Bakemonogatari

The story follows third year high school student Araragi Koyomi; a past vampire. Over his spring break he was attacked by a vampire thus turning into one. With the help Meme Oshino, an expert in the field of oddities: Who helps Araragi become a human again with payment. The series has a set of chapters, with a heroine in each chapter being induced by an oddity. This show is full of word play, which is the author's strength in his writing of the light novels.

The art in the series is nothing less than spectacular. The lighting, the animation, the colors is just all so beautiful. ... The scenes that would be plain have some sort of interesting aspect and life to it. This is done by Studio Shaft (one of my favorite studios) so it's very familiar to those that have seen Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei or Tsukuyomi: Moon Phase. Which are fantastic as well. And yes, Shaft does make use of production slides and storyboards for dialogue or just for some effect on the situation. CAUTION: Some of the storyboards/production slides go by really fast. You're going to have pause to read them.

The sound is great. I'll mention OPs and EDs. The OPs are great, different ones for chapters and they fit well based on the heroine of the chapter. The ED is by supercell (they did the theme for Cencoroll as well) is fantastic, the animation in the ED is personally a favorite of mine. Now, to the real sound that counts, the BGM. It's great, fits every scene well and adds emotion to them as well. Very well done.

The cast of characters is all over the place. Araragi is overly kind and tries to help anyone he can. Amongst the heroines there are the basic characters that stick out. There is Hitagi Senjougahara who describes herself as a tsundere. She speaks in a very threatening way to anyone. Suruga Kanbaru, a self-proclaimed lesbian, masochist, and fujoshi. Many other characters appear with other personalities which gives a delectable assortment of characters.

Overall, this anime is definitely one to check out; one of my favorites from this season. With the overtone of spirits, mythological creatures, ghosts, and gods there is room for romance in this anime as well. Chapters are relatively short (limited to three/two episodes for one chapter) but capture a lot of the story through this dialogue heavy anime. An anime to a remember with the great depth of the characters and how the chapters help the characters develop.

So it's time to review the one of Monogatari series, Bakemonogatari.
And yes, my general opinion about Bakemonogatari is :

"The interesting thing is not about its story, but its SHAFT-styled story-telling and character development."

That makes every character seems real, as if they are really exist IRL. Let's start from the main protagonist, Araragi Koyomi. Koyomi's character was rather unique, despite his ordinary circumstances for being surrounded by girls, like other harem animes. He was a perverted man, but very wise and willing to try his best to solved his friends' problems. Sounds ordinary though, but in this review I'm talking about SHAFT. Yes, since this ... anime was developed by SHAFT, the audiences will definitely have new experience after watching this one. For example, pausing in every "red scene". That's the art of trolling, LOL. Every episode was always interesting although each of them have many dialogues. Furthermore, most of them didn't really important, but still worth to enjoy. Audience who used to watch anime with full of action and less dialogue will definitely got bored easily. I felt that at first, but then I realized that those dialogues are needed to develop each of characters' personality.

Main plot of this anime is about Koyomi and Oshino Meme solving problems of these girls: Hitagi, Mayoi, Suruga, Nadeko, and Tsubasa. Each of their stories are good but not really impressed me. The good thing are these two things that I said again and again: story-telling and character development. In addition, the artwork was awesome and extraordinary. Very different from other animes.

And let me tell you once again, this is what I like about this anime: CHARACTER. This anime itself has a CHARACTER that really differs it from other animes, not just mere "physical" characters. If you know what I mean, hehehe. Talking about characters, the most significant characters of this anime are of course, Koyomi and Hitagi a.k.a the couple. Both of them have unique character. Hitagi claimed herself as a tsundere. But since there is no way a tsundere admit that he/she is a tsundere, so I think her argument is invalid, hahaha.. She was definitely a yandere a.k.a the sadist, but she has sweet and romantic side too. Koyomi successfully take advantage of her sweet side and won her heart. Finally, they started going out.

Then Hitagi revealed herself as a very protective girlfriend. So protective that she won't hesitate to intimidate Koyomi. Koyomi realized that she was dealing with very dangerous girlfriend, so he took his steps carefully to avoid something bad happen to him. Although he tried it, he still couldn't control himself, especially when meeting Mayoi. So, it's a proof that Koyomi is actually a lolicon and yet he was going out with Hitagi. Watch yourself, Koyomi.. hahaha.

This anime revealed that Koyomi have two little sisters, Karen and Tsukihi. Both of them rarely appeared, and just like alarms to wake Koyomi up. Story of Karen and Tsukihi will be told in Nisemonogatari, this anime's sequel.

Okay, time for summary. This anime have five separated stories, but interconnected. Some unnecessary but hilarious moment and dialogues made this anime have strong character development. The OSTs are amazing, especially first OP by Chiwa Saitou (Hitagi's seiyuu) and the ED song "Kimi no shiranai monogatari" by supercell. Therefore, sound is an important factor for this anime. That's why I gave score of 9 for it. For enjoyment, yeah I enjoyed the show. Sometimes I rewatched an episode to read the kanji on "red screen," watch the hilarious moment again, or just enjoying the extraordinary artwork.

Last but not least, I'd like to say thanks for this anime. This anime really inspires me about the art of story-telling and character development.

That's all folks! Thanks ^^

There’s some debate about whether or not Bakemonogatari (pr. bah-keh-moh-no-gah-tah-re) is an ecchi-harem. A mere six seconds into the first episode, one of the female leads is introduced with a panty shot, and several shots of panties, boobs, and butts are dispersed throughout the series. Aside from two other characters that appear in a few episodes, the main character, Araragi, is the only male, and he’s usually surrounded by females who’ve developed a fondness for him after he helped them in some way.

Is it an ecchi? Most likely. Is it a harem? Probably. Regardless, what distinguishes this series from other ecchi and harem anime is ... that this one could still be entertaining without the ecchi and harem elements. It’s not an ecchi with some story, but a story with some ecchi.

Bakemonogatari, the first adaptation of Isin Nisio's Monogatari novel series, can be summed up as an allegory of how problems grow beyond our control when we don't tend to them. In this story, unsolved problems transform into apparitions that can handicap, possess, and even attack people. This premise was likely inspired by the Buddhist "āsavā" concept, which is defined as an influence or mental bias that binds people to their desires and attachments. In this story, various types of mental biases are illustrated through the lives and interactions of the characters.

This series was headed by veteran director and animator Akiyuki Shinbou, whose style has become synonymous with the Shaft animation studio. His distinctive use of lines, shadows, and off-centered shot compositions are in full effect here. There are some scenes that are likely just meant to look cool, but, generally, the visuals have purpose and avoid garishness. The visuals are specific, and help to establish tension, isolation, and other tones.

The true highlight of Bakemonogatari is the Tarantino-esque dialog written by Isin Nisio. When the characters converse, they’re not simply saying things that’ll move the plot forward. They’re having in-depth conversations, free of restraints, that seamlessly transition between topics as conversations do in real life. However, that’s not to imply that the characters take themselves seriously. It’s quite the contrary. The characters often tease and challenge each other, and sometimes break through the fourth wall to make the viewer a part of an exchange.

The Monogatari Series would be appreciated by most anime fans who enjoy sleek art, witty dialog, the supernatural, and don't mind some fanservice. If you decide to pick it up, I suggest watching it in the order that it was adapted: Bakemonogatari, Nisemonogatari, Nekomonogatari: Kuro, Monogatari Series: Second Season, Hanamonogatari, Tsukimonogatari, Owarimonogatari, Kizumonogatari.

Winner of the 2009’s popular vote for Best Anime of 2009 on Animereactor, Bakemonogatari is yet another anime that Shaft can add up to their collection. To make it short, Bakemonogatari is overrated. Overrated in a sense that the animation style has nothing to brag about, the story isn’t unique in any sense and that the characters aren’t even special in the first place. However, it doesn’t change the fact that Bakemonogatari is still a very good anime to watch and it is among my favourites of 2009.

