Danganronpa V3: Remnants AU Comic Dub Casting Call
David Schwab for Nagito Komaeda
Nagito Komaeda is a character in Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair, and title is the Ultimate Lucky Student. In general, Nagito has a pretty laid-back, carefree, and calm demeanor, often seen either smiling or laughing. At least, when you first meet him. Hajime described his first impression of Nagito as a boy with his own insecurities, but is extremely polite and friendly with a bright smile that can comfort those around him, albeit a bit clingy towards Hajime. He also would play the role of a mediator during conflicts, such as wanting to keep an eye on Teruteru so he didn’t harass anyone and also trying to be one of the few people to encourage his friends to be hopeful and cooperate during these dire circumstances.
However, during the first class trial (where he became the prime suspect in Twogami’s murder), his kind demeanor is gone, and it revealed that Komaeda has an extremely twisted idea of “hope.” believing the idea of hope being “absolute good,” he believes that any deed that is done in the name of hope is righteous and justified… even if it’s murder. Nagito desires to create an absolute hope so powerful enough to overcome any form of despair, that he’s even willing to use himself as a “stepping stone,” meaning he’d be willing to sacrifice himself if it means the other Ultimates can shine as the “ultimate hope.” This hints to his thoughts of himself being a “lower being” in comparison to the other ultimates, especially since he considers his title as the “Ultimate Lucky Student” as a true talent, to the point he feels shameful of being around them. Though his strong desires to help everyone seem genuine and self-sacrificing, his methods, and ideologies can be extremely dangerous for both the people around him and himself (He goes as far as to say he wouldn’t mind having one of the others kill him if it were for the sake of their hope, displaying how little he cares about his well-being). Despite that, he is strongly against deaths that are “meaningless” or if they were for the sake of despair (Looking at you, Junko). It is to note though that this is how we see him in the Neo-World Program, and once escaping it with the others in the Danganronpa 2.5 OVA, he seems to be way more mellowed out after leaving the program. It’s also revealed in this OVA that deep down, he has a hidden hatred towards talents, wishing for a world where they wouldn’t exist if it meant everyone could live happily, equally, and free of judgment and hierarchy. Naturally though, once awakening, he was embarrassed to think this way and still has his immense respect for talents. But he has seemed more relaxed and not over-the-top on his ideologies for hope, and having Hajime along the way. It also reveals that his respect for ideals like love/friendship is genuine too.
There’s so much info on Nagito that I just can’t fit it here. So if you wanna learn more about him and his personality, I highly recommend reading the wiki page for a more “in-depth” deep-dive on him.
His emotions as a remnant (also dubbed as “Servant,” but I’ll refer to him as a remnant because I just feel a bit uncomfortable referring to him as “servant” here.) are just as hard to read as he was before he became one - maybe even harder to read on than before. However, his personality is almost completely unchanged. Despite being an Ultimate Despair like his classmates, he seems to be the “least” affected by the brainwashing Junko forced onto them. This implies that Nagito has a love-hate thought process for his opinions on Junko. Because of the brainwashing, he still has a twisted obsession with her, but he also has a deep hatred for her; he even still has his obsession with hope despite working for the Ultimate Despair. He doesn’t seem too violent or dangerous, and he isn’t… but his plans for the world are even more dangerous than they were in Dr2:GD. He would usually work behind the scenes on what he does and usually assists with the Warriors of Hope.
I think both voices work well for Nagito! So go crazy :)
Voices for Reference (ENG): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f39sfY6rpVA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXgce2jTqZA
Voices for Reference (JPN): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfy3wAvwV3A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VEgAlleTPY- english
- male adult
- neutral
- male young adult
- male teen
- nonbinary
(Speaking with Hajime, in an earnest and sincere way) "...Hajime, I thought I would die on this island. I thought I would finally be released from the cycle of good and bad luck, but I was clinging to false hope... I was always looking for hope somewhere within my sight, or within my reach. I thought I would finally be released from the cycle of good and bad luck, but I was clinging to false hope... I was always looking for hope somewhere within my sight, or within my reach. But now...it's different. The time I've spent with you on this island has taught me that hope was inside me from the very beginning."
(Finding out that Hajime is a Reserve Course student, shocked and horrified...but then decends into mocking aughter) "Everyone, huh...? So you still believe you're just like everyone else... Reserve Course students are so full of themselves! Heh, heh...hahahahahahaha!"
(Reacting to Chiaki's death in Dr3: Despair arc. He's in shock and fallen into despair, kind of choking out his words due to him in tears) "This is unforgivable. Nanami is our hope! Look what she did to her. What despair... What a horrific sight! This is... This is the despair we must overcome? Ah, Nanami... You understand, right? At this moment, you are becoming a stepping stone to hope...! (insert a shaky crying laugh. Like he's tearing up, but begins to laugh through it) -------------------------------------- (His declaration at the end of Dr3's Despair arc, said in an eerily normal and somewhat cheery way) "No matter how great the despair is... In the end, hope will win. That's why I can relax, and become despair."
