When we refer to an anime as art, we automatically think of its qualities and what makes it different from the others. High level works tend to have unique elements that are really charming and leave a deep impression on us. With that in mind, we can turn our eyes to the Monogatari series and extract from it the genius of its adaptation and its many positive points that delight and generate fans every day. In this review I will address the main points of the work, characters, and try to elucidate the doubt of many people why this series is so good.
Synopsis:
Monogatari's story follows young Araragi Koyomi, a high school student who during his summer vacation was mysteriously turned into a vampire. In a world full of monsters or “weirdness” as they are called, Araragi tries to unravel mysteries and help some girls who got involved with these anomalies.
As we can see this is a rather basic premise and apparently not much to be explored in the long run, but the extremely unique approach makes it one of the most captivating works ever created.
History:
It all starts right after the incident where Araragi becomes a vampire, at this point how it happened is still a mystery to us. The story unfolds in a fluid way presenting extremely captivating characters that, with the ingenious use of their direction, makes us create an almost instant empathy for them. Each element presented has its own peculiarity and discussion, the plot is captivating and the way the story is told is magnificent, as it uses dates so that we can locate ourselves and thus transmit messages as homogeneously as possible.
Monogatari is an anime extremely focused on dialogues, involving dilemmas and even philosophies, with several references to pop and Japanese culture. An element that I must emphasize is the linearity of the story that is broken several times, we are transported to arcs that take place in the future and then that pass between the already told arcs. It's great, the mysteries are created without you even realizing it, and throughout the work everything is interconnected in an extremely cathartic and satisfying way.
Rate: 9.5/10
Characters:
As mentioned all characters have extremely unique characteristics and a phenomenal depth, each with its arc and development. Within these arcs of development focused on a single character, the others also gain attention and the narrative takes advantage to create even more foreshadowing for future development. The stories lived by the characters are plot tricks, which use different metaphors to identify ourselves and thus create even more rush for what is being discussed.
Among all the characters in the work, I must highlight a few. Hanekawa Tsubasa who has an incredible arc focused on subverting the image that the character gives us since the first episode. It is a very interesting critique and approach that catches us totally off guard and makes us reflect on several aspects concerning ourselves. It is also worth highlighting the protagonist Araragi himself, who, oddly enough, is not the main focus in being developed. The story has its spotlight on the girls and subtly develops the protagonist and sets the stage for what I consider to be one of the best character arcs ever made in history. I won't go into details, but this arc in question uses an element so ingenious that it's hard not to consider it a real masterpiece.
Rate: 10/10
Direction and soundtrack:
Finally, I would like to address one of the most unique points and the differential of the series, its direction. It is masterfully present in all the dialogues in the work, making them extremely fun and giving an air totally different from anything you may have seen. Here creativity has no limit, extremely innovative camera games, onomatopoeias, de-characterization, even live action elements are used. Everything fits very well and conveys the necessary feeling for the scene. Shaft managed to surpass itself with the anime adaptation, in my opinion surpassing the original work and adding even more value to the dialogues and characters.
The soundtracks are another extremely important element that immensely supports our immersion in the dialogues. The flawless blend of direction and music makes every scene memorable. Each arc has its musical theme just like each girl, making us instantly associate the soundtrack with the inherent characteristics of the character in question.
Rate: 10/10
General opinion:
Monogatari is my favorite audio-visual work and no wonder. It has many amazing characters, innovative themes with ingenious approaches, jaw-dropping narrative elements and many other elements. It's a whole new experience that makes anyone fall in love and create a huge rush for everything that is presented to them. However, like any work, it doesn't please everyone. I think the main reason is the unique narrative and direction, which drive away new consumers. Another element that can harm your experience a little is the ecchi, which despite being one of the categories in which the series fits, I dislike a little at times. These points can be considered, but they are by no means relevant compared to the overall quality of the work that overlaps them.
With all the points presented in this review, I would like to return to the work of art agenda when referring to Animes. Monogatari can be considered one of those works, whose unusual beauty gives us an experience never seen before. The work exudes textual quality, plot, characters, and everything that is necessary to be considered something really remarkable. Even its openings and closings are epic and a work of art in itself, each one of them is thought of in a very loving way.
I hope I managed to convey some of Monogatari's quality in these little more than a thousand words. A work that deserves to be increasingly recognized and valued, so that with this we can more and more often come across works of art like this one coming from the Anime industry.
Overall rate: 10/10
