Review of Bakemonogatari

To put it simply, this is a masterclass in setting a tone. The shifting environments, the juxtaposition of the strange with the ordinary, the pacing and sound design; it all works together to produce a palpable sense of subtle unease throughout. The majority of the individual narratives hold very strong, although some are better than others. In my opinion, the weakest of them is the segment on Nadeko, but even that is still very strong. The entire series has its weaknesses, in particular the horny events can be occasionally offputting. The show is self-aware about it, but it can be somewhat unsettling in the wrongway. However, the combination of the atmosphere and the themes explored indirectly add up to a fantastic experience.