Bakemonogatari is structured with five story arcs, with the fifth one being aired solely online. For ... those who are Shaft followers you will see no difference in how the story is told in this anime. Just like most of their work, Bakemonogatari’s story is driven by the dialogues rather than the action. This being said, Bakemonogatari dialogues, while they make most part of the story, aren’t exactly telling the story itself. More of a casual discussion between two peoples, the plot is not given away for the purpose of being vomited to the viewer, but it rather flows with the casual talk that the show tends to offer. Now of course, there are some action scenes and fighting scenes in Bakemonogatari, but it is mostly used in a way to conclude an arc or for adding a bit of spice. I have to say that the story arcs aren’t original and can be quite repetitive as it uses the same recipe for each of them. It is repetitive in a way that each story arcs starts the same way and pretty much end the same way as well. Of course, not being original and being repetitive is not a synonym for boring. Bakemonogatari always managed to interest me with each story arcs with its direction toward suspense and climax build up.

There’s a problem with the story arcs and its character. Because the story arcs holds almost no connections toward each others, Bakemonogatari fails in term of characterisation and it always seems that the relation between Senjougahara and Araragi is stalled. Step aside the social and love relations, this series hold way more interest in the characters individually, and by that I mean Senjougahara. While Araragi is an interesting character, he’s nothing different from any other male lead that Shaft use to have, and they all have the same voice actor of course. He may be fitting leading for this anime, but his lack of originality and the fact that he’s just a Shaft preset doesn’t make him a good character. On the other line, Senjougahara, to make it short, is the spotlight character of this show. While the anime tends to put her as a side character, being not so important except for the first arc, she is a woman that is very interesting for her sarcastic tonality and her way to lead everything. Now, there’s nothing that support her characterisation very well and that I have to admit. It’s more of her personality that makes her a good character. Bakemonogatari also has a strong set of side characters that really supports the show very well. These side characters are cool, fun to watch and entertaining, but it doesn’t go beyond those points. Just like any side characters should be.

The visual is perhaps one of the most controversial in anime history. I’ll say it, those red screens is not a form of art, it simply a form laziness and does not bring anything, except for pissing off the viewer big time. Now that I’ve talked about those screens, let’s look at the actual art. The visual is nothing original, as it is the same that Shaft uses in almost all of their anime. Bakemonogatari uses lots of pretty colors, high contrasts, typical chalkboards and many cut scenes that one would recognise as a Shaft work. However, the characters are very well made, unique and distinctive. And even though it’s been made dozens of that, I actually never get tired of Shaft’s fancy visual style and it actually compliments the anime very well.

The sound is on a whole new standard. In fact, it is absolutely amazing. Without no hesitation, Staple Stable became an instant opening favourite for me, and for the ending as well. Bakemonogatari also offers a new opening song for each story arcs that supports the soundtrack very well. The inner songs in the anime actually capture the moments and intensity perfectly. Voice actors are also top notch. Hiroshi might have been using the same kind of voice, but it’s simply because it’s the same kind of character. Chiwa Saito, who also sings the opening, is the highlight voice actress of this show.

In the end, Bakemonogatari has its reason for being overrated, because it is actually enjoyable and very good. Fans of Shaft will obviously love it, and for the others it might as well be a hit or miss.

For starters, this is more of an analysis than a review and is intended for those who have already seen Bakemonogatari.

Introduction

Bakemonogatari is the first installment in the Monogatari Series, a series of novels written by Nisio Isin. In short, the Monogatari Series is about its characters maturing and becoming better people by way of overcoming their internal (sometimes external) conflicts and insecurities.

It is a gripping character piece and a technical and audiovisual marvel that fully capitalizes on the strengths of its medium.

Story

One would expect a series named ‘Story’ to have a multilayered narrative that seamlessly juggles complex and profoundly deep themes. While that ... is the case (to a certain extent) in the later installments, Bakemonogatari’s narrative is simple and straightforward in comparison.

The audience follows the story through the eyes of Araragi Koyomi over five arcs. Every arc has a different main heroine and explores different themes; however, they have a few things in common. One of them is how the heroines resolve their conflicts with Araragi’s help. At this point, it would be good to clarify that my abovementioned description of the series is also an oversimplification. The show depicts said conflicts and insecurities in a way that is unusual and wonderfully unique. Through the brilliant integration of supernatural elements, the characters’ internal feelings, insecurities, and traits are portrayed as functionally corresponding spirits or creatures called oddities. For example, Senjougahara’s strong desire to forget her past feelings led to her encounter with the Weight Crab, an oddity which made her weightless (in Japanese, feelings『思い』and heavy『重い』are both read ‘omoi’). Moreover, Senjougahara’s outwards abrasive, but sweet-on-the-inside personality is represented by the hard shell, yet soft inside of a crab. I can’t emphasize enough how creative this is and how much it elevates a potentially dull character trait due to the unique twist.

Another important thing to highlight would be the romance aspect of the show, which Bakemonogatari executes beautifully. The relationship between Senjougahara and Araragi began with one of my favorite lines from Araragi: “If our views clash, then let us properly talk about it”. I consider romance in fiction to be a double-edged sword - if executed correctly, it can provide a powerful emotional hook; however, if not, it can drag shows down and make them a chore to watch. Bakemonogatari combats this by having Senjougahara become romantically interested in Araragi very early on and having them become a couple as early as the fifth episode. In the novel, she even states that she hates “romantic comedies where it’s obvious the two characters are going to get together at the end, but instead they drag out the story with a bunch of lukewarm twists and turns”. As a result, their relationship feels uneasy and (at times) artificial to start; however, by the end, they truly do connect and develop feelings for one another. This, along with their hilarious back-and-forth banter, makes for an extremely enjoyable and gratifying romance.

I won’t talk about the arcs in detail; however, I will mention that all of them, excluding Sengoku’s, are connected by the theme of overcoming one’s past. Senjougahara overcoming her trauma that was caused by the disarray in her family, Hachikuji became a ghost due to not being able to locate her mother’s house before dying, and Kanbaru and Hanekawa are tormented by their unrequited love. The most impressive thing about Bakemonogatari’s arcs is that they serve as a brilliant setup for the later installments while offering elegant character development, and a smooth introduction to the oddity system. Though it feels a tad self-indulgent and over-reliant on sex appeal, Bakemonogatari offers an enticing story fueled by its quirky and lovable characters.

Characters

Speaking of quirky and lovable characters, here’s the character section.

The most interesting aspect to note about Bakemonogatari’s heroines is that they are pseudo-parodies or outright mockeries of established tropes in anime. Senjougahara is a blatant lampooning of tsunderes, Hanekawa is reminiscent of the childhood friend trope, Sengoku is a typical moe girl, etc. Where the brilliance lies, however, is in the way Isin, in addition to providing meta and deconstructive commentary on the tropes, also subverts them to give the characters meaningful development and progression. What's noteworthy as well is that the characters’ development doesn’t conclude in Bakemonogatari. As I’ve already mentioned, what Bakemonogatari offers is phenomenal characterization through fun-to-listen-to exchanges between characters, and an excellent setup for future confrontations.

Araragi Koyomi is the glue that holds the series together. His idealistic tendencies resulted in him having to face constant reality checks and accept unfavorable compromises which helped form his likable and relatably human personality. He is a bit of a pervert, and he certainly isn’t the brightest lightbulb; however, I couldn’t have asked for a more fitting protagonist for this series.

Oshino Meme is Bakemonogatari’s paragon character. His trademark line “People can only help themselves” ironically, yet perfectly describes his methodology. The advice he gives to someone is often ambiguous, which leaves the person he’s helping in a state of confusion, but in turn makes them think for themselves, helping them grow as a person. Him leaving the town signifies his belief that everyone he’s given advice to has matured to the point of being able to resolve their own conflicts and confidently help others.

