Anime REVIEW: Monogatari Second Season

With the Monogatari series proving to be one of Shaft's biggest anime franchises, it's just as well there's plenty of stories left to be adapted from Nishio Isin's light novel works. And though prior to Monogatari Second Season the franchise already had three successful entries behind it, everything about this entry screams bigger. Not only making the jump to a full 26-episode series (which originally aired between July and December 2013), Second Season differs from its predecessors by bringing a total of FIVE of Isin's novels under one banner rather than focussing on a single one. These stories are Nekomonogatari (Shiro), Kabukimonogatari, Otorimonogatari, Onimonogatari and Koimonogatari.

Anime REVIEW: Nekomonogatari (Kuro)

It's been four years now and the Monogatari series train still shows no sign of stopping any time soon. With the continuing story of Koyomi Araragi and co. still airing, it's time to go back in time and take a look at the first instalment in franchise's prequel material. Get your cat puns at the ready, because it's time for Nekomonogatari (Kuro).

This four-part short series is a direct prequel to Bakemonogatari, explaining the events of the Golden Week that is frequently mentioned in the franchise. With his brief transformation into a vampire still fresh in his mind, Koyomi Araragi continues to adjust to his new abilities before coming across another supernatural apparition in the form of class president and love-interest Tsubasa Hanekawa. Tsubasa has been possessed by a dangerous apparition known as the Meddlecat, which has been relieving its host's stress by attacking people in the city. Koyomi enlists the help of Meme Oshino and the remains of his vampire attacker (now in the form of a young girl) in dealing with the creature, however along the way he must learn the full story behind Tsubasa's turbulent life.

It ain't Monogatari without some good ol' Koyomi pain.

As a prequel, Nekomonogatari features only a fraction of the overall Monogatari cast. The focus is squarely on both Koyomi and Tsubasa, however these four episode also include Koyomi's sisters Tsuhiki and Karen, Meme Oshino and finally (a currently unnamed) Shinobu. In the past one of the Monogatari series biggest weaknesses has been devoting screen time to side characters in others' arcs, so a smaller cast means this is easier to get around. Of course Nekomonogatari isn't completely free of this as the first episode devotes 80% of the time to a long-winded conversation between Koyomi and Tsuhiki, but at least this conversation has something to do with the overall plot even if it is something that can be dealt with in a fraction of the time.

How do you like your cat ladies?

Though the previous series have highlighted the relationship between Koyomi and Hitagi Senjōgahara, Tsubasa has always played a huge role in Koyomi's life (and love life) and this is the where we see some light shed on the mysterious surrounding her. Though many might see her come across as annoying or less interesting than many other members of the Monogatari cast (I myself fully admit to this), her's is without a doubt one of most deepest backstories so seeing it finally explored is both wonderful and chilling given the subject matter. The character is heavily invested in the story despite her human form being barely in it. We can finally see why there the obvious romance between her and Koyomi never went anywhere, adding yet another level of character drama to the mix as well as the show's unique form of supernatural tension.

As usual Shaft's animation and unique visual style is on top form, working at its very best when woven around a tight storyline such as Nekomonogatari's. Of course it wouldn't be a Monogatari production without a little bit of fanservice, however most of which comes from Black Hanekawa (the meddlecat possessed Tsubasa) which works for her character as well as giving fans something to ogle at. Only a minimal amount of time is spent on throwaway humour, although what it does have are things that are actually welcome. Ever wondered where Shinobu's obsession with donuts came from? Well here you can find out first hand.

The greatest mystery solved.

While seemingly short, Nekomonogatari (Kuro) is simply another arc to the overall Monogatari franchise and sheds some much needed light on the highly talked about Golden Week. It's minimal inclusion of characters allows it greater focus on the main subject matter, and for the most part it manges to get around the overdrawn pieces of dialogue that often have nothing to do with the task at hand. After the disappointing antics of Nisemonogatari, this is an excellent return to form for the franchise and does everything that a good prequel needs to do.

Anime REVIEW: Nisemonogatari

It's not very often that a series as good as Bakemonogatari comes along, and being only 15 episodes long its easy to be left wanting more from it. So it's just as well Shaft decided to continue animating the light novel franchise, continuing with the sequel Nisemonogatari (which translates as "Fake story", or "Impostory" if you still want a clever pun out of it) in 2012. The show ran for a total of 11 episodes.

