econsidine - 2013-07-22 23:32:48

Bakemonogatari is one of those weird but one of a kind animes, and is one of my favorites. In simple terms, the plot boils down to 'Normal people's everyday problems, personified into animistic-like tendencies'. The first couple of episode threw me off because things happen and are not explain like the existence of vampires, demons, devils, supernatural phenomenons, and unusual powers exc. They are just there(never explained why) and the characters seem to know what they are and assume the viewer are get it. Combined with Shaft's out of this world animation style and music, made bakemonogatari incoherent, and difficult to follow. The anime plays out in a way where the 15 episodes is chopped up into four arcs, and in each arc a certain charatcer is focused on by the main characters. Though if you can see past the funky animation and story-telling, you will experience comical, romantic, dramatic, and psychological feats of anime that bakemonogatari has offer.

peichmann - 2013-07-22 23:09:25

This show has given me quite the enjoyable experience, as I have watched it around four times now. As such, my thoughts are somewhat jumbled and probably biased because this show is my all-time favorite but for this review I will try to be as impartial as possible. Story: 9The story of Bakemonogatari can be somewhat difficult to understand at first, especially with the rather misleading opening scene to the show that has turned many that I know away, thinking that the show would be mostly fanservice. However, I found the story to be refreshing from the typical action, comedy, or slice-of-life anime that I usually watch. The story here focuses around a high school boy (like many other shows) that gets himself involved with many of the female students. However, this is different from your typical high school anime in the way that most of the show does not take place in the high school, and is not a part of the harem genre. The show's abnormal method of storytelling truly captures the audience and conveys the intentions and/or messages of the characters clearly. Artwork: 10I feel like this is one of the main highlights of the show. I understand that others in the audience may find it irritating that the show uses many still frames and sudden pauses in the animation to display messages, but if I were to rate the overall color scheme, consistency, and viewability, this would be a show to recommend to to someone who is searching for high-quality artwork in animation films. Sound: 9The soundtrack used by the show fits the theme of the show perfectly. There were no instances in the show where I felt that the foley used in the show was out of place or done poorly. In fact, I really enjoyed the way that each character had her own opening theme song and how at the end of each arc, they played an instrumental version of that opening to close it up. Characters: 10This is another strong point in the series. Each of the characters are easily relatable to real life situations. Sure, we don't all turn into vampires over our spring breaks, but the supernatural abilities of each character do not alienate themselves from the society we know in a way that we could not relate our day-to-day experiences to them. Enjoyment: 10This is a very opinionated section, so I will keep it short. I enjoyed the series overall. When I was first recommended this series, I had never even considered that it would secure a position at the top of my anime list. What exactly made the series so enjoyable? The highly amusing dialogue between the characters kept me hooked throughout the show. If you're someone who doesn't mind walls of text here and there, this show would be perfect for you. Overall: 10

louie61 - 2013-07-10 05:40:59

Bakemonogatari is a light novel series turned into anime which focuses on our main character, Araragi Koyomi, who survives a vampire attack; through a series of multiple interactions, he winds up having himself involved in a number of cases with various females and their oddities.This anime is not one for those who like to leave anime playing in the background and listen the characters converse, as this is a very dialogue heavy show. It focuses mainly on the interactions between the characters through the use of clever dialog and a quirky sense of humor which you would find yourself to love. This show is both a visual treat and brain food for those who so desire, so let's step into the world of Arararagi-kun. Sorry, I bwit my twongue.

It's not that I know everything. I just know what I know. — Hanekawa Tsubasa

Bakemonogatari is a combination of these things:

• Unrivaled visuals and animation provided by Studio SHAFT.
• Dialogue heavy scenes with brutal action scenes at the climax of each arc.
• Each character has their own distinguishable personalities and values
• A well suited soundtrack for the series

Bakemonogatari is the first novel in the Monogatari series by Nisio Isin in 2006 and by 2009 an anime was released. As noted before, it follows eighteen year old Araragi Koyomi who somehow survives a vampire attack and soon after serves as the one who would cure various females which crosses his path from their oddities.

