Alternative Titles
Synonyms: Ghostory, Monstory
Japanese: 化物語
Information
Type: TV
Episodes: 15
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Jul 3, 2009 to Jun 25, 2010
Producers: Aniplex, Shaft
Genres: Mystery, Romance, Supernatural
Duration: 24 min. per episode
Rating: R - 17+ (violence & profanity)
Review
Story: 6/10
The plot of the show sure adopts some innovative ideas. I must say I was quite impressed when I realized that what I had thought to be an opening in the first episode was actually a flashback. The problem with the overall story, however, is that it doesn't seem to lead anywhere. If you take awesome presentation away, all you are left with are some ghost stories at the level of Natsume Yuujinchou. I found it cool that some of them tie mysteries with word play, but I kind of doubt anyone without Japanese proficiency would care. Anyway one story ends, another starts and you are left wondering if something is really happening or not. Be it not for the awesome character wordy exchanges and linguistic inspired jokes, Bakemonogatari wouldn't have escaped boredom even with that awesome animation. Though I must say even the subbing group didn't seem to catch some of the jokes (I wonder how many I've missed, watched every episode twice though). Kanji expressions are also used from time to time to express the joke, or even to tie a plot point in one particular case, so I kind of believe people who know Japanese would certainly get more out of this show than the ones who don't. Maybe that's one of the reasons behind Bakemonogatari being labeled as the best show of 2009 in Japan (and I agree).
Anyway, unless the three following episodes will tie the plot up like in a real ending, the only really worthwhile plot point in this show which actually advances will be the romantic relationship between the two main characters. The greatness of their relationship is, of course, attributable to their original characteristics and clever dialogue. This might also be the vaguest romantic relationship I have ever seen as they cleverly center on a Tsundere, at least self-proclaimed, who never, even once, goes into extroverted mode. Freshness of the love story comes from the fact that it's so weird you are usually unsure if it even exists, as Senjougahara is unpredictable enough to make you unable to tell if she will confess next or stab someone in the face. However, it is certainly there, and the last episode finally proves that. You can at best guess what Senjougahara thinks, and I found that the most rewarding point of the plot.
Art: 10/10
Once again, SHAFT saves the day! SHAFT is well known for their artistic techniques to portray abstract scenes. Their other works, such as Ef - A Fairy Tale of the Two, are very much similiar. Bakemonogatari utilizes many, unique camera angles that are relevant or not relevant to what is being said. Such scenes could be the sky, cars, the character's hair, etc. Additionally, multiple screens and walls of text pop up to give the viewer a sense of abstract understanding.
Characters: 9/10
I must say that the mentally imbalanced cast of characters was the last thing I expected in the show from "ghost stories" genre. While Araragi comes off as perfectly normal most of the time, even able to pull out some common sense slapstick, his tendency to save anyone involved with the supernatural no matter what's the cost is certainly not very healthy. Though it took me a lot of insanity from other characters to account for that. The show, like no other ghost story I have watched, ties its paranormal side stories with the mental condition of the characters, usually with perversive themes even. There is an obsessive lesbian, older brother complex having loli, stressed out family abuse undertaking girl and so on. On the other hand, however interesting they are and however brilliant their dialogue is, side cast is still one step away from being fully fleshed out, mainly due to the series' short length. That hardly matters though, as the main heroine of Bakemonogatari is one of the best mentally imbalanced characters I have seen.
Even if you wouldn't account for some vague flashbacks relating to Senjougahara's past, you would still soon notice that she is, well, weird. Not eccentric weird, but like, dangerously weird. The fact that show at best hints at her condition and her real feelings doesn't stop her to come off as a living and charismatic character. There are certainly many characteristics which can make one fall for her, be it her extremely clever insults or eccentric behavior similar, but somehow different from usual tsundere archetype. However, I myself found her almost manic inability to speak her true feelings and those sparks of obsessive insanity the most attractive. She sure isn't your everyday tsundere, and her head is sure not normal, but damn, is she interesting. Anyway, I was really pleasantly amazed at how Bakemonogatari never let's the viewers unto their characters feelings easily, you have to interpret a lot to even guess what's going on in their weird heads. The only real complaint about Senjougahara would be that there isn't enough of her, she sure holds much more potential than she has used and hopefully the following three episodes will mark my words true.
Enjoyment/Overall: 9/10
Beside the story and character development-in-15-episodes, Bakemonogatari deserves a good two thumbs up. Also, for a anime having a tsundere female, I'd say it REALLY stands out from Shakugan no Shana or Zero no Tsukaima. Albeit the many interesting anime coming in 2009, Bakemonogatari is certainly something else. It's unique because it stands out from your traditional anime. It is as if Bakemonogatari is wearing a green shirt while the other anime series wear white.To put it bluntly, Bakemonogatari offers this sense of upmost perfect surrealism that is damn near addicting.