Our fire sisters: Tsuhiki & Karen

Continuing on some time after the events of Bakemonogatari, Nisemonogatari picks up with two new arcs concerning the two characters we saw little of in the first season - Koyomi's younger sisters Karen and Tsuhiki. Nicknamed the "Fire Sisters" at school, the hot-headed Karen and short-tempered Tsukihi are a duo and perform deeds in the name of justice. When this of justice lands Karen in trouble with a conman named Deishū Kaiki, as usual its up to Koyomi to save the day and deal with what turns out to be a supernatural threat. Later, when Tsuhiki runs foul of an onmyōji by the name of Yozuru, Koyomi must spring into action once again despite learning a dark secret about his youngest sister.

We later learn Koyomi has some rather interesting ideas about oral hygiene...

Though the series mainly concerns Karen and Tsuhiki, once again the show is based on Koyomi's point of view and all of the main cast return from Bakemonogatari. Of course Tsubasa, Suruga, Mayoi and Nadeko have much more limited roles, but the series makes sure each of them have some sort of role and/or a memorable moment. As Koyomi's girlfriend Hitagi appears a little more, but her importance is still rather limited despite having links to Kaiki. It's all about the relationship between Koyomi and his sisters - a brother that would clearly do anything for them, even if that relationship borders on the incestuous side far more often than it probably should. There isn't a whole lot to say about the sisters themselves as their development is rather limited (both arcs concern them rather than actually involve them), but Karen gets that little bit more as her story overflows into the second arc.

Finally we have our "villains" for the series - the aforementioned Kaiki, Yozuru and her shikigami Yotsugi. While Kaiki is quite entertaining as a gloomy conman, the other two fall a bit flat as "final boss" characters, memorable only by their quirks and story rather than the characterisation itself.

What? Have you never taken a bath with a vampire in an 8 year old's body?

However the real star of Nisemonogatari was, is and always will be Shinobu. After making a VERY strong impression at the end of the first season, the strong-but-silent vampire is back to steal though once again - although this time once she starts talking she won't shut up. Not only do we have Shinobu stealing the show in the show's big climax once again, but now an oh-so-slightly older looking (don't worry loli fans, you're still covered!) Shinobu has some pretty great exchanges with Koyomi. Not to mention her obsession with doughnuts is taken to an absolutely adorable level. If Shinobu hadn't become one of your favourite characters by the end of Bakemonogatari, she sure will here.

What about this picture DOESN'T scream "conman"?

Despite all these great characters, Nisemonogatari falls short in the other area its predecessor excelled at - story. The series is split into two arcs - the seven episode "Karen Bee" and the four episode "Tsuhiki Phoenix". Considering the arcs in Bakemonogatari ranged mostly between two and three episodes, on face value these arcs seem pretty long in comparison. However very little of the content has to do with their subject matter, with the main crux of the story crammed into the last episode or two and the rest made up of filler and fanservice. Tsuhiki is barely in her own arc! For example "Karen Bee" feels it necessary to slow reintroduce every character from the original series again, just adding new little details like Nadeko being a secret slut and Suruga spending most of her time naked. They make for funny moments, but these take up huge portions of episodes or even entire episodes altogether. With lots of sequences where nothing much is going on, the conversations become easier to lose than ever and in the end its just Shaft's gorgeous art holding scenes together.

Well, things just got awkward in here...

Then of course there's episode eight, which is so notorious it deserves a paragraph to itself. This is the episode that features the infamous "toothbrush challenge" (if you haven't already heard of it, just Google or Youtube it), one of the most awkwardly fun anime moments I've seen. It's incredibly annoying that this takes up an entire episode of Tsuhiki's arc (considering she already got the short end of the stick on the episode count), but it's definitely the most memorable moment of the show that DOESN'T involve Shinobu.