The story is divided into various arcs, one for each female. It's understandable why they would do things this way since it's easier to follow and it keeps the light novel feel intact. I should say relatively easy however as most of the tidbits of information is contained in the show's stills. It's up to you whether you want to pause and read or not so this can be a turn off to many. In order to give you an idea of what I'm talking about is, say an average anime episode may have 200 lines of dialogue whereas an average Bakemonogatari episode may have 400/500 lines (counting the stills). However this isn't to say the show is a complete snooze fest, the dialogue in Bakemonogatari is some of the best written I've seen in comparison to many anime. It will keep you engaged and totally in love with what is going on; sometimes you may find yourself cracking up at the quirky jokes. The word play is among the best in the anime world especially with the way the words are exchanged and twisted into different meanings. There is no dub for Bakemonogatari but this is actually to the benefit of the viewer since most of these jokes wouldn't even work when translated into English.

In terms of pacing, the plot doesn't drag along, it moves at a perfect pace so it's left to you, the viewer to keep up. I'm hoping this isn't a problem for you cause boy, did Bakemonogatari keep my attention. Each passing episode kept me wanting more and I ended up doing a marathon for the entire series in one go. I'll have to make comment that as this is an adaption, I'd say it was adapted excellently. The adaptation is handled perfectly by Shaft who animated this but more on that in the next section.

Just this once I'll fulfill whatever your wish is. Whether it is world conquest, eternal life, or to defeat the Saiyans that are coming to earth. — Hitagi Senjougahara

I can say one of Bakemonogatari's biggest strengths has to be its magnificent animation quality. Animated by SHAFT, Bakemonogatari pierced the heavens and passed every one of expectations with exceedingly flying colors. Even to this day, there is not a whole lot of anime that could triumph or even match up to 2009's Bakemonogatari. The animation style is some of the most vibrant and aesthetically pleasing works you can come across. As a reviewer, I highly recommend watching a high definition release of Bakemonogatari to fully enjoy it in all its splendor. The few battles that occur in the show is always worth the wait. They are quite the visual spectacle, you won't be disappointed. As mentioned before, there are various stills that appear throughout the show and all this is part of the show's signature style and it shouldn't be allowed to take away from the show's overall appeal and lasting impression. When last have you come across an oddball like this with such a style and quality to portray its message? I'd wager there aren't a whole lot like that swimming around but this animation quality is a masterful example of what can of hard work and dedication to produce a work of art. Fan service is present in the show but I'm happy to say most of the fan service is so tastefully done and so irregular at times, you wouldn't even notice. If in fact there is fan service, it's recognized in the show. It has a knack for breaking the forth wall at times and this kind of humor is well received.

The soundtrack is on par with it's stellar animation quality. The spontaneous nature of the show also house various sound effects for what is going on in the various scenes and for the most part they all are used appropriately and in all the right places. The soundtrack is something you'd expect of something so whimsical in its nature and at the same time mysterious. The opening theme also have the habit of changing from arc to arc but these are all catchy up beat songs which will have your head bumping and bwiting your twongue in no time!

Although my life hasn’t been very fortunate until now, I’m glad if I caught your eye because of that misfortune. — Hitagi Senjougahara

For a show that heavily depends on character development, Bakemonogatari does not disappoint. Araragi is our eighteen year old protagonist who is thrust into the world of the supernatural after being attacked by a vampire. Soon after, a number of strange events occur surrounding the lives of 5 girls he encounters which he strives to get to the bottom of, even if it kills him. Araragi is not a weak or shallow character by any means, this much is apparent when you listen in on the conversations he's involved in. On top of that, he's also a former vampire so he retains his super human healing ability which is essentially his saving grace when faced with the oddities. I found his character to be quite refreshing as he was not one of those typical heart of gold main characters floating around in the anime universe.

The girls in the show are by no means shallow either. They all have some deep problem which serves as the root to the reason for their possession. I'm talking about abuse, sexuality and malice are some of these things. Each girl all have their own distinct personality which made for very interesting combos when they got to interact. I especially loved Senjougahara Hitagi because of her tsudere-ish personality. No show apparently is complete without a little tsundere service and she definitely delivers in all sadistic glory. Another character of note is know-it-all Tsubasa Hanekawa, she made a great impression on me for her angelic persona. However no matter how good a person may seem, they all have skeletons in their clawset~nya.

