you just say? ...That...I didn't battle...!? Don't...mess with me...! Don't mess with meeeeee! I cannot ignore those words!"
- "You fools...do not understand... You don't understand at all...! Ha! You make me laugh! After all this time, you still don't understand anything at all! ... It appears...I cannot finish just yet...! Maybe I'm just a human destined for hell! However...I cannot finish just yet! I cannooooooooooooooot fiiiiiiniiiiiish! It's obvious! I'm going to destroy your illusory assumptions!"
- "Just as I thought, truly frail...succumbing so easily to this simple argument...it was just a mere illusion... Fuhahahaha! If you want to set me up as the killer, at least surpass your own human limitations!"
- "Hmph, such a wonderful line... However, I cannot say that I'm satisfied. Listen well! I shall teach you two tips for making someone admit their defeat! First, you must crush them with your own overwhelming power... And as for the other... ...You must provide a reason that will persuade that human! You...have not fulfilled either of those yet!"
- "Kehe... Kehehe...fuhahahahaha! Not just myself...but you actually brought up how splendid my subordinates are... ...Hmph, I have no recourse but to admit it."
- "It appears I've obtained a one-way ticket to hell... Fine! Then you must trample me underfoot and advance! Victory can only be built upon a foundation of corpses! You cannot find peace without sacrifice anywhere! Now, trample this life! Trample it as though it were mere trash on the side of the road! Pull the curtain strings of this worthless performance with your own two hands!"
- "Kehehe... Splendid... Fuhahahaha, that was splendid! For a mere human, you did quite well!"
- "...You don't wish to forgive me? Do you feel regret? Then finish it! Cast your impure votes for Gundham Tanaka! My beloved, deadly foes! Let the voting time begin!"
- "...Why do you want to talk to one who has lost? The loser merely leaves... It would just be unnecessary for me to say something... Nekomaru did fight...that is no mistake... And because he fought, he lost...and died. If he was just trying to cling to life, there are many ways he could have done so... However...he did not allow that... In that situation...if he wanted to run away, it would have been easy for him to do so. He could have run away...or even called for help... But...he did not turn his back to me. Instead...he chose a fight that risked life and death. He was serious, too. He gave it his all to try to kill me..."
- "I am the warlock, Gundham Tanaka... Heroes, lords of darkness, and even the gods themselves flee from me... I need not cling to any trivial reason! I'm simply going to kill you because your very existence is an annoyance!"
- "Nekomaru Nidai! Your blood will drench the foundation of my empire!"
- "Hmph... I will not argue... I have no intention of forcing my values upon you. However, I must say this! What's the point of living if you're just waiting until you finally die? There's nothing courageous about that! That is abandonment! A mere feeling of resignation! Ever since we were locked inside that building, everyone had been dominated by that feeling of abandonment... However...nothing is born from resignation. That is simply a reason to give up. Giving up on life... That's just an insult to life itself! Have you fools heard of the term, "dog eat dog?" In zoology, cannibalism is a commonly observed phenomenon... Many creatures at some point in their life span engage in cannibalism. That is what it means to live! If you say killing for the sake of living is "evil," then what would you call giving up on life itself? If a world would consider that justice, then I will fight that world with every last fiber of my being! Giving up on life and choosing death...is nothing but a blasphemy toward life. It is a violation of the natural order! It is the arrogance of humanity!"
- "That man...had the courage to die when he needed to die. That is why he challenged me to our battle... Regardless...as I've already said, I do not intend to force my values upon you fools. I have betrayed you all... That is the absolute truth. But...even so... Don't you think it's a better alternative to slowly starving to death here...?"
- "Hmph...I can't believe you would ask such a foolish question. Just who do you think I am!? I am Gundham Tanaka, history's greatest monster! My cursed existence is feared by all mankind! There's no way I'd sacrifice myself for the sake of you fools! Not in a million, not in a billion, not in 10,000 billion years! In the name of Pandaemonium, it is impossible!"
- "Now then, let us be rid of this foolish talk. It's about time the fun started...! Monokuma! Let us begin!"
- "Sonia... An act as unrefined as stopping a man from going to his death...does not befit a noble such as yourself."
- "Yes, I do not mind...however... ...What is it, my Four Dark Devas of Destruction? Are you worried about me? Oh, my feared Four Dark Devas of Destruction, that is not like you at all... However, there is no need to fear... In this world, I am only a temporary visitor... I was simply visiting for a moment...and now that my duty is complete, I must return to the darkness... That is why, until the very end... Pride! Conceit! Courage! Insolence! Fearful of nothing! Daunted by nothing! Let us laugh uproariously! That is Gundham Tanaka! I shall stick with my evil until the very end! Open Sesame, Pandaemonium! I shall fill hell with true hell! FUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Panic Talk Action Remarks:
- "I won't let you!"