Senjougahara Hitagi is not a tsundere. The closest she comes to being one is when Isin decides to use her as a meta-fictional medium for mocking the trope. I have a hard time understanding how anyone who’s seen the “tsundere service” scene from episode fourteen could unsarcastically label her as one. Moving past that, Senjougahara is Bakemonogatari’s frontwoman, owning the spotlight in every scene she finds herself in, completely enthralling the audience with her charismatic and forthright personality. Her brash exclamations of love and/or discontent, and Araragi’s hilarious, yet realistically reserved responses are the cornerstone of one of the most inexplicably enjoyable relationship dynamics I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing. She is a breath of fresh air and a phenomenal female lead.

Kanbaru Suruga is a unique character – she’s insecure and harbors an inferiority complex towards Araragi due to his relationship with Senjougahara, but acts like a libido-driven exhibitionist, teasing him with lewd propositions and bawdy humor in order to hide it. It could be said that this aspect of her is taken to the extreme, as Isin never shied away from letting her speak her mind, but this is not without its merits. What makes Kanbaru truly shine are the moments in which she forgoes this act (intentionally or otherwise) and shows glimpses of her true self – a loving, calm and reflective person. Her humor is blunt and loud, but that is precisely what makes those moments special, gracing them with a profound serenity.

At first glance, Hachikuji Mayoi could be classified as comedic relief; however, it’d be a major disservice to her character to do so. A lot of times during the series, Araragi will be interacting with someone on the streets while he’s traveling from place to place. However, there’ll be times when he’ll be traveling alone and he’ll have no one to talk with over the phone, and this is where Hachikuji steps in. Watching the two argue over anything and everything, and listening to their engrossing banter makes her role in the story very clear – she offers a sort of safe-haven for Araragi when he’s on the road, alone with his thoughts. Her presence gives off an odd sense of security which beautifully dovetails with the overarching themes of her arc. Hachikuji embodies motifs of family and home while being a source of great comedy and a joy to listen to.

Sengoku Nadeko stands out as Bakemonogatari’s main character with the least substance, though that isn’t inherently a bad thing. Her childish personality has its merits and is important to take note of, as she will be explored in-depth further down the line.

When discussing Hanekawa Tsubasa, it’s hard not to talk about the melancholic aura that surrounds her. From her first conversation with Araragi, it’s plain to see that Hanekawa is shouldering a heavy burden. Maintaining her image as an ideal student while suppressing her romantic feelings and familial troubles was severely taxing on her mental health and continuously added new cracks to her cheerful façade until her stress finally manifested itself as an oddity. In many ways, Black Hanekawa is what Hanekawa longs to be – she’s confident, seductive and free to go where she pleases. Knowing that the roots of her stress haven’t been dealt with and seeing her don a warm smile in the epilogue made me deeply sympathize with her. Though Hanekawa’s arc ends on a negative note, Bakemonogatari ends with a heartwarming scene displaying the bonds the characters have formed which left me in high hopes that all of them, including Hanekawa, will be fully content with themselves at some point in the series.

Visuals

For the sake of clarity and getting my point across better, I’ll separate ‘visuals’ into two categories – art (character design, background, etc.) and direction/storyboarding.

Bakemonogatari is a beautiful looking show. Studio Shaft went above and beyond in making sure every frame looks polished to the point where it could be considered wallpaper-worthy. That is obviously an exaggeration, but in all seriousness, Shaft produces some of the most gorgeous looking backdrops in the industry.

There are two crucial aspects in a character’s design – the look itself and the extent to which the design reflects the character’s personality. The Monogatari Series nails both, with the characters looking sleek while also revealing plenty about themselves to a viewer’s first glance. Senjougahara’s menacing facial expression and Sengoku’s uncomfortable posture are excellent examples of design being strung together with personality. A lot of the characters have some sort of symbolic detail affixed to their design as well. Hanekawa’s cat-shaped hair clips or Hachikuji’s ‘snail shell-looking’ backpack are just a few examples. These details don’t necessarily add anything to the characters in terms of substance, but they are neat and they add to my appreciation of the series.

A good descriptor of Studio Shaft’s direction and storyboarding would be the word ‘eclectic’. Even to the untrained eye many of Shaft’s stylistic idiosyncrasies should be noticeable - zany jump cuts and sequencing, playful and/or symbolic scene composition, quick flashes of imagery to illustrate a character’s surroundings, the use of color-coded still-frames for various occasions, frequent switching of the art-style, etc. What’s important to note here is that these ‘techniques’ aren’t inherently groundbreaking or remarkable; however, their implementation is exceptional. For example, take a random scene of Araragi observing something and pay close attention to each shot – a subtle indicator for an upcoming perspective shot will be shown in the form of a shot of his eye or a close-up. Another great example is whenever flashcards are used to highlight pivotal character lines or story beats. The directors, Shinbou Akiyuki and Oishi Tatsuya have carefully constructed every scene so camera emphasis is always meticulously placed – if they wanted the viewer to see something, they will show it in a clever way.

To further illustrate my point, and to tie into the last paragraph I’m going to talk about the novels in a bit more detail. Isin utilizes a writing style akin to ‘stream of consciousness writing’ which is characterized by narration that describes happenings in the flow of thoughts in the minds of characters. As a result, their writing is hectic, conversations often digress, or get detailed or segmented. It’s a self-indulgent and at times unfocused style; however, it isn’t bad by any stretch of the imagination. When pulled off correctly, in addition to completely immersing the reader, it establishes a more intimate relationship between the reader and the characters. It’s also a great vehicle for Isin’s character-centric humor. It is precisely Shaft’s style of editing that displays their understanding of Isin’s writing mannerisms, as well as what makes their shows so interesting and endlessly iconic.

Sound

The ‘Bakemonogatari Original Soundtrack’ is an instantaneously recognizable collection of impeccably produced and deeply evocative pieces of music. Tracks such as “Shugendou” and “Gaidan Kousetsu” make the oddities and folk tales feel tangible, while “Zaregoto”, “Jinchiku” and “Suteki Meppou” are microcosms of the series’ inherent strangeness and playfulness. Oddly nostalgic tracks such as “Classmate”, “Nichiyoubi” and “Sanpo” permeate a sense of safety, comfort, and romance. It’s an intently composed, extraordinary track-list, in which each track is not only varied to the point of being iconic in its own right but also elevates and/or complements scenes tonally, thematically, narratively or otherwise.

Openings are something I seldom consider a contributing factor to a show’s artistic value; however, that is not the case with the Monogatari Series. Not only does Bakemonogatari have five openings spread across its fifteen episodes, but throughout the series’ entire runtime the openings are sung by the respective heroine’s respective voice actor as well. It’s a testament to how much heart and dedication has been poured into the Monogatari Series both by the studio and the voice actors.

Bakemonogatari’s voice actors are phenomenal. From the most prolific names – Kamiya Hiroshi, Sawashiro Miyuki, Hanazawa Kana; to the lesser-known ones – Saito Chiwa, Katou Emiri, etc; Shaft have attentively picked out a cast of voice actors that give Isin’s characters voices full of vibrancy, wit and, most importantly, heart. As I’ve mentioned, their devotion to the series is incredible. All of them have read Bakemonogatari prior to (or immediately after) auditioning in order to most effectively integrate their voice and speaking habits with the characters. Kamiya Hiroshi had even, at the time of his audition, read all of Isin’s hitherto published Monogatari novels multiple times. I adore each and every one of their portrayals of the characters, and I couldn’t imagine a line-up of voice actors more perfect than this.

Closing words

Watching Bakemonogatari (and the Monogatari Series as a whole) has been a unique and unforgettable experience for me. Though a bit esoteric, with its visual and narrative boldness, it’s one of the few shows I can label as successfully experimental. Its fun-factor never stifles nor plateaus, and I recommend it to not only appreciators of excellent cinematography, but to any casual watchers as well, since, in my eyes, Bakemonogatari stands as a paragon of creative expression and progression.

