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.