- "For the Tanaka Empire!"
- "This pressure...!”
- "Amen!"
- "Wither..."
- "Show me the cadaver!"
- "Crushed as David prophesized!"
- "You weakling!"
- "It's Nekomaru's back! Do you really think I can get behind him so easily!?" (Final Argument)
Chapter 5:
- "Tremblewithfear!@%’*)P()~)~%$# Iwilldie2wiceeeeeeeeeeeee:@`?" (Gundham's cottage post-fifth trial)
- "Hmph, a coincidence you say? Wrong! That is the will of causality guiding you."
- "After knowing my true terror, it'll be quite a sight to see how long your sanity will last."
- "Is there anything in this world that isn't difficult? Pleasure and pain are irrelevant as long as you have a purpose, and take action for that sake."
- "Just because they're adorable doesn't mean you can let them get fat... Think of the strain upon their hearts!"
- "You will never experience such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity... But if you ever do breed them, make sure you provide plenty of exercise, high quality food, and a place to sleep. Such luxuries mean everything to creatures who only live 1,095 days after they're born... ...Remember well."
- "Such creatures are born to be eaten by humans. Even if I had the All-Seeing Eye, I couldn't change that fate... Thus, I try not to involve myself with livestock. It would bring a calamity onto my mind, after all..."
- "They are no good. Anything that can talk will eventually betray you. And most importantly...they aren't cute."
- "Even if you're just a foolish human, I'm not so cruel as to yearn for a meaningless death."
- "You wouldn't understand how much pain I had to endure... Plus, that woman would cry if I didn't finish my plate. What choice did I have but to suffer in silence.."
- "You...wouldn't understand... I'm in isolation for a reason... There will never be a day when you understand why I became who I am! I'm the offspring of an angel and a devil, a cursed being shunned and rejected by everything in this world! Once I lose the only thing I love, I'm destined to spend my last days being devoured alive by demon beasts! Truly I am mankind's natural foe! Evil incarnate! A walking cataclysm! A shapeless insanity! GUNDHAM TANAKA!"
- "You asked me the other day what sort of existence would be capable of touching me. The answer to that is...the singularity. A being who can make the impossible possible...by overcoming various limitations..."
- "Hmph...don't get ahead of yourself. A simple creature like you does not have that much power. However...I can lend you my powers, as long as you yearn for them."
- "With this...the contract is complete. I will not allow you to die without my permission."
- "Oh...? I never took you for a certified architect of royal castles. Fine then. Show me your skills! No matter what fortress you erect, I will crush them all!" (About sandcastles)
- "No matter what you say, I'm not foolish enough to expose this body of mine to meaningless UV rays!"
- "Hmph. How foolish. You may be confident in your ability to find the kernel of truth contained in fiction... But I must say, that is a waste of time. If you want to spend your time wisely, you had better choose something more nourishing to your mind's eye." (About novels)
- "So you don't understand the value of this place... In the end, you're just a mere human after all. I have nothing more to say to you. Go wherever you please on your own."
- "...Bad idea. If a commoner like you foolishly sticks his head where it doesn't belong... you will die."
- "You fiend... Where do you think you are? In a library, it is an ironclad rule to hide things within bookshelves. Have you not heard the saying, "The best place to hide a leaf is within a forest"!?"
- "...Just so you know, I refuse to watch anime featuring beasts who walk on two legs and speak human languages. That is the only thing I will never accept... It is the most offensive thing by far..."
- "I am the embodiment of horror itself! How would I be entertained watching such a farce! I don't even know who you are anymore..."
- "Oh... Do you really think you can sleep peacefully while you sit next to me...? You fiend... You must have a death wish..."
- "As long as you stay by my side, you'll be invincible! Use that power to your heart's content! With our combined power, we will trample this castle of dreams until it is nothing but rubble!"
- "Hmph... This place is supposedly a castle of dreams. The world of humans needs a place like that, too. There is no danger here whatsoever. In theory, that is... This place was made for commoners like you. Don't hold back as you enjoy yourself to the fullest." (About the amusement park)
- "You must take responsibility for your decisions until the very end."
- "Exciting...? Did you bring me here just to make such foolish talk? Go pretend to be friends with some other human on the same level as you..."
