Greetings, I wrote this in 2019 I believe, and with danganronpa 2x2 coming up, I felt my bubbling love and obsession for monokuma (and the games as a whole of course). I remembered allll the silly little things I have, such as old fanart, and a 14k long self insert fanfic of my OC and monokuma. I wrote these tid bits of why I believe Monokuma has sentience in V3 and semi or full in DR2 at the bottom of the fic, and now here they are for the wild!
BEAR-LY any this is lore accurate, all of its in my head because im crazy coocoo over this idiot bear.
end game(s) danganronpa minor spoilers
- My Theory of Monokuma being sentient really can only be used in v3 since the autonomous ai idea is most prevelent in this singular game. Biggest reason is because he's around for ALL of it, he's not being controlled by anyone in or outside the game, he's his own separate entity, just like how everyone else in the game not being controlled outside of the game action-wise.
- In sdr2 it could also be possible since it is a video game technically, everything is their own code and monokuma isn't necessarily controlled since it's running it's own program. He only disappeared for theatrics in my opinion.
- It would be a stretch for THH since originally he is completely controlled inside the school by another student, but multiple lines contradict it with the ending of the game with him reactivating, and in a v3 minigame there's a line that says junko lets him free roam. Now what he can do or say is unknown during free roam, but best assumption would be that he can talk and still act like himself. A good idea would be that he CAN be free thinking but can ALSO be taken over for important events that Junko initiates or wants to see and participate first hand (aka trials and handing motives)
Anywho heres a sketch and goodnight!