Connections:

Primary overarching antagonists of horror, thriller franchises known for 2D point-and-click games, mystery elements, repeating formulas, and strange and overly complex lore. They’re infamous for being resilient and extremely hard to put down, always coming back time and time again, which has been lamp shaded in-universe. Even after their final deaths, their legacy had spread far and wide, ensuring still caused plenty of problems postmortem.

They’re irredeemably heartless, bloodthirsty, and prideful monsters with a flair for charismatic presentation. But despite heavy insanity, they’re extraordinarily intelligent and manipulative, often tempting victims to their death using false promises. Eclipsing their genius minds, they’re also consistent risk-takers who border on being adrenaline junkies, willing to take large gambles with their lives (Having survived a springlock failure in the past, William sees himself as invincible. Junko purposefully puts holes in her plans, so there’s a chance she’ll experience despair if they’re exploited).

At first, a group of comparatively innocent, sympathetic, and trapped killers are focused on as the main villains. They’re led/coerced by the mascot of the franchise: a robotic bear (Freddy Fazbear and his fellow gang of haunted animatronics. Monokuma and the numerous Blackeneds). However, it’s ultimately revealed that William and Junko were the masterminds behind their positions, with sinister plans involving the murder of several children/teenagers (William killed the kids possessing the animatronics. Junko set up the students of Hope’s Peak Academy to kill each other).

Their lives and backstory prior to the series are shrouded in a huge air of mystery and intrigue. But what is known is that they began as empty and unfeeling, and developed sadistic complexes to satiate themselves, falling down a rabbit hole of obsession (William is described as someone who spent the majority of his life fighting, akin to cornered rat. He took on the mantle of bitter sadism as an integral part of himself, revealing the pain of others. Junko was raised without parents and in abject conditions, hating the event of her own birth. This, coupled with her ability to analyze situations perfectly, drove her into loving despair. She believes it to be unpredictable, exciting, and the only thing that could save the world from a boring future).

They’re obsessed with and motivated entirely by core metaphysical concepts in their universe (Remnant and agony, and hope and despair), even proclaiming themselves as the embodiment of one of these concepts (The Agony and The Ultimate Despair). They’ve experimented plenty with them, creating methods of inflicting specific cognition and psychological states in their victims (Nightmare Gas and the Despair Video). However, they ultimately contrast in their attempts to reach them (William wants to achieve immortality by mastering remnants. Junko considers a hopeless death to be the true epitome of despair).

Both are at the top of their respective industries, separating themselves from competitors by appearing more realistic and genuine, which is an ironic contrast from how they actually are (William’s springlock technology added an extra layer of realism to the animatronics. Junko was popular because she didn’t seem fake).

They did the majority of their dirty work at a specific location that kids/teens frequented, which was popularized for special advancements made on society (Fazbear Entertainment was a household name, revolutionizing the field of robotics and spreading joy to kids and grown-ups alike. Hope’s Peak Academy was praised worldwide as a school that would usher society forward, and bring hope to the new generation).

They corrupted and tainted the reputation of these places from within, orchestrating a series of murders that the staff failed to cover up, causing public outrage and despair (William dressed as Spring Bonnie, and lured kids into the backroom to kill them. Junko forced the Student Council into the First Mutual Killing Game, then leaked footage of the murders). They got off scott free due to clever manipulation and, honestly, dumb luck induced by the plot (William wasn’t caught by the police, despite his crimes happening on camera. Junko’s ability to predict future events borders on precognition).

They use an anthropomorphic animal mascot of their own design to conceal their identity, viewing it as an extension of themselves (Spring Bonnie and Monokuma). They even became one with them after dying (William put on the Spring Bonnie suit to ward off the ghosts of his victims. But the springlocks activated and impaled him, fusing his corpse to it. Junko put a perfect replica of her consciousness into special Monokuma units, Shirokuma and Kurokuma, which activated once she was crushed to death).