- "I am the beholder of this garden's undying purgatory, the supreme conqueror of twilight, Gundham Tanaka!"
- "From now on, you will fully assist me with my magical beast synthesis! Until this life ends, you must stay by my side, as my slave/manservant/sacrifice/housekeeper/friend!"
Ultimate Talent Development Plan:
- "Those who walk the path of magic often seclude themselves from the world to master their art..." (To Himiko Yumeno)
- "Hm...our ways of thinking are incompatible. But your faith will make your magic shine..."
- "A soulless vessel is easily filled with hatred. Wards are needed for the electric spirit..." (About K1-B0)
- "I am reluctant to call on such a vile power... Yet this dark path befits an overlord..."
- "Kehehe... So you will count me as a mere pawn on your chessboard. But that arrogance amuses me! Very amusing, Nekomaru! I shall leave my fate to you for now!"
- "Perhaps one as purehearted as you may be able to touch the Four Dark Devas unscathed. But do not forget...they are still demon beasts. If you underestimate their fangs, you shall pay."
- "Indeed...beings who speak words will inevitably betray you. You are one such being."
- "A work of mad genius befitting a mad scientist, but even your madness cannot pierce my barrier."
- "Oh, make no mistake... I have no intention of aligning myself with the likes of you. You, a supreme leader of evil, master of ruin... I, a demon, the embodiment of madness... Do you think it possible for those who wear the masks of darkness to mingle? The answer is no!"
- "I see... To make the ephemeral moments of this world eternal...that is your secret art!"
- "...The flow of time cannot be halted by anyone. Not even I, the Supreme Overlord of Ice... However, that is why we shall laugh uproariously this night. This night will never come again...that is why we must etch it into our very souls." (To Sonia)
Danganronpa S Development Mode:
- "No one can lay eyes on the cosmic scales, nor can they do anything to stop it... The only means of opposing the tempests of luck lay in the peerless power within my hand. Mwahahahaaa! Yes, how very amusing! Regardless of what awaits, I shall meet it head on!"
- "This man is the personification of the whole of humanity's sins..."
- "Hmph, you remember a fragment of our trivial conversation? That too must be causality at work."
- "I speak not of worthless human desires. But you...do not know their warmth or feel. You possess a Vessel capable of attracting any magic beast, yet you do not satisfy that power. Yet you...do not *satisfy* that *power*!"
- "Perhaps it is by the stars that we were chosen by the same spell despite our opposite attributes. I like to think of this as simply learning one another's capabilities while awaiting the morrow." (to Gonta)
- "Sound possesses power beyond words, and yet we share these words, restricted as they are. Words may birth lies, misunderstandings, solitude. Describing so crudely a vibrant soul... Though a skilled medium may be suited for the task."
- "Time is finite and impartial. It is the absolute law, immovable even by me, the supreme overlord."
- "I have great respect for a mortal who would shepherd souls strayed beyond their domain. Only when all have returned to their rightful territories shall the worlds turn properly again."
- "The sea was clear and calm...but all around me, a vortex of chaos began to churn... Grgh...It was I who set this into motion. The cursed brand upon my body must be to blame..."
- "Infinite are your paths. Ponder at your leisure."
- "The jokes you sometimes utter offer a glimpse into the truth behind the figure beyond that barrier."
- "Names are a form of sorcery... If you take it lightly, only pain shall await."
Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School/Despair Arc
- "An abominable name, the speaking of which is forbidden. Right now, I am Tanaka the Forbidden One. The Taboo King, served by the Four Dark Devas of Destruction. Remember this well. For I am the man who will one day rule this entire world!"
- "Let us embark to purify this tainted Gehenna."
- "Regardless, as befits this Dark Sabbath, our mentor has returned! With a toast to the Lords of the Nine Circles of Hell... ...let our dark feast... ...begin!" (With Sonia)
- "As a Warrior of the Void, I can tell... High school is not a lonely place."
- "Don't say that. At the end of endless trials, fate has gathered us here." (to Mahiru)
- "My name is Tanaka the Forbidden! I will blast you to the edge of the Six Realms. Go forth, my Twelve Zodiac Generals!"
- "A simple Maze Barrier such as this is no match for Nidai and me, freed from my Seven Chains."
- "In the end, you all have proven to be true comrades..."
Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School/Hope Arc
- "Once the seal on my true name is revealed, the rising sun will burn the multiverse to ash. And before you die, you will hear it! This is the hour to break the seal. Listen well. My name is... ...Gundham! Gundham Tanaka! Shiver and sleep."