Ahh Bakemonogatari. I wanted to like this show. The concept behind it sounded like it would be an interesting anime. I was told that this would be a harem with intelligent dialogue and supernatural elements by a competent staff. So I settled in, put the show on and prepared myself for a wonderful ride.

Episode one begins and the first thing that strikes me is the art style. Words flash on screen too fast to be read that would usually describe an emotion a character is feeling or what they are thinking. The lighting and backgrounds also have a quirky touch to it, giving me a ... feeling that this could be fun and interesting.

First we meet Araragi; the "average" protagonist, then Tsubasa; the class rep, and finally, Senjougahara; the "tsundere". These are regular characters in the harem genre, but that doesn't suggest anything is wrong, yet. The rest of the episode focuses mostly on the supernatural and I can say the show has grabbed my attention.

Then the first scene of episode two happens and it becomes clear the direction Bakemonogatari is taking. Fan service galore, girls only existing to fill an anime character trope and to flirt with Araragi without having any reason to like him, plots that have no interaction nor lead to any development for Araragi and no other male existing other than Oshino who is only involved in the supernatural side of things.

Bakemonogatari is generally praised not for the supernatural side, but for its take on the harem genre where the dialogue is described as "witty" and that there's "great wordplay". I disagree. The supernatural side is what seems to be the most competent part of Bakemonogatari's storytelling. The dialogue though is childish. The girls don't flirt the same way a normal person would; instead they are completely openly sexual towards Araragi. The dialogue is especially flawed when the girl would be naked in front of Araragi yet acting like she's not interested in him and for some reason he believes that she isn't interested. Either he is braindead or they couldn't think of a better way to portray flirtation. Don't get me started on the amount of times Araragi would be called generous or caring when he's clearly doing things that no one in a monogamous relationship would ever do.

The art style had potential in this series but never really added anything once the show got going. The female characters are all drawn exactly how you'd expect a fan service anime would portray its women. It was amusing that the girls didn't just have beautiful bodies, but their skin was actually shiny. The backgrounds and settings were interesting to look at though; generally having weird lighting to give a unique feel. What was most prominent though was the SHAFT awkward body positions and head tilts.

The soundtrack does its job in attempting to give a quirky feel to each scene. You get the feeling that the show's creators wanted this to complement the many jokes throughout the show, but it falls flat when the dialogue is poorly written. The openings and endings aren't remarkable. The voice acting is done decently well enough to portray each character trope.

I watched this anime because I had heard Nisemonogatari and Monogatari: Second Season were must see animes. In the end though I gave up on Nisemonogatari a few episodes in because it had the same flaws as Bakemonogatari. I understand people enjoyed this and I can see why. If you're into fan service and simple dialogue, you will enjoy this and I have nothing against that. But if you're looking for something more intelligent, with actual witty dialogue in a romance type anime, watch something like Spice and Wolf instead.

Utterly unintelligible garbage.

I have never found myself so confused as to all the hype and praise surrounding an anime as I have in the case of Bakemonogatari. This is the only anime I have ever tried hard to finish and been unable to. The issue is this: the script only makes a vague amount of sense; one never knows exactly what just happened or why it’s happened, only a general gist, much like watching a movie in a language you don’t really understand. To further add to the frustration, text appears constantly in flash frames, that is to say, in single frames of nothing but ... text and a solid background interspersed for “artistic effect”. It would appear that these do not add anything at all to the plot or the development, but are instead simply reflective of what is going on at the time; sadly these writings are also cryptically vague. They also have the added irritation of forcing completion-ists (like myself) to pause the damn video repeatedly every few minutes to try and read the stupid things.

In fairness, I have often wondered if perhaps it is the sub translations that I used that caused the thing to make no sense, but I have a few friends who have continued to watch the series and have been left equally confused. The premise does seem interesting, but without being able to understand what is going on, it gets infuriating really fast.

The music in the show is passable, but the long gaps in the soundscape leave awkward holes that add absolutely nothing but disorientation to the overall feel. The art, on the other hand, is beautiful in its simplicity. Honestly, this is Bakemonogatari’s only redeeming feature.

I would wait until the series is done before writing a review, but unless episode 15 is a complete bomb that ruins the whole the show, then my opinion probably isn't going to change. Bakemonogatari is one those special animes that come out maybe once every couple years. On the surface it appears as a generic harem show with a funky artstyle and tongue-in-cheek characters. But I would be selling it short if I said that was it, Bakemonogatari at its core is a deconstruction/parody of the harem genre.

Bakemonogatari's story is nothing special. The basic premise involves a boy named Koyomi Araragi coming ... across and solving people's problems or "oddities", which is to say supernatural anomalies. The plot is there simply to propel the characters around and move them from situation A to situation B. Though that's not necessarily a bad thing since storytelling isn't the focus of this anime. The narrative recognizes itself for what it is: exposition that that merely leads the characters along a path but never actually becomes a focal point. Nothing more, nothing less. If you're looking for a good plot, you definitely won't find one here.

The focus of the show, and the main reason why anyone would watch it at are the characters. This is where the harem deconstruction sctick comes into play, all the characters are written as realistically as possible which is a stark contrast to most harem shows. Most of the time, the female characters fall madly in love with the male lead for stupid reasons, yet in Bakemonogatari, the relationships are written well and are feasible. Not to mention that there's a very tongue-in-cheek approach to all the archetypes that have become so common in anime. The female lead for example, Senjougahara is a self-proclaimed "tsundere" yet she displays not of the traits common in other characters of the same archetype. If anything, she comes across as more of a kuudere/yandere. Araragi also displays characteristics that aren't typical of a harem lead. Most are spineless self inserted Gary Stus that the entire cast loves for no apparent reason, while Araragi is a snarky anti-social punk that comes across as more of a shounen lead. Needless to say all of the characters are well written and its fun to see them interact with each other on screen.

The dialogue is another main feature of the series. I've heard many people say that its intelligent and witty, but in my opinion its neither of those two. The dialogue is extremely fast paced so it might give off the impression of being witty when its actually just poking fun at itself. Many of the exchanges between characters tend to meander around aimlessly and have no real significance at all, but if anything that's a testament to how enjoyable the show is. If the majority of an episode can be filled with nothing but absurd dialogue and still manage to be extremely entertaining and funny then I'd say its doing its job incredibly well.

The art has a very clean look to it, albeit a bit generic yet its extremely stylized. There's a lot of debate over the animation, but there a big difference between bad animation and not that much of it. All the actions that are animated are well done and smooth, characters generally move around while talking and don't make static facial expressions. The lip flaps also aren't just the open and close variety, characters do give off a decent impression that they're forming vowel sounds with their mouths instead of just the old open and close routine. The bottom line is that a show like Bakemonogatari doesn't really need animation, hence all the skepticism when it was being adapted. However Shaft did a good job to play to the show's strengths and all the stills/cuts are there to get the viewers to focus on the dialogue. Simply watching people talk would get boring but the frantic cuts and text screens keep the viewers on their toes and have them focus on the audio aspects when the visuals are far too haphazard to make sense off. All the style definitely works in favor of the show.

The voice actors are all terrific, they do a splendid job in delivering the lines with the perfect amount of emotion or lack of in some contexts. The background music itself isn't too memorable, has a nice beat when everyone is rambling on and becomes dramatic during important scenes. The openings are all really catchy and well sung by the female cast. The ending in particular is probably one of the best I've seen/heard in general.

Overall, I had lots of fun watching this anime. One important thing to realize is that its best to go in not having any expectations for this show. I had no idea what I was getting into when I first started watching and I'm glad I didn't. If I had to put a label on it, I'd say that it's tremendously quirky and its awesome for it, sorta like FLCL. It has a lot of charm, and if you take it for what it is, you'll enjoy it too.

