Review of Bakemonogatari

Bakemonogatari is divided into 5 story arcs, each introducing a different girl that the protagonist Araragi interacts with. Each arc explores a fantastical physical phenomenon that manifested from some internal emotional distress in each girl. Being an adaption from a novel, there are moments where the show can feel dialogue/monologue heavy, but the show does a good job of pacing that out with action-packed sequences. In addition, the dialogue itself can be quite intense with its humorous fast-paced exchanges. Furthermore, there is heavy usage of wordplay (in Japanese), providing another layer of depth in the commentary. The visuals are also quite unique and immersive with itsminimalistic touches. For example, no matter where Araragi is, whether it is the school or the neighborhood, there is absolutely no one else present except the relevant characters.

On the surface it may seem like the show is catered towards male otakus, due to each female character matching an archetype, such as tsundere, loli, etc. While there is arguably some self-indulging fan service throughout, the work explores the backstory behind them, allowing each to transcend the cookie-cutter template that they were based on.

Even if Bakemonogatari is not your cup of tea due to some hit-or-miss character arcs, know that it is only the introduction to many works in the same universe. If there is at one least one character arc that you enjoyed, you can skip to a series that focuses more on that character.