Bakemonogatari is one of those shows you'll be glad to invest your time and love in it's characters. There is little use of asspulls and deus machina as most things are all explained to the fullest degree so you are always up to date.

Did you know every time you sigh, a little bit of happiness escapes? — Senjougahara Hitagi

Its word play and delicious visuals are what keeps me coming back to Bakemonogatari for me. There is always something in Bakemonogatari for you to like and enjoy. If it's comedy you want, there is that in here, if it's romance you want, there are romance elements present to satisfy your needs. If you need fast paced and visually appealing action scenes, all here in one juicy package. It's something that won't go stale for years to come and I especially won't forget what it tried to do. It became one of my all time favorites, it made my blood boil to dangerous temperatures for each episode that passed. It's dialogue heavy scenes might be a turn off for you but I'm sure there is something there to appeal to you. It's an anime that stands as one of the best anime in that decade. Who knows how much more of Araragi's tale we will get to see in the future? I guess we'll just have to see.

I give Bakemonogatari a full score of 10/10.

It's not enough to just understand, though. You have to put into action. — Hanekawa Tsubasa

horacio87 - 2013-06-29 02:07:27

When an anime series likes to screw with your mind, it often throws in plot twists or shocking revelations to keep you engaged and entertained. Bakemonogatari, on the other hand, screws with your mind by throwing blatant fan service, witty dialogue, and off-the-walls art and animation at you. Does it work? Well, let's find out.Under normal circumstances, I should hate this anime in its entirety. The dialogue can bore you to death, fan service sexuallizes teen and pre-teen girls, the main character is a total pervert, and there is no flow or rhythm to the plot. Fortunately for Bakemonogatari, it is anything but a normal series.The plot follows Koyomi Arararararararararagi as he builds a relationship with Hitagi Senjougahara while building his harem. Despite what myanimelist.net tells you in its synopsis, this series only uses supernatural forces as plot devices to fuel the dialogue, an element that Bakemonogatari depends on. The dialogue in Bakemonogatari is intriguing, clever, sarcastic, and funny at times. The dialogue is what makes up the relationship between characters and is what the series focuses on. Sadly, sometimes the dialogue becomes boring, which the series knows. When it does become boring, that's when the fan service and visuals kick in. I often compare this series to an adult trying to entertain a baby. When the baby gets bored from the adult talking, the adult waves keys in front of the baby's face to distract them from the dull as hell words coming out of their mouth. But instead of keys, Bakemonogatari shoves fan service and whacky colors and shapes in your face to keep your attention. And surprisingly enough, it works.The characters in Bakemonogatari are all interesting and unique. I couldn't hate any particular character (besides Hanekawa), which is a relief since this IS a harem series after all. The main character, Ararararagi, has his bad and his good moments. You'll want to punch him in the crotch during his bad moments, while you will want to hug him during his good ones. His moral side and perverted side often clash, making him a somewhat unstable, yet entertaining character. Senjougahara is the heroine who always managed to put a smile on my face whether she was harming Ararararagi (he deserved it at some parts) or revealing her true nature. Overall, the characters in Bakemonogatari are great, and there's little to complain about them (besides Hanekawa who I refuse to talk about).When the characters are not throwing around dialogue like it was rice at a wedding, they are...posing for the camera. Bakemonogatari is loaded with fan service (although not nearly as loaded as Nisemonogatari, the sequel) and, although I hate to say it, it's good. If you're a heterosexual male, at least one girl in the series will have you drooling for them at one point. If you're into outgoing girls with a sweet heart on the inside, you'll like Senjougahara. If you're into innocent nerds with a wild side, you'll like Hanekawa. If you're into lolis, you'll like Nadeko. If you have a sister complex, you'll like either of Ararararagi's sisters. And if you're a female, you'll like Kanbaru.The art and animation are what truly makes this series unique. The art style constantly changes, giving you an experience similar to a rainbow punching you in the eyes. The sound is also excellent, and there are quite a few songs that you will get addicted to. For me, the ending song, "Kimino Shiranai Monogatari" by supercell had me downloading the song 5 seconds after I first heard it. Similar to how the art and animation can make your eyes orgasm, the music will have your ears gushing...something.Overall, the Bakemonogatar series is great, although I only recommend it to people 17 or older, as there is brief nudity, a few graphic and violent scenes, and sensuous language. There is at least one thing in this series you will like, whether it be the romance, the dialogue, the visuals, the sound, or the girls (seriously, you have, like, seven to pick from). I give this series an 8.5 out of 10, which is a solid A on my scale.