There isn't really a middle road to be found with Bakemonogatari. It's a show that one may take in much delight or endeavor in extreme frustration. Those familiar with director Akiyuki Shinbo will know why since he brings a style of visuals and direction that is often very surreal and frantic. He meshes together typography with a world of visual captivation that accentuates every action, conversation, and detail. This style of direction is then applied to the extremely heavy, fast paced dialogue of Nishio Ishin's Bakemonogatari which also tends to include a lot of word play. Some may find this combination to be akin to ... the creation of Frankenstein, but the way I see it, the two form an awesome combination that has yielded a strikingly imaginative, engaging, and most importantly, an entertaining experience.

The story of Bakemonogatar revolves around the male character Araragi Koyomi, whom apparently has recently gone through some supernatural events that led him to temporarily becoming a vampire, though he still has some after effects, and how he proceeds to encounter more and more of these types of events where he ends up trying to help several girls get through these problems. The structure of the story thus lends itself mostly to developing its characters in arcs, which is really what this show is mostly about. The dialogues, conversations, and banter of the characters which serves as the main source of entertainment in the show, is also the main tool of character exposition. Throughout each arc the many conversation strings often to converge to propel a couple of main ideas and movements in character relations.

This of course just shows how critical Bakemongatari's cast is to the show, and like the show itself, the characters are representative of its imaginative and engaging style. Some of them are childhood friends, random strangers, potential love interests, or friends of friends, all of which bring something to the table in some form or another.

In particular the main female lead, Senjogahara Hitagi is at the forefront of this. She has several characteristics that make her a memorable, and unique character. Firstly, in contrast with the usual overly sweet cream-puff girl, Hitagi is very witty, frank, and upfront about everything. She also has a tendency for sharp and biting sarcasm. To top it all off, she is self-deprecating. She realizes that her sometimes aggressive and jealous side is a fault. Even though she is nicknamed in the story as "tsundere-chan," and even calls herself one at some point in jest, she really is so much more than that usual tsundere.

I often find that tsundere characters in anime are often dishonest with very everyone around them including themselves, often have very few attractive or redeeming traits, and are also very needy. Hitagi is not like this at all though. She is often more than willing to try and improve herself as a person. Many times tsunderes form what I call doormat relationships (One person is basically grovelling at the feet of the other character) with their love interests, which tends to be a very souring experience, but Hitagi does not. Hitagi and the main lead Koyomi actually ends up forming one of the most balanced and believable relationships around where neither serves as a doormat for the other.

It must be said though that Hitagi is not the only character that seems to flaunt their trope in one way or another, or manages to bring something with just a little more substance underneath. We also have for example the main character Araragi Koyomi. Koyomi while displaying the usual traits of being the kind and helpful main lead, also has a lot of personality about him. He is not so kind to let somebody run over him with words and is willing to trade in biting remarks, and at the same time may even be a bit of a sociopath in nature, whether it be his perversions or treatment of others. So while there is ample reason why many of the characters end up liking him, he is not sold as the perfect human being either, which really in a way naturalizes a lot of the story.

It is important to note this because the relationships in this story are not merely formed on weak pretenses such as random whims of kindness. A lot of it is how the chemistry of the characters work. Characters in the story do not simply become friends in name, but actually learn about and try to understand each other. The conversations are a two way street, where you really get the impression that there two human beings interacting and figuring out stuff about each other.

It is these types of nuances in the characters that really exemplify Bakemonogatari's strengths. The series does not rely on cookie cutter formulas or anything of the sort, but actually goes above and beyond the usual tropes to bring truly genuine story telling which is utterly indispensable to any great story. Must of this is owed of course to just how self-aware this story is and how it makes sure to come across as above the average run of the mill stuff.

In the end, love it or hate it, Bakemonogatari certainly is a unique experience that I think anyone should be willing to try out. It lives or dies by its crazy style, but it really manages to leave an impression one way or another. In my personal point of view, Bakemonogatari has offered one of the most pleasurable and interesting viewing experiences in the last few years.

Just like Kill La Kill, Deadman Wonderland or Mirai Nikki, Bakemonogatari is not an anime I would recommend for newcomers. Absolutely not would I actually lead people to watch an anime that is not very "user-friendly." However, what I do believe is how people can actually be open to new things in anime and perhaps be open-minded about the whole aspect of somewhat ecchi or bloody content. I guess you could say that the content is mainly for adults but anime in itself is holistic and in many ways is not restricted to serving one audience. So enough with that argument

Bakemonogatari by the name in ... itself is a wordplay between two words; bakemono (monster) and monogatari (story). Of course a name like this would bring people into thinking, "It might be just your typical supernatural show." However, one should realize that the name Bakemonogatari as the title is the essence of the show. As a continued reference, having a wordplay in the titles of each monogatari series is something that it does to represent each show. In literary context, you could say that each title of the series has meaning and that meaning is translated into the show.

Bakemonogatari is a 12-episode show while the last 3 episodes were streamed online. The overall story of the show is essentially divided into "stories" quotation mark quotation mark. I say this because that is what monogatari (story) is. Bakemonogatari is separated into 5 different arcs, each with a title representing that "story"; these being Hitagi Crab, Mayoi Snail, Suruga Monkey, Nadeko Snake, and Tsubasa Cat. Each arc focuses on particular characters tied to the arcs. The plot essentially follows a former vampire, Araragi Koyomi in his journey through high school meeting various oddities.

Not to dissuade you from watching this but this anime is absolutely full of dialogue. Bakemonogatari has one of the most mind-provoking monologue content I have ever seen. There are a couple of action scenes animated but the gist of the show is how Araragi engages in interesting conversations with many different personalities. How Bakemonogatari keeps people interested in listening to monologues and dialogues is its use of artstyle, animation, music and interesting characters. Although you won't see much action, you will definitely see a lot of interesting landscapes, backgrounds and animation styles. What really got me interested was the content of Araragi's monologues and his dialogues with most people as well as the characters. Somehow one can relate to these. Some of it can be funny, and interesting but as I said if you prefer shounen animation then this anime won't probably appeal to you.

The music of Bakemonogatari is absolutely superb and used effectively in a lot of the scenes in the anime. Funnily enough the anime reuses its music in its sequels and prequels which I appreciate with the addition of new music. To me, Bakemonogatari was the door that led me into the world of Monogatari. It got me interested as the relationships and references in Bakemonogatari carries over to the other Monogatari series. You can see how one part in Bakemonogatari had an affect with another part of another story. All in all, I think Bakemonogatari is an extremely well-done anime (not surprising that it was adapted from light-novels). It contains a good plot, a well paced timing, glorious art, amazing music that complements each scene and characters that stick with you till the end of the Monogatari series

Thereby I rate Bakemonogatari as 10/10 for my personal enjoyment as well as the overall score

*CONTAINS MINOR SPOILERS*

The monogatari series currently consists of 6 different seasons, Bakemonogatari, Nisemonogatari, Nekomonogatari:Kuro, Monogatari Series Second Season, Hanamonogatari, Tsukimonogatari and Owarimonogatari (Kizumonogatari will be released in 3 different parts later on in the next year).

Bakemonogatari at first was confusing, I had no idea what was going on and I could not keep up with all of the talking but in a couple of episodes everything started making sense.

Story: Araragi Koyomi is in third year at Naoetsu Private High School, he has two sisters and through out the story he gains a lot of friends. During a day at school he comes across a ... mysterious girl by the name of Hitagi Senjougahara and saves her from a crab aberration with the help of a Specialist, Meme Oshino. The story goes on as Araragi saves mulitple girls from different types of abberations.

Art: The art for me gave a satisfying feeling when watching Bake. Shaft has done a wonderful job with animation in Bake and the rest of the monogatari series.

Sound: Bake had 5 different OP themes for a 15 episode series "staple stable" by Chiwa Saito, "Kaerimichi" by Emiri Kauto, "Ambivalent world" by Miyuki Sawashiro, "Renai Circulation" by Kana Hanazawa and "Sugar Sweet Nightmare" by Yui Horie". The openings were all great but I was in love with the ED theme "Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari" by supercell.