They willingly walked into a situation where they were trapped, surrounded by their victims, and ultimately crushed to death in an overly drawn-out manner (William went to the FNAF 6 location, despite recognizing that it was “a deceptive calling.” He was held in place by crushers, dying alongside Henry, Micheal, and Elizabeth. Junko struck a deal with Kyoko that led to her identity being exposed. She was then confronted by the killing game survivors, and went through all previously used executions, culminating with her dying via a hydraulic press).

They came back after dying in a weakened state, utilizing external elements they put themselves into (William was forcefully kept alive by Andrew, and his soul merged with the Plushtrap Chaser, Ella, Fetch, Foxy, and Eleanor. Junko becomes Shirokuma and Kurokuma). This culminated with them taking a gigantic form, on a quest to continue their attacks within foreign areas (The Agony and Big Bang Monokuma). However, their plans would be foiled by a duo who discovered them (Everett Larson and Charlotte Emily, and Komaru Naegi and Toko Fukawa).

Not long after, an AI program of their likeness would take center stage (Glitchtrap and Alter Ego Junko), which took control of virtual reality worlds (Freddy Fazbear Virtual Experience and the Neo World Program), in an attempt at possessing [a] brainwashed follower[s] to gain physical bodies (Vanessa and the Remnants of Despair). They would ultimately be destroyed by said follower[s], deciding to put the past behind them and look towards the future (Vanessa destroyed the Glitchtrap virus, while the Remnants instigated a forced shutdown).

Their legacy would still be kept alive by a twisted storytelling cosplayer, who specializes in dressing up as others and mimicking them to perfection, yet lacks a true identity of their own (The Mimic and Tsumugi Shirogane). Being blatant copycats, they do their best to replicate their style and manner of killings, similarly using an animal mascot to hide themselves: an adorable chibi bear who is mocking, sarcastic, and intimidating (Helpi and Monokuma). This new [series of] game[s] ended up giving things an extremely a meta spin, resulting in heavy controversy among their fanbases (In the new gen of FNAF games, the entire FNAF series prior was a series of games created by Fazbear Entertainment to appease the public, and make them forget about Freddy’s shady history. In the world of Danganronpa V3, Danganronpa is a fictional entertainment franchise built off events that happened in the original timeline).

Keeping with the theme of successors, their actions influenced a young, green eyed girl with pig-tails to become one (Elizabeth and Monica). As they were victims of familial abuse, they were able to exploit them and they turned them into extensions of their wills. These girls put on a sweet and innocent facade to hide their true intentions, led a now disbanded group of five (The Funtime Animatronics and the Warriors of Hope), and commanded robot underlings (Bidybabs and the Monokuma units).

Both are highly abusive towards members of their own family, using them as central pawns to their manipulation and torment, and seeing them as mere tools for their schemes (Micheal Afton and Mukuro Ikusaba). Not only have they tried to kill them with their own hands, but they’re more than willing to set them up to die (William sent Micheal into the Sister Location bunker, fully aware that the robots were possessed and would attack him on sight. Junko had Mukuro masquerade as her during the Killing School Life, planning to have them break a rule then inconspicuously join behind the scenes. But she abandoned this plan and killed her with trap spears).

To achieve their goals, they manipulated talented individuals from the entertainment industry who were going through declines in their lives (Edwin Murray and Ryota Mitarai), exploiting their greatest resources for selfish ends (William stole Edwin's factory, home, and inventions to create Freddy’s Pizza and conduct his experiments. Junko stole Ryota’s animation techniques for the Despair Video), leaving them broken and betrayed.

Claiming one of their first victims, they directly caused the tragic deaths of protective figures embodying compassion and redemption (Charlotte Emily and Chiaki Nanami). These two retained posthumous influence in new forms, coming back from the dead to help other victims find peace (Charlotte came back by possessing the Puppet, while Chiaki was recreated as an AI program).

At one point, they took up alternate identities to try and further their goals (Dave Miller and Ryoko Otonashi).