Hopes Peak Academy is an exclusive high school that admits only highly skilled students. Those who are accepted receive unique titles based on their abilities and characteristics. Out of fifteen applicants in a particular year, Makoto Naegi was admitted by chance with the title "Super High School-Level Luck." Initially, Naegi and his classmates were thrilled to attend this esteemed institution, but their excitement soon faded when they encountered Monokuma, the principal who is also a bear. He confined them within the school's walls, requiring one of them to murder another student without being detected in order for them to escape and graduate. If the killer was caught, he or she would be executed, and the remaining students would continue fighting until only one survivor remained.
Episode 1 was previewed at a screening in TOHO Cinema Roppongi Hills, Tokyo on June 23, 2013. Regular broadcasting began on July 5, 2013.Due to the success of the Danganronpa games, various spin-offs on a variety of media were made including the anime adaption and Danganronpa/Zero, a series of two novels written by Tsuyoshi Kodakazu and illustrated by Rui Komatsuzaki which were released on September 15, 2011 and October 13, 2011.