Review of Bakemonogatari

**This review needs to be revised. Some points are weak and some arguments are incorrect/irrelevant. ** Do you like the color Purple? Circle one: Yes/No/I don't know On a scale of 1 to 10, rate the color Purple. Circle one: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Do you like the Monogatari Series? Circle one: Yes/No/I don't know On a scale of 1 to 10, rate the Monogatari Series. Circle one: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 This series is just like a color. Its style is so unique to a point that no other show has ever tried its method ofpresentation. Therefore, whether you think this is a masterpiece, a well attempted show, or a even complete trash, you are able to justify your opinion one way or another.

So, how good is the color Purple?

If you don't find this review helpful, please give me some feedback so I can provide content with better quality in the future. :)

STORY (Concept 6/7, Development 2/3)

I purposely adjusted my story rating system for this show. The concept is so overwhelmingly important that the development is no longer within our interest.

Monogatari series is a harem anime. To put it bluntly, it is as generic as a anime can ever get: A guy called Araragi, or, Arararagi, who is in his third year of highschool, encountered multiple supernatural spiritual phenomenons related to... girls and creatures that look like girls.

The key of this anime's success is its unique style of presentation however. Characters in this show does nothing but talking. Araragi talks to girls who happen to love rant and bullshit about stuff that are... very intellectual and interesting. Of course, everybody has his/her own definition of the term "interesting", but there is no doubt that all the dialogues are well thought out. Aside from talking, the images on the screens change frequently in a manner that makes you think it is a slideshow: some slides display phrases Araragi or the speaking person is think, some slides show character's movement in brief seconds. None of the slides move too dramatically, but the slight, vivid moments give the conversations "souls". This practice essentially solves an issue that most other intellectual conversational show have: the majority amount of screen time is filled with a still image of a speaker who moves his/her mouth for 10 seconds.

However, this is not to say the conversation does not get boring once in a while. It is just like looking at the powerpoint presentations in college, you simply cannot concentrate on the slide shows for that long, because you are a human.

Bakemonogatari, as the series' opening piece does a great job of getting audience interested. The 16 episode show has 5 arcs, each arc deals with a spiritual being and a new girl: Crab, Snail, Monkey, Snake and Cat. I will discuss the girls individually in the character section coming up next.

CHARACTERS (Design 4.5/5, Development 4/5)

The character design in the show, tho I really don't want to use this term since I love them, cliche. A calm and smart one, a small and happy one, the underclassman and her friend, the girl you know with boobs. Our main Hero Araragi is a very typical guy who has supernatural power but don't really know all that much about his power. However, the girls are all unique that they all have distinct, and at least 2 dimensional character treats. Comparing to other shows in the harem genre, this is about the most you can ever get from a harem girl.

I apologize in advance that I will not provide examples that describe character developments, since it would absolutely ruin all the fun you will get from this anime considering how simply the plot is.

Crab. The first arc introduces a girl who has lost most if not all of she body mass due to her influence of the Crab spirit. She is what I would describe as a calm psycho. She is so aggressive at times that she threatens Araragi with a pile of things you would find in a pencil case (please refer to the anime's cover). She constantly comes back in other arcs as Araragi's supporter, so if you are the type who likes to get attached to the "Main" girl, you are in luck.
The rest of the arcs (sorry for being lazy) are almost following the same formula. 1, understanding the situation, 2, Obtain help, 3, help the girl to either get rid of the spirit or limit the spirit's influence.

What I like about these character is that all of them are given a very interesting background story by having a conversation, unlike most other shows that present boring flashbacks to explain a certain character. The characters are also not simply just "vanished" after the incident since they all have something left unresolved for the main character to deal with in the later time.

GRAPHIC (Art 5/5, Animation 4/4, Fanservice 1/1)

Wtf there is a score for fanservice? Yes indeed. As an ecchi anime (arguably?), the quality of fanservice is inevitably important as that's part of what it is.

The art uses simple and appealing color to outline the characters. The location of the conversations receive different style of background that fits the theme of the conversation. The visuals of slideshow are also very unique and well designed. Try pause once or twice and look closely on those slides, the Japanese writing placement are very clever. Not to mention the different camera angles and zero recycled materials.

If you are looking for hard core action scenes, you are in the wrong neighborhood. The selling point of this anime's animation is the detailed movements and unique camera angles that catch those movements in the most unexpected way. The use of CG, unlike some of the other shows (Fate/stay night, cough cough), are surprising well done and they actually FIT with the 2D art.

----------If you hate fanservice to the point of killing yourself, skip to the next section----------

Now fanservice. This show has some most "thought provoking" services you can ever find. Unlike the fan service from other shows such as Highschool of the dead and Highschool Double D, the first thing that comes out of you is not a boner. The fan service gives you an impression of how beautiful the human bodies can be. Sure they are targeting the male audience, but with that said I believe female audience can also appreciate the art with a good mind set. I personally loved the fanservice (well comparing to other fanservice from other shows), not because they turn me on, but the fact that they show nudity in a good way, unlike those disgustingly presented ones that reminds you of porn. Again, you may still hate the fan service, but the fanservice in this show was very well done indeed without a doubt.

----------You can keep reading now----------

SOUND (OP/ED 2/3, OST 2/3, Voice 4/4)

The sound in this anime is perfect.

Every arc they present a new OP and ED. All of them fit the current arc and the animation is beautiful (or bizarre). That said, out of all these songs, I might be able to recognize 2 or 3. They aren't memorable.

OST are background music. They serve to set the atmosphere of the scenes. Absolutely nothing melodic or memorable. They are easy music that are made of clear and refreshing notes, rather than layers and layers of effects that distract the experience.

Voice is awesome. Period. Oh in case you are asking for dub. Ha. Ha. Ha. Too bad.

ENJOYMENT (10/10)

Harem is what led me to the world of anime, and this is the most awesome harem show in existence(SAO fans please don't hit me). Instead of putting all the girls together and make a giant mess, Monogatari tackles every individual girl one by one in the most detailed way possible. AND THERE IS CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. When do you ever see that in harem? The pop culture references are simply hilarious. The unique presentation was a jackpot for me.

And btw, I love the color Purple.

OVERALL (9/10)

Despite being extremely superior in pretty much all the aspects comparing to its competitors, it failed to give me "void" if you know what I mean. But hey, it is not finished, so it is always good to look forward to the story, right? This anime certainly deserves its hype. Some may hate it and that's totally fine cuz all shows have haters.
Best harem/ecchi show ever? Yes.

So, how would you rate the color Purple?

Peace.