The plot of the show sure adopts some innovative ideas. I must say I was quite impressed when I realized that what I had thought to be an opening in the first episode was actually a flashback. The problem with the overall story, however, is that it doesn't seem to lead anywhere. If you take awesome presentation away, all you are left with are some ghost stories at the level of Natsume Yuujinchou. I found it cool that some of them tie mysteries with word play, but I kind of doubt anyone without Japanese proficiency would care. Anyway one story ends, another starts and you are left wondering if something is really happening or not. Be it not for the awesome character wordy exchanges and linguistic inspired jokes, Bakemonogatari wouldn't have escaped boredom even with that awesome animation. Though I must say even the subbing group didn't seem to catch some of the jokes (I wonder how many I've missed, watched every episode twice though). Kanji expressions are also used from time to time to express the joke, or even to tie a plot point in one particular case, so I kind of believe people who know Japanese would certainly get more out of this show than the ones who don't. Maybe that's one of the reasons behind Bakemonogatari being labeled as the best show of 2009 in Japan (and I agree).
Anyway, unless the three following episodes will tie the plot up like in a real ending, the only really worthwhile plot point in this show which actually advances will be the romantic relationship between the two main characters. The greatness of their relationship is, of course, attributable to their original characteristics and clever dialogue. This might also be the vaguest romantic relationship I have ever seen as they cleverly center on a Tsundere, at least self-proclaimed, who never, even once, goes into extroverted mode. Freshness of the love story comes from the fact that it's so weird you are usually unsure if it even exists, as Senjougahara is unpredictable enough to make you unable to tell if she will confess next or stab someone in the face. However, it is certainly there, and the last episode finally proves that. You can at best guess what Senjougahara thinks, and I found that the most rewarding point of the plot.
Art: 10/10
Once again, SHAFT saves the day! SHAFT is well known for their artistic techniques to portray abstract scenes. Their other works, such as Ef - A Fairy Tale of the Two, are very much similiar. Bakemonogatari utilizes many, unique camera angles that are relevant or not relevant to what is being said. Such scenes could be the sky, cars, the character's hair, etc. Additionally, multiple screens and walls of text pop up to give the viewer a sense of abstract understanding.
Characters: 9/10
I must say that the mentally imbalanced cast of characters was the last thing I expected in the show from "ghost stories" genre. While Araragi comes off as perfectly normal most of the time, even able to pull out some common sense slapstick, his tendency to save anyone involved with the supernatural no matter what's the cost is certainly not very healthy. Though it took me a lot of insanity from other characters to account for that. The show, like no other ghost story I have watched, ties its paranormal side stories with the mental condition of the characters, usually with perversive themes even. There is an obsessive lesbian, older brother complex having loli, stressed out family abuse undertaking girl and so on. On the other hand, however interesting they are and however brilliant their dialogue is, side cast is still one step away from being fully fleshed out, mainly due to the series' short length. That hardly matters though, as the main heroine of Bakemonogatari is one of the best mentally imbalanced characters I have seen.
Even if you wouldn't account for some vague flashbacks relating to Senjougahara's past, you would still soon notice that she is, well, weird. Not eccentric weird, but like, dangerously weird. The fact that show at best hints at her condition and her real feelings doesn't stop her to come off as a living and charismatic character. There are certainly many characteristics which can make one fall for her, be it her extremely clever insults or eccentric behavior similar, but somehow different from usual tsundere archetype. However, I myself found her almost manic inability to speak her true feelings and those sparks of obsessive insanity the most attractive. She sure isn't your everyday tsundere, and her head is sure not normal, but damn, is she interesting. Anyway, I was really pleasantly amazed at how Bakemonogatari never let's the viewers unto their characters feelings easily, you have to interpret a lot to even guess what's going on in their weird heads. The only real complaint about Senjougahara would be that there isn't enough of her, she sure holds much more potential than she has used and hopefully the following three episodes will mark my words true.
Enjoyment/Overall: 9/10
Beside the story and character development-in-15-episodes, Bakemonogatari deserves a good two thumbs up. Also, for a anime having a tsundere female, I'd say it REALLY stands out from Shakugan no Shana or Zero no Tsukaima. Albeit the many interesting anime coming in 2009, Bakemonogatari is certainly something else. It's unique because it stands out from your traditional anime. It is as if Bakemonogatari is wearing a green shirt while the other anime series wear white.To put it bluntly, Bakemonogatari offers this sense of upmost perfect surrealism that is damn near addicting.
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