Aside from its thrilling murder-mystery stories, theDanganronpaseries is best known for its eclectic cast of characters. The series follows events surrounding Hope’s Peak Academy, a Japanese high school that recruits students who are the “ultimate” of their particular skill or talent. As such, the cast boasts a range of characters who fit into unique archetypes based on their talents, and one ofDanganronpa’s breakout stars is Mikan Tsumiki.
While some characters are more beloved than others across the board, many fans seem to agree that game with thebest overall cast isDanganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair. One of the most popular characters from this game - and the franchise as a whole - is the Ultimate Nurse, Mikan Tsumiki. She’s neither the protagonist nor the main antagonist, but even so this shy, awkward nurse has captured many fans' hearts. There is a lot more to her character than a first impression may reveal, and this has drawn in a big fanbase.Spoilers for theDanganronpaseries ahead.
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Mikan’s Tragic Backstory Garners Sympathy From Fans
If the player chooses tospend their free time with Mikan inDanganronpa, they can learn a lot about her backstory - an unhappy childhood filled with abuse and bullying. This traumatic experience growing up has given Mikan an unhealthy perception of herself and how others see her. She endures bullying from Hiyoko Saionji, the Ultimate Traditional Dancer, because she believes she deserves it. Her warped perception of herself often leads to over analysis of social situations and inappropriate reactions as she craves approval from her classmates, then harshly criticizes herself when social interactions don’t play out how she believes they should.
Many fans feel sorry for Mikan, as she takes care of others physically, yet she is unable to deal with her own mental and emotional trauma. The shy, clumsyMikan that players are first presented with earns their initial affection, and that affection grows into a deeper level of care and a desire to protect the sweet soul once they learn of her traumatic past. While other characters have similar arcs, none are quite as relatable and grounded a Mikan’s, making her an easy character for players to latch onto.
Mikan Plays a Larger Role in the Plot than Expected
Despite her general status as an auxiliary character, Mikan ends up playing a significant role in the second game’s plot. In the third chapter, Mikan is found guilty of themurders of Ibuki Mioda and Hiyoko Saionji. During the class trial, Mikan’s personality takes a dramatic shift once she is caught in her lies. She shows little-to-no remorse for her actions, which she claims were done in the name of her “beloved.” While the rest of the cast determine this personality shift to be a result of the “despair disease” introduced as a motive for the killing game, the true cause of this behavior foreshadows the game’s climactic twist.
The climax reveals that the 16 students of class 77-B who make up the main cast were formerly Remnants of Despair, brainwashed followers of the series’main antagonist Junko Enoshima: the Ultimate Despair. Mikan’s strange actions during chapter three are put in a whole new perspective given her stolen memories were returned, and she regressed back into being a Remnant of Despair acting on behalf of Junko. Players were unaware of how important this is to the overarching plot of the game, but after the reveal Mikan gains a new dimension that cements her as one of the most interesting and memorable characters in the series.
Danganronpa Decadenceis available now on the Nintendo Switch.
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