- "The Lord of War welcomes all who would walk his path!" (to Ryota Mitarai)
List of Appearances[]
- Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair (2012) - Major
- Danganronpa: Unlimited Battle (2015) - Major
- Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony (2017) - Cosplay & Bonus Mode Character
- Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp (2021) - Playable Character
- Danganronpa 2x2 (2026) - Major[14]
- Future Arc #01 - Minor
- Despair Arc - Major
- Hope Arc - Major
Merchandise[]
The link below lists all official licensed merchandise featuring Gundham Tanaka:
Trivia[]
- Nekomaru, Gundham's victim's, cause of death is foreshadowed by the final victim in The Wizard of Monomi 2.5D, a movie Mikan used for an imitation murder. She recreated only the first two victims, omitting the third—depicted as a tin man whose body was mutilated. This mirrors how Gundham murders Nekomaru, where his robotic body is destroyed, and his head is decapitated, resembling the third victim.[49][48]
- In his first Free Time Event, Gundham asks Hajime for his "hidden name" and "special ability." Hajime, who has no memory at the time, objects, claiming he has neither. In reality prior to the commencement of the Killing School Trip, however, he was already transformed into Izuru Kamukura, the Ultimate Hope.[20][41]
- In his Island Mode, Gundham is implied to be unable to swim, claiming that he's "not very effective against water-types," which may also be a reference to Water-type Pokémons.[55]
- In the Danganronpa Another Episode artbook, a beta model who appears to be Gundham controlling Robo Justice robot can be seen.[56]
- Gundham's English voice actor, Chris Tergliafera, also voices Ryoma Hoshi in Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony.[57]
- Gundham's stage actor, Masahiro Inoue, was married to Sonia's 2015 stage actress, Jaimie Natsuki.[58][59]
Appearances in Other Media[]
- Gundham and the Four Dark Devas of Destruction are included in the collaboration of Danganronpa 3 x Hōkai Gakuen.
- Gundham is included in the third wave of Danganronpa 1.2 Reload x Divine Gate.
- Gundham appears as a dress-up item in Atgames.[citation needed]
- The Four Dark Devas were featured in a promotional art by Rui Komatsuzaki from the anime Wooser's Hand-to-Mouth Life and Akudama Drive.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Report Card (Japanese)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Danganronpa 3 Despair Arc: Gundham Tanaka design profile
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Report Card
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Free Time Events 4: Gundham Tanaka
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc - Episode 04
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc - Episode 07
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 Free Time Events 2: Gundham Tanaka
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Danganronpa 2.5: Nagito Komaeda and the World Vanquisher
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Danganronpa 1.2 Art Book: Gundham Tanaka Design Profile Overview.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 @Taichinchin on Tumblr: List of Danganronpa and Danganronpa 2 casts former high schools
- ↑
Chris Tergliafera: "wow Good ear! Yes, another role I'm very proud of. Gundham was my fave char to voice. Such a high opinion of himself!" (Image of tweet) (10 July 2014)
- ↑ Funimation: Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope’s Peak High School Broadcast Dub Cast Announcement (July 28, 2016)
- ↑ synchronkartei: Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak Academy - Despair Arc
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Danganronpa 2x2 Steam Page
- ↑ Likely referring to folk dances associated with school events such as sports day or cultural festivals in a Japanese context.
- ↑ Gundham: "I see...I've only gone to an amusement park once during my childhood... But it was an amusement park in hell filled with man-eating demons!" (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 4 - Daily Life)
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Gundham: "I was born as a result of a union between a human and a demon, and my existence was shunned by both races... Perhaps it's because nobody has ever bought me a toy before, but I believe this is truly remarkable..." (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 4 - Daily Life)
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 Free Time Events 5: Gundham Tanaka
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 19.6 19.7 Introduction: Gundham Tanaka
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 20.6 Free Time Events 1: Gundham Tanaka
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair: Chapter 1 - Daily Life
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc - Episode 01
- ↑ Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc - Episode 02
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc - Episode 03
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc - Episode 05
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 Gundham: "Long ago...in a faraway land, a beast known as the Hell Hound was feared by all, even by he who summoned it... The Hell Hound tore its way through unnumerable battlefields, its fangs glistened with blood... ...And his drenched, blood-red fur would dry in the howling winds...of loneliness. When I finally tamed that diabolic beast, I received an earring to commemorate that event... ...the Hell Hound Earring. So that I may never forget the night I battled that fearsome pomeranian, I wear that earring at all times..." (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 1 - Deadly Life)
- ↑ Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc - Episode 06
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc - Episode 08
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc - Episode 09
- ↑ Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc - Episode 10
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc - Episode 11
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 32.4 32.5 32.6 32.7 Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair: Chapter 6
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 Danganronpa 3 - Future Arc - Episode 01
- ↑ Alter Ego Junko: "But it's not my fault, you know. This game is a fight between the Future Foundation and me. You guys were just instigators in the background... But you guys already knew that when you chose to play this game, right? "As though we wanted to come to this world of our own free will." But that's precisely the truth! You guys chose to be instigators and you were willingly taken into the Neo World Program... ...to provide the opportunity I needed to push this battle between hope and despair into overtime... That's right! The reason the Ultimate Despairs began killing each other was set up by the group itself!" (Danganronpa 2 - Chapter 6)
- ↑ Akane: "But why'd you come out? You shoulda hid till the excitement died down..."