chanel.waelchi - 2013-06-28 08:18:32

This Review is out of 100. 35/100 for Story, 35/100 for Characters, 15/100 for Sound, 15/100 for Animation. Story - 26/35 - The main stories (all five of them) range anywhere from very good to meh, with most of them in the middle. Thankfully, none of them get boring, and always end before you get too annoyed. The other problem with the show is that most of the stories follow the same pattern, Araragi finds a girl in distress, tries to help, and ends up asking Meme Oshino for help. It is very predictable and hardly ever changes. The other problem is that all the characters are girls aside from Araragi and Oshino, so the show has many harem aspects to it and almost feels like a visual novel. The other reason it gets a lower score is because of all the fanservice in the show. There is WAY too much of it, and a lot of it is pointless. I'll give the show some props in the fact that it is pretty funny. Characters 29/35 - This is the best thing about the show. Araragi himself is a very fun character, as is Hitomi and Kanbaru. Everyone else, while enjoyable, don't stand out as much as these guys. Nadeko is especially boring, and I felt as if we didn't see enough of Meme Oshino. Araragi's sisters were neglected in this part of the story, but that is made up for in Nisemonogatari. Overall the characters were very fun, and their interactions with each other is really what makes this show worthwhile. Even though every character introduced is a girl, the show does a decent job in making each one distinctly different from the other. But they are all still girls (which isn't a good thing. I'd like some more variety). Sound - 13/15 - The sound was good. Nothing more, nothing less. But the reason it gets such a reasonably high score is because of the openings. All 5 opening songs are good, and the fact that there are so many opening songs for a 15 episode show is very original. Every girl gets her own opening, which says a lot about the girl. The openings are some of the most enjoyable parts of the series. The ending song is also very good. Animation - 9/15 - Many people like the fact the show does all these cut scenes and whatnot. I find it annoying. It takes away from the story when all these random flashes of light hit the screen every few seconds, especially since I can't read it. The characters looked good, as did the background shots, but the character movements were very stiff. Lastly, the show seemed to oversexualize many of the scenes. This is different than my complaint about the story having a lot of fanservice, as this is really unnecessary. The show feels like it goes out of its way to put a panty shot or boob shot in ever scene. Araragi can be having a normal conversation with a girl and the show will do a quick shot of her breasts for no reason. Personally, I think less of shows that have to use this trick to gain my attention. Overall - 77/100 - The show has a lot of problems. This shows only two saving graces are its characters, which are very fun to see interact with each other, and its comedy, although a lot of it is lost in translation. The almost all girl cast wouldn't be as annoying if they didn't have their sexuality flaunted every couple of scenes. Shows like Steins;Gate and Clannad both have a mostly female cast, but manages to work because they don't make this mistake. As far as my enjoyment goes, the first 3 arcs were more enjoyable than the last two, with the forth one (the snake arc) being especially bad. Overall, I liked the show and it was good enough for me to continue the series into Nisemonogatari.

skylar.littel - 2013-06-26 00:04:04

This show is amazing. It's been a while since I watched something this amazing. Where has this show been all my life? It's art is gorgeous, but then again, this is Shaft, so what do you expect? xD I might add that despite the lack of moving around in this show, as most of the show is spent with people standing still talking to each other, this show has amazing animation when characters are moving around. Perhaps the best in any series I've ever seen. The music is very very good but very very repetitive, though the way the music goes and all the weird conversations that take place in the show, it can help to be very erm...hypnotic? Still, wonderful music. The show focuses heavy on weird dialogue, and consequently you learn a lot about each of the characters, which really push this show forward. The main character is essentially a somewhat perverted mashochist (I think) who is dating a girl who is a sadist. (The perfect couple, can you imagine?) The main character loves to help people, however his perversions make his morality questionable at times. The sadist girl is very interesting, and a little creepy, as she is very dangerous. There are other characters who get focused on, most of which are interesting, so no worries if you have problems with characterization. This show doesn't have much of a storyline. It instead has multiple stories that span the whole series, each of which revolving around some strange supernatural event causing someone trouble. Still, they are very interesting and sometimes over-the-top, having very violent sudden events occur. Overall, I loved this show, but its not for everyone. It's subbed only, so that's a problem for dub fans. Plus, the price to buy the show is ridiculously expensive, a wopping 150 dollars. To make matters worse for some people, the show might appear dull due to the large amount of dialougue in ther show, not all of which is comprehensible. And finally, some people might be pushed away by the fanservice. Still, I love this show and highly recomended it- It's one of my favorites.