After the masterpiece that was Bakemonogatari, the far inferior Nisemonogatari can be a little hard to swallow. While the original managed to pull off five great arcs in the space of 15 episodes, this struggles to pull off two in 11. The once-interesting tangential conversations feel inane and dull, and the bulk of the episodes are packed with filler and relentless fanservice. When Nisemonogatari does decide to go all out the result is magnificent, but by then it's too little too late to save the series as a whole. Still, the art is as gorgeous as ever, the characters fun (in the case of Shinobu, even moreso) and no one will ever quite forget that scene, cementing Nisemonogatari as a watchable, if not flawed, sequel.

And at the very least, you can thank this series for Platinum Disco. Best. OP. Ever.

Anime REVIEW: Bakemonogatari

Based on a series of light novels by Nisio Isin (Medaka Box) and animated by the studio Shaft (who also worked on Puella Magi Madoka Magica, among other things), the Monogatari series is arguably one of the most popular anime franchises that's around at the moment. It's also one that's taken me far too long to actually give a try. The first in the series, entitled Bakemonogatari (a clever pun that works in Japanese and English, as it translates to "Ghostory") ran for a total of 15 episodes (the final three released as ONAs) back in 2009.

The crab.

Bakemonogatari tells the story of Koyomi Araragi, a third-year high school student who partly human again after becoming a vampire in events prior to the series. One day, his classmate Hitagi Senjōgahara, falls down the stairs into his arms. He discovers that Hitagi unnaturally weighs next to nothing. Despite being threatened by her to keep away, Koyomi offers his help and introduces her to Meme Oshino, the one who cured him of being a vampire. Once Koyomi helps solve Hitagi's problem, she agrees to become his friend and, later, his girlfriend.

As the series progresses Koyomi encounters various other girls, each plagued by their own supernatural oddities. Unable to keep away, Koyomi vows to help each girl - turning to both Meme and the vampire that attacked him (who is now in the guise of an 8-year old girl named Shinobu) for help.

The snail.

The "apparitions" that plague the characters of Bakemonogatari each take the shape of a different animal, and along with this comes several visual cues that relate to each character/arc. Despite the range of relatively "safe" animals these spirits take (a snail for example), visually the show couldn't get much more twisted than it already is. Behind each character is some sort of trauma, and even if the show doesn't explicitly display these traumas in its own unique way it'll provide you with enough info to paint your own images. While the supernatural plays a very heavy part on how everything unfolds in the series, the actual tension and drama is mostly drawn out from these very human events.

The monkey.

Even though the supernatural element of the show is a huge draw that a lot of the drama hinges on, the Bakemonogatari wouldn't be what it is without its cast of lovable characters. The hapless but good-natured Koyomi, sarcastic and sexualised Hitagi, humourous schoolkid Mayoi, perverted tomboy Suruga, good natured class president Tsubasa and...the slightly less interesting Nadeko - each one brings different traits to the table resulting in an excellent variety of exchanges. Even the mute Shinobu will have you considerably impressed by the time the final episode is through.

Once you become invested in the characters, it becomes clear how much they stand above the various animal apparitions that plague each of them. Suddenly the overly long sections of dialogue become engaging banter, and the episodes that have little focus on the supernatural become among the strongest the show has to offer.

The snake.

The final thing that needs to be said about Bakemonogatari is that it is an absolute artgasm. Seriously, this is one show that REALLY needs to be seen in high definition to get the full experience. The show places just as much emphasis on visuals as it does on narrative, with varying styles using to depict different sequences. The most common is blank cards with single words or phrases appearing onscreen, often differing from the dialogue but adding to it. Some parts move so fast that you won't take it all in, but the effect still remains. Backgrounds are often stripped down to the bare essentials and single colours in order to make the characters stand out, while monochrome photographs and papercut sequences (think the witches in Madoka) are used to illustrate the show's chilling flashbacks. Bakemonogatari is a visual tour de force, presented in a style that only Shaft truly master.

And the cat.

Admittedly Bakemonogatari's individual arcs often get off to a bit of a slow start and the heavy dialogue does sometimes borderline on the pretentious, but these small flaws are easily to overlook because of just how amazing everything else is. Shaft proves themselves to be kings of the artistic, weaving the outstanding visuals with compelling characters and a story line that cleverly balances it's light and dark elements. I don't know personally whether the later seasons show the same level of quality (I'll find out soon enough), but even as a standalone piece, Bakemonogatari will quite easily be a series that anime fans fondly remember for years to come.