Chiaki: "If Gundham tried to hide, and if those two went to his room to check on him, he would've been found out. That would've been the worst possible outcome... That's why he couldn't just stay hidden." (Chapter 4 - Deadly Life) - ↑ Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair: Chapter 5 - Deadly life
- ↑ Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony: Chapter 6
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 38.3 @Kaibutsushidousha on Tumblr: Danganronpa 2 Artbook: Gundham Tanaka
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 39.3 Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair: Chapter 1 - Deadly Life
- ↑ 40.0 40.1 @Jinjojess on Tumblr: Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc Profile: Gundham Tanaka
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 41.3 Danganronpa 3 - Hope Arc
- ↑ Gundham Tanaka's Investigation Report
- ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 43.3 Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair: Chapter 4 - Deadly Life
- ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair: Chapter 3 - Deadly life
- ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 45.3 Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair: Chapter 2 - Daily Life
- ↑ Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair: Chapter 2 - Deadly Life
- ↑ Gundham: "Kehehe... I see, so that guy figured it out, as well."
Hajime: "Hm? You know, too, Gundham? What is it?"
Gundham: "If you wish to know, you must pay price... After all, this world is ruled by the law of equivalent exchange... However, is someone like you capable of offering a tribute that would satisfy a tyrant such as myself?
Hajime: "...He probably doesn't know what it is." (Prologue)
Hajime: "Hey... Why are iron plates covering the windows...?"
Gundham: "Such a fine day... Countless lives gasp their first breath... And countless more go the way of all flesh..."
Hajime: "I guess... He doesn't know." (Chapter 1 - Daily Life)
Gundham: "A new land has opened... However, it does not mean we will find salvation there... Griefs is all that awaits us...but that would be quite entertaining!"
Hajime: "...So he's saying he didn't find anything useful on this island...is that it?" (Chapter 2 - Daily Life) - ↑ 48.0 48.1 48.2 48.3 48.4 Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair: Chapter 4 - Daily life
- ↑ 49.0 49.1 49.2 49.3 Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair: Chapter 3 - Daily life
- ↑ Chiaki: "You know, after listening to you talk for a while, I'm starting to think that... Well, it's also because you unexpectedly admitted your crime without much resistance..."
Hajime: "Gundham, don't tell me you... You didn't sacrifice yourself for our sake, did you...?"
Gundham: "My cursed existence is feared by all mankind! There's no way I'd sacrifice myself for the sake of you fools! Not in a million, not in a billion, not in 10,000 billion years! In the name of Pandaemonium, it is impossible!"
Hajime: "Is that it...? Then...I'll just leave it at that..." (Chapter 4 - Deadly Life) - ↑ 51.0 51.1 51.2 Free Time Events 3: Gundham Tanaka
- ↑ Island Mode - Library: Gundham Tanaka
- ↑ Island Mode - Movie Theater: Gundham Tanaka
- ↑ A possible reference to Fullmetal Alchemist's Equivalent Exchange
- ↑ Island Mode - Beach: Gundham Tanaka
- ↑ Danganronpa Another Episode Official Setting Materials Collection (Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls art book)
- ↑ Chris Tergliafera: "YOU WIN. Nice ear! Yes, I am voicing Ryoma in DRV3" (Image of tweet) (3 July 2017)
- ↑ Masahiro Inoue married and is expecting first child.
- ↑ @MAAAAAAAASAHIRO on Twitter: ご報告
私、井上正大は5月8日に離婚致しました。結婚の時と違い簡素なものになってしまいました。今は大変な時期ではありますがきちんとお伝えしたいと思い このような形で申し訳ございませんがご報告させていただきます。
井上正大
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