sporer.roma - 2013-06-08 02:14:12

Bakemonogatari is one of those anime that makes you think about many different things. It´s a love/hate anime, since some people seem to not accept it´s random nature. In my opinion, it´s one of the best anime I had the pleasure of watching. I will try to explain why you should watch this anime. This review will contain no spoilers about the story.Story (10) - When I first saw a girl with long purple hair fall of a staircase, and landing on top of a guy in slow motion, I felt this anime would be great. And I was right! The main character, Araragi Koyomi seems to be the normal perverted guy that you see in many anime nowadays, except that he is a little different. The story follows him and Senjougahara Hitagi as he helps 5 girls, including Hitagi, to get rid of animal spirits that possess them. This may sound a little weird, but the way it is done makes it seem natural for some reason. While he helps those 5 girls, he will learn alot about himself, and will develop a close relationship with Hitagi. Art (10) - Beautiful art always puts you in a good mood. This anime was first released in 2009, and for that year, this art seems really amazing. Even now, few anime have such good and refreshing art as this one has. The backgrounds are extremely random, which make the comedy that much better, and just seem appropriate for the kind of anime this is. The character art is also very good, and I have yet to see even a little mistake in it. Sound (9) - The soundtracks for this anime are very good, and usually fit the scenario where they are played. This anime has alot of randomness, so different soundtracks should be used in particular situations, and this anime does it very nicely. Definitely not one of the best OST´s out there, but has a nice opening and many different endings, depending on the arc. There are 5 arcs in this season, with a different ending for each one.Character (10) - The personalities for each character are very realistic, and each one seems completely different from the other. The main character is Araragi Koyomi, a perverted 18 year old guy, but a little different from the other perverted main leads. He actually takes many things seriously, and is willing to risk his life to protect Hitagi. Hitagi is the female lead for this anime, and she is what makes this anime what it is. The way she trolls Koyomi and calls him the love of her life, only to call him trash moments after is just epic. As Koyomi, she is willing to bet her life for her loved one. It´s definitely one of this anime´s best points.Enjoyment (10) - I never got tired of this anime, and even as I am writing this, I am looking forwards to new seasons, it´s one of my personal favourite anime, and one of the few that I can call a true masterpiece. Overall (10) - I recommend you watching this anime, it´s a love/hate anime, but I know many people that watch anime and they all enjoyed this one in particular, so it´s a must-watch for all of you. You can´t say you are a true anime expert until you have watched this masterpiece. Defenitely one of the best anime out there.

amy69 - 2013-06-04 20:37:30

Brief note-this is a review for all of Monogatari, so not just Bakemonogatari but Nekomonogatari and Nisemonogatari too.

This is, hands down, one of the best offbeat slices of life ever, Haruhi-Suzumiya like in taking a relatively tame boring genre and twisting it into something mostly unrecognizable yet amazing. However, while Haruhi tends to be upbeat and silly, this is much more serious. While it has it's funny points, they are much more often overshadowed by the constant eeriness of the show. Nothing ever feels quite normal in this show, and a relatively normal scene like two kids trying to help another find her way home can feel disturbing and wrong. 

STORY

While it has no continuous story, the stories are indeed excellent. They each revolve around the main character, Araragi, helping a damsel in distress with her mystical ailment. Each one draws off of some folklore or another, and are all extremely twisted and strange. Each character he helps also becomes part of the cast, and with the creativity shown in each character this means that this show is like a good wine, improving with age. 