Character: I'm not going to go over every character but just to point out the main character "Araragi Koyomi". How he deals with all of the girls and abberation while maintaining a stable relationship is beyond me. He cares for each charater and has a special bond with all of them.

Enjoyment: Once I started I could not stop. Every episode for me was a cliff hanger. I have never had the urge to rewatch an anime before but I'm most likely to with Bake.

Overall: While I find this anime amazing some people may find it boring or just dumb but that won't change my opinion on it. I strongly recommended it for everyone but don't judge it by the first episode, try watch it through.

So let's imagine for a moment a world where harem anime wasn't susceptible to so many bad tropes, the MC wasn't a complete dolt, and all the female cast were fleshed-out microcosms of pure fun. Now, let's make all the female VA's do openings for the arcs of their characters and then toss in some silly innuendos that are ultimately non-intrusive and part of the ride. Now, multiply it by Mr Bones' Wild Ride (Google it). Ready?

Bakemonogatari is the first in the Monogatari series and unlike the adaptations of the rest of the novels, it aims to bash your brains out with how fun it ... is. Each arc seems self-contained at first and like GitS: SaC does contribute to the overall story, but unlike the other it doesn't seem to notice that there is an overarching plot. As if self-aware, the series takes every opportunity to tell you what's what and then turn around and say "Oh, I was lying." before dragging you through another story; and believe me when I say it doesn't need to drag you.

What is wrong with the music? Nothing. Every OST from the high-energy "Iroboke Neko" to the almost creepy "Hyouri" and even soft, melodic "Senjoughara Tare" make each scene they're used in feel all the more authentic. But then there are the openings. "We have a budget? Since when" went one SHAFT employee. "Since forever. Money doesn't just grow on trees." Replied the other. "What is this 'money'? Sounds like some bullshit you just made up." Employee 1 retorted angrily.

But I would be lying if I said the music made the series. While a big factor, you'll end up staying for the art and animation. Each scene is cleverly put together with a combination of posing (sometimes in ways that seem painful) and "cut-ins" of the MC's thoughts in text. Perhaps because the budget was kill on the music ("DAMMIT MAN, I'M THE BOSS! JUST USE CUT-AWAYS TO TEXT AND GET ME MORE MUSIC!") but the stylish method they do this with feels too natural to be anything but a welcome addition. The only issue is our "cut-ins" don't last long enough to read through before returning to the scene and you might feel the need to go back and read it. Personally, it flowed really well.

So why do people enjoy this series so much aside the music and art? The characters. There is a waifu for everyone and no-one and while it is typical "Everyone loves MC" harem style, the personalities feel fresh and the interactions are anything but typical. Sengoku Nadeko is the only character the fanbase can't find it in themselves to like (until Second Season) and it's understandable and at the same time not. The "Fire Sisters" are the MC's siblings and our first shot of them leaves a bad impression that is later fixed. Finally, Tsubasa Hanekawa, Hachikuji Mayoi, Kanbaru Suruga, and Kiss-Shot Acerola-Orion Heart-Under-Blade Shinobu Oshino are the female cast held in the highest regard for this part of the series. Later on, Karen Araragi and Tsukihi Araragi get their well-deserved spotlights while additions to the female cast only work to freshen things up.

Should you try Bakemonogatari? Not if you have a life and aspirations for it. This series will pull you in and keep you from escaping with a combination of sharpened pencils and duct tape. And the best part is, you'll enjoy it.

Bakemonogatari is a creative and unique anime that meshes fantasy with your modern-day harem/romance; it falls short of greatness, but is distinctively good. By incorporating a balanced mix of action, fanservice, and subtle romance, Bakemonogatari aims to please a wide variety of viewers although it is directed towards fantasy, harem, and ecchi viewers specifically.

As one of the first animes made based on a novel, Bakemonogatari possesses many elements that an anime viewer would find refreshing including distinct character personalities and a non-recycled storyline. The animation itself is fairly original and the plot was stunningly detailed at times.

There are many things a typical viewer can appreciate ... about Bakemonogatari. One can notice the producers of the anime were aiming for a home run. The voice acting and songs itself were amazing. The plot was uniquely represented; it just had a new feel altogether. While Bakemonogatari will not be seen as a great anime, the development of the anime had one thing in common with many great animes: it presented the story in new and innovative way. For a bit, it was superb and appeared to have major potential, but the producers of the anime just couldn't finish it off with a twist.

While Bakemonogatari is stunning at first, there is a dropoff. Many aspects in the anime were decent, but it never fully came together to produce an awe-inspiring finish that would slap the viewers in the face and cause them to think, ‘This was great.’ It didn’t come close.

Another flaw in Bakemonogatari was the underdevelopment of many, if not, all of the characters. Each character had a personality that stood out, but there just didn't seem to be enough substance to make any of them shine.

All in all, Bakemonogatari might have done a big favor for anime viewers by opening a new door for modern-day animators: novels. In a time when game-based animes are receiving a lot of hype and publicity, yet lack in breadth and plot, Bakemonogatari offers a potential alternative. In the beginning, Bakemonogatari seemed to possess some rare characteristics of your modern-day anime, intriguing detail and uniqueness; unfortunately, it disappointedly ended up just being decent.

Get ready for the bash, because I will have the unpopular opinion of disliking Bakemonogateri. Let me break it down to you:

*Characters: while they had some kind of depth, it wasn't enough to convince me they were more than archetypes with a pile of quirks.

It also pissed me off that the creators couldn't make up their minds regarding the main protag: Is he dumb or is he smart? It is one thing to have different areas of strengths and weaknesses, but when you switch between full retard and sherlock holmes in the same area of strength, then you aren't doing your character right, which is ... bad considering he's the lead...

*Plot: While I've heard it has an interesting plot, I never got to experience that myself. Either you watch the show without stopping and miss alot of important backstory from the pop-ups or you are the guy trying to read 'em all. In any case, it is not easily accessible. I was the guy who read all the pop-ups and I still ask myself if the info was enough justification for causing me so much frustration. The pop-up system might be innovative for its time, but it is a stupid one.
Other than that, it is a regular "monster of the week" anime that really doesn't stand out at all to me.

*Music: Was pretty good. It set the mood correctly, but other than that I really didn't think much about it. It was definitely above average though.

*Artstyle: Probably the strongest point of the show: It had a unique and really iconic artstyle that still holds up today. Credit should be given where credit is due.

*Overall thoughts and enjoyment: The reason why I grade the show this low is because I really didn't feel much at all for the duration of the show. I didn't sense enough depth in the characters worth involving myself with, and the story and the way it was presented was like an overpretentious slap to the face screaming "DO YOU UNDERSTAND ART DAMMIT?!".

As a piece of entertainment, it was shit, but as a show it had several good qualities
Unfortunately for the show, I value entertainment above all other aspects, and I had none while watching the show. The only thing pushing this rating so high was the artstyle, and even then I was generous.
This show was not for me, but I can still recomend it for artsy people

Bakemonogatari is one the most well know and successful titles studio Shaft adapted over the years. Influenced by Shinbou, Akiyuki directorial talent. Consist of quick-cut transition, unusual camera angle shot, and color choices. With an added usage of symbolism in the story narrative for flavor. Bakemonogatari is a product of the studio's continuous experimentation in supporting artistic freedom.

Tracing its roots from Shinbou’s early works like Hidamari Sketch and Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei. Bake is primarily a step-up improvement on Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei's style of wordplay. Refining its predecessor by for being a serious tone on visual presentation. Contrasting to the slapstick light humor transition cuts that ... were formally established.

Bakemonogatari tackles the psychology of the character's mind in correlation with supernatural entities. Entities that serve as the physical manifestation of a person's mental bias and inner desires that cause more harm than good.

Being the first installment of the Monogatari series, Bake has a rather orthodox way of story pacing. Instead of jumping to the juicy parts which some anime by the way are willing to break a leg to do so. Bake rather choose the grind game. Putting dedication in introducing the core cast first in a form of character story arcs.

This is where our main protagonist Araragi, Koyomi comes in to play, serving as the instigator for our heroines. With the help of Oshino, Meme expertise on supernatural forces. Araragi helps the girls confront their mental biases and supernatural oddities all together.

There are 5 unique story arcs in Bake. Each having a unique variety and identity of its own. I am going to discuss each on the order on my pick on least to best.

[Warning Content Below Contain Spoilers]

Please Proceed to "Miscellaneous Thought" if You Haven't Finish Bakemonagatari Yet


Mayoi Snail Arc.

Due to children's innocent nature and lack of life experience. They usually experience time rather more slowly than adults and teenagers. They are pretty slow to comprehend the world around them. Some refuse to grow-up because of the pressure of future responsibility and consequences. We are afraid to give up our freedom. And as an adult, I can relate to Araragi's statement that deep inside he still a child that is afraid of the responsibility that he might not be able to handle. Children are often get confused and lost their path in life. And I think that's a nice message.

I have a number of nitpicks, Specifically on background presentation and the Loli Humor in this arc. If you are not familiar yet on Shinbou's style. Background setting in Bake is more as stage than a living, breathing environment. A stage that centers only on the performance of its main actors.

Thought this kind of set-up work pretty well on ensuring the main character's conversation will be the main focus of the audience. It works on desolated places like abandon buildings, inside homes, and forested areas. But it feels alienating if the setting took place in urban areas and parks. The absents of bystanders can make you're setting a dead environment than an engaging world.

Moving to the "Loli Humor" between Mayoi and Araragi. The presentation of high school student overpowering a grade school student can go up to debate. I cannot deny it reflects two sides of the argument. It can be seen as an innocent dog fight, dogfights you do with your younger siblings or relatives. Or a twisted fetish, that can be file to police as child abuse or pedophilia. Choose your pick.

In fairness of on the show intent. I do give consideration and forgiveness in this arc. I appreciate what Bake is trying to do. It disregards common technical stuff like the law of physics and common visual quirks in favor of artistic expression. Looking at a different light, the loli humor gives a good character insight. We got to see another side of Araragi Childish ego that we don't usually see him showing to others. And because Araragi Ego, Mayoi was able to open up to him. Before you can understand someone, you need to go down their level of perspective first.

The Grim Dark Suruga Monkey Arc

like how dark Suruga Monkey arc compare to Snail Arc. It tackles the topic of our dark subconscious desires forming from frustration and jealousy. Becoming a destructive behavior when letting loose. Even if our common sense has taken control of the wheel to prevent us from doing so. But the build-up of negative emotions will soon overtake the wheel of reason before we even notice it. This is the first time I see how dangerous oddities can manifest in a person's heart. And what scary about this idea is that these dark desires happen every day. When frustration and envy are the motivation for extreme action, murders and suicides are always a possibility to happen.

The OP Ambivalent world dedicated to Kanbaru is quite a good extension in describing her core personality. It is much better than the Mayoi's Kaerimichi song that come-out as weird. The Lily flower symbolizes devotion or purity. But purity and devotion can be darkly tainted and twisted if left unchecked. It's pretty disturbing the people can become monsters once consumed by their twisted desires.

Tsubasa Cat Arc the Unexpected Turnaround

Nowadays, dysfunctional family, school, and work pressure is becoming a common sight. People hide their stress from their loved ones and friends. This urgent desperation to maintain control for the sake of being normal always lead to mental breakdowns. And the worst-case scenario, people develop insanity and might even resort to suicide. There is also a term called Karoshi, which can be translated literally as "overwork death" in Japanese. Hanekawa’s might be the most relatable character in the series. Her mental stress issues are quite common amongst the youth and adults in the modern world.

The fact that you see her roaming around outside even on late hours is a symptom of mental stress disorder. The way she doesn't want to stay in her own household and acting its normal. Her abnormal excellent in her studies mention by Senjougahara is above than everybody else. All the signs show how extreme her mental stress actually is. Adding up to the fact her puberty stages where hormones can escalate her stress further.

Unlike Kanbarus oddities where she can retain somewhat of control. Hanekawa's Bakeneko form is destructive and unpredictable. And She is willing to everything to ease her master's stress even involving innocent bystanders. It just to show how dangerous the culmination of negative human emotions is capable when unleash, in a metaphorical sense.

A step-up version of Suruga Monkey Arc. The Opening Sugar Sweet Nightmare symbolism sum ups what the arc is all about. It shows a totally different side of Hanekawa’s personality. A contrast on what have known about her on previous episodes as a smart, level-headed, and reliable to count on. Never judge a book by its cover they always say.

The Pure Innocences of Nadeko Snake Arc

Aside from Hanekawa, Sengoku is clearly no stranger to Araragi this put Sengoku different from the rest of the girls Araragi helped so far. Sengoku shared personal history with him. It helps that Sengoku already know him and we got to see her viewpoint about Araragi’s character that he is indeed a good person. The way she liked him is pretty much reasonable given her character background story. Thus Araragi helping her seems natural and personal. A little bit different from his usual white knight act for the other girl he just met only a short period of time.

Many can argue this arc seems irrelevant for the reason that Senjougahara has no involvement in this story. But In my argument, this arc is a critical piece of the puzzle that we should not overlook. This is the Arc that I got to know that Araragi is no perfect white knight that can save everybody. Learning the hard way that his compulsive behavior of saving everybody will do more harm than good. He regrets the fact he almost kills himself to save the person who causes Sengoku harmful curse oddity in the first place.

Araragi has a serious case “Savior Complex” behavior. A psychological construct which makes a person feel the need to save other people. A strong tendency to seek people who desperately need help and to assist them, often sacrificing their own needs for these people. This complex is not strength but a major flaw in Araragi’s Character. It defiles common sense and logic. Even Hoshino, Meme also stated that his intention is good but also sickening to watch. Since most oddities can only be resolve by the person themselves. People will never learn if they don't take responsibility for their actions.

Pretty much an improvement from the previous arcs. Nadeko Snake Arc has the best background setting amongst the arcs. I mentioned before that I don't like seeing urban areas desolated from people and abandon buildings or places with almost no people is ok. In the previous arcs, Bake setting really doesn't matter much and most of the time is quite dull and lifeless. The greyish colored structure and orange sky sceneries make me bored at times. It doesn't give an interpretation of how alive the Bakemonogatari world is. I like the relaxing lust green bamboo forest. It nailed what I wanted. An environment influencing the character's emotional tone is quite a good space of fresh air. It makes the setting quite memorable and reminded me of Katanagatari's aesthetic beauty at one point.

If I ever get asked what’s my subjectively favorite character arc in Bakemonogatari? I simple answer Nadeko Snake Arc. Ren'ai Circulation by Kana Hanazawa might be my favorite to listen to, next is "staple stable" by Chiwa Saito. I love that both songs have relaxing vibes when they are in their OST version. But Ren'ai Circulation matches the Sengoku character too well. Innocent, Cute, and Carefree. What could you even ask for?

The Tragic Past of Hitagi Crab Arc

When everything you love and cherish disappeared in an instant. You still continue to live on. Shouldering the burden that somehow it's your fault. You pray all your heart that you wanted everything to go back the way it is. But you know that whatever you do, you can't bring back what is no longer there. The heavy burden you intentionally bring upon to yourself continues to grow as time goes by. Before you know it, you lost track of who yourself. You become a prisoner of your own guilt and regret creating an unending spiral of suffering.

Hitagi Senjougahara has the best well-written background story in Bakemonogatari. Having a consistent behavior trait that justifies her seemingly bizarre actions. I love how bloody hilarious and deadly spot she delivers her lines across the show compare to the other girls in the series. Araragi and Senjougahara is the funniest talk-show duo in the entire show. They definitely make a good couple given the fact they enjoy each other's company. A good example of a healthy relationship.