ANIMATION

I must gush some about this, because the superb animation is one of the defining parts of this show. The artists are masters of lighting and scenery, and can transform any relatively normal locale into something that seems to have come from another universe. With a perpetually dark or twilight palette, everything feels haunted and surreal, and the few flashes of bright color can almost unnerve you more than the dark ones as they are so out of place. The animation plays a big part in making you really feel like like the world is darker and stranger than it should be, that something is always wrong, and therefore must be highly commended.

CHARACTERS

Another gush-worthy section. The characters in Monogatari are some of the most original, most entertaining, and most offbeat you will find. As there are two many to talk about individually, I'm only going to talk about two. First is Araragi, the main character. Araragi used to be a vampire, and was cured of it by a kind soul who specialized in dealing with supernatural problems. Due to his actions while so cursed, he has a desire to help anyone in need like he was, to save them from whatever their predicament may be. Whenever Araragi sees someone in need, he goes to help them, a knight in shining armor. He's also a huge perv, constantly playfully harassing or fantasizing about his lady friends. He has a guilt complex a mile long, and has makes many sacrifices for the greater good throughout the show. Not all of these are well informed, and may not always result in the best outcome for him, as he doesn't see himself as important. The next character is Senjougahara, one of my favorite characters in any anime ever. She is Araragi's first case, shall we say, and has a highly entertaining backstory and personality. She was abused as a child by her mother, and therefore fears being close to anyone. She is cold and often abusive even when people try and help her, but tries to help others frequently. While she doesn't care much about strangers, she is extremely devoted to anyone she is close to, such as her boyfriend Araragi, and will go to great lengths for them. And by great lengths, I sometimes mean mild insanity. She is dispassionately logical, and extremely intelligent, often solving problems that may puzzle Araragi. She is something of a kuudere, though despite showing a more caring side as the show goes on she always retains her razor wit and tongue, often verbally harassing people for the hell of it.

ENJOYMENT/OVERALL

This is actually a show anyone should watch. I never cease to be entertained or bored, and the large, many sided characters never cease to be fascinating. The stories are great, the animation excellent, and the overall tone of the story darkly intriguing and mysterious.

jacobs.hobart - 2013-06-04 12:12:06

Bakemonogatari might be be a little bit confusing at the beginning of the show. However, the plot's structure comes clear enough as new characters are introduced; One part of the show is about the romantic relationship between the Senjougahara Hitagi and Araragi Koyomi.The other part is about Araragi Koyomi trying to save five girls form the oddities possessing them, seeking a happy end for everyone.

The show is clearly dialogue driven  and the verbal battles between Araragi and co. (and especially with Senjougahara) are the shows most prominent and refreshing aspect.
With verbal performance playing such a big role in this show, voice acting is taken to a whole new level in this series.
Every characters' voices fit perfectly and the characters speak extremely fast in this series with lots of tongue twisters, but the voice actor cast had done an amazing job in keeping up.

The music in Bakemonogatari has a generally consistent ambient feel to it with a nice flow. Such as in in the final episode, where the music swells and fades without the viewer really noticing it, because they are so perfectly integrated with flow of verbal and situational push and pull between the two leads.

The animations mainly serve as a visual aid to the dialogues, and it
proved to be very effective. Animation Studio's Team Shinbo strikes again with its many abstract and surreal scenes, unconventional cuts, and intriguing camera angles that made the viewing experience more pleasant, unless you are too focused on reading the subtitles.

catherine.brekke - 2013-05-19 17:58:37

Bakemonogatari: Unexpected greatness

I did not expect what this was but it ended up being so great I couldn't put it into words.

Story:

When it started out I was thrown off by random stuff popping up on the screen and the various words flying around, but then the fun began. It started off well with the main character having to catch a random falling girl, and evolved from there. This story did a wonderful job of pulling me in earlier and managing to keep my eyes glued to the screen for the entire season. The writing style and how each character was shown was great and I can't help but recommend it again and again.

Animation:

It was great, I loved the way the animated every bit of it, the small details they'd throw into certain scenes and the way the "random" things would pop up over various things. The art really could not have been better then it was for this show and I applaud them for making it so perfect.

Summary:

This anime starts out in a highschool but really doesn't revolve to much around it, focusing more on what the charecter is and what he is doing. If you like animes with a bit of action, badass charecters, and some romance thrown into this already fairly unique anime, then go watch it this minute!

-Alf