Hitagi Crab Arc captures so many good elements that make-up an engaging story. The eerie soundtrack and color design make the mystery aspect of the show interesting. The bizarre visual symbolism gives a good psychological understanding of the character's mentality. While character writing is spot on in matching the supernatural entities to the main narrative. Combine with good character wordplay from the voice actors. It created a very good style of storytelling. Though all these elements existed in the following arc, for me Hitagi Crab got the credit for being the first. For me, this is the best arc in introducing the viewers to what the Monogatari franchise is capable of.

Miscellaneous Thoughts

Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari by supercell; performed by nagi (Gazelle) is an amazing musical piece. Certainly my favorite song in all Bakemonogatari music. For me, the final episode for the TV premiere won't have the same impact without this ED song. Great music in defining your main characters' romantic relationship.

The relationship Araragi shares with the girl are compelling. Every interaction is unique of its own. There are times that some conversations get quite boring to listen to but it a small price to pay. I also like to highlight that Araragi's and Oshino's brotherly friendship is pretty cool. Oshino did an awesome role as a supporting character.


Final Thoughts

Bakemonogatari achieves what it is intending to do. It did a very good job of introducing its core characters and giving insights into what the franchise could offer in the following expansion. The soundtracks have a variety of flavoring on each arc. The visuals are great. A bit minimalistic on animation movement. But the unconventional cinematic technique works well for the show's theme. Bakemonogatari open-up some creative experimentation that establishes an identity to its viewer.

Bakemonogatari is a great gateway to introducing the Monogatari franchise. A very good introduction season that holds-up a good main story potential in the future. I am looking forward to good stories to come

I watched Bakemongatai simply out of the art style and premise. Being told the story I don't think I knew exactly what to expect, but overall I'd say it was enjoyable. So much so that by the end of the series, I knew the problems with it, and still went ahead and decided to watch it's sequel series, Nisemonogatari.

I will say this, the art style is amazing, with it's own unique style that makes even the most simple things look absolutely gorgeous. The music is it's own unique blend for each character that can be either incredibly lighthearted or absolutely depressing.

Though my favorite part ... of the series is actually the characters. Kanbaru in particular sticks out with her happily perverted nature. The real disappointment in this is aside from Meme, Shinobu, Senjougahara, Hanekawa and Araragi, every other character has their own arcs and then quietly just move aside. I really would have liked to see more of characters like Sengoku who didn't get much time. At least they come back for Nisemonogatari and will apparently be back for Season 2.

After all that, you may wonder why I'm rating it a 7. The reason for that is the story of Bakemonogatari is hit and miss. With the exception of Suruga Monkey, it was really had to follow some stories. The series really likes throwing a lot at you and just hoping you'll understand. This is one of those series in which you'll miss something if you glance away for a few seconds. In addition, the pacing for these stories are bizarre at points. Nadeko Snake had a very interesting premise then as soon the issue comes up, it's solved almost immediately and we move onto the last arc. On the other hand, Tsubasa Cat dragged on too much. Five episodes dedicated to what I would argue is possibly the weakest story in the series. It would have been fine had it just been three, even four episodes, but being both the longest story in the series, then having scenes that drag on forever when compared to the much more fast paced nature of the show is a disappointment.

But, I did enjoy the first three arcs as well as the everything else enough that I'm willing to give this a recommendation. It's much different than any other anime I've seen before, and I mean that in a good way. It's not the best anime I've ever seen, but it's still a really good one.

As is, it is as it is, Monogatari, it is.

First and foremost though also latest and most recent, I find it funny how people do not get that the show is presented in exactly the way it is meant to be watched.
Do not pause to read.
Do not over-think.
Do not under-think.
Do not collect 2,000 yen.
Just experience.

What one, that one being I, seem to remember most about the Monogatari series are its odd moments that obviously set it apart from anything else.
But going through it again there are really some incredible story and character moments that just shine incredibly in contrast. Even among other anime that focus ... more specifically on building to those kinds of moments, Monogatari does it as well as if even sometimes better than some.
Its not just an eclectic collection of images and words, its an exceptional presentation of thoughts and feelings too.

Beautiful animation: ✓
Godly OSTs: ✓
Clever, witty and humorous dialogue: ✓
Short, rare, but mindblowingly great action shots: ✓
Complex, dynamic, and viscerally intriguing characters that evolve: ✓
Harem that is not overbearing/obnoxious: ✓
Full of american and Japanese pop culture references: ✓
Plot does not feel rushed/awkward or misplaced at any point: ✓
Cheerful show that occasionally turns rather dark: ✓
Adventurous/experimental, unique animation techniques: ✓
... Perfect balance of plot twists without over-saturation: ✓
Ecchi: ✓

This review is spoiler-free.

Let me open by saying Bakemonogatari is in the top 20% of my "top 5 anime of all-time" list. I fell in love with it near instantly, in the middle of Episode 2. Perhaps it's because I'm a (huge) Studio Shaft fanboy, or I like Nishio Ishin's (the writer) work; for whatever reason I enjoyed it immensely.

The unique characters and their interesting development is something I haven't found since, in fact Bakemonogatari's made me more alert to shows with lazy character development.

Senjougahara, my favourite of the series, was a very intriguing character and I genuinely found myself feeling sympathetic towards her when ... they went into detail on her backstory. I've never seen tsundere personified in such a unique manner.

The sheer beauty of the scenery was a big thing; some of the backgrounds are phenomenal. Sometimes I forgot to pay attention to the dialogue because I was entranced by the beauty of the mountain scenes (the Snake arc).

A lot of the time watching the show was spent just admiring the effort that must've gone into making it so pretty. The whole thing's eye candy.

Even the fansevice was creative! The scene early on, with Senjougahara naked in her bedroom and plenty of generous cleavage/panty shots, was different. Usually it's "Look at these boobs!!1!!1!1 Upskirt shot!!11! Buy the Bluray for uncensored!!!!1!1!1!" but in Bakemonogatari it actually fitted with the story and I didn't find it obtrusive. It takes skill to make fanservice not feel like it.

It's still hands down one of the best things I've ever watched, disregarding the above. 9/10.

Utter garbage.

This is Twilight for older Japanese men.

It is a fantasy for many older Japanese men to live out.

First off. Araragi is a self insert character for the viewers. His appearance is generic, his personality is bland, and his entire character just screams "typical Japanese male."

Now I can say a lot more things about this subject. But I'll move on.

... The show is based off of dialogue and Japanese puns/humor.

So exactly what type of entertainment can be derived for non-Japanese people?

Absolutely none.

The jokes are absolutely terrible and cannot be translated to an American audience very well. Proof of this is the lack of a dub for the show. Many popular Japanese shows are quick to be licensed and dubbed. But it was only recently that Bakemonogatari was licensed, and it is speculative(and unlikely) that it will get one even with the licensing.

Now I'll get to the actual animation/art of the show. At first glance, you might say "this looks beautiful!" And you're absolutely right. But as you keep watching the show, you'll realize the animators didn't actually take the time to animate the whole thing and put in slides with words.

The story in this show seems to be nearly non existent as well. But I admit, I've only seen 5 episodes. It seems the premise of the show is about a boy who was once turned into a vampire(and regaining his humanity later) helping out girls with problems that are supernatural. The show is based off of arcs where he "helps" a different girl each time, but there doesn't seem to be a focus.

The characters are the just worst I've seen in any anime.

Bakemonogatari has quite possibly the worst character in all anime/manga.
Just an awful, spiteful, vile, wretched, selfish, cowardly, ungrateful, loudmouthed, overdramatic, angst filled little ***** named Senjougahara Hitagi.

Her presence alone can kill even the best of series. Now add her to this already terrible show and you can understand what kind of a horror this show can be to watch.

5 episodes was far too much for me to watch.

This is legitimately THE worst anime I have ever seen.