Monogatari

Monogatari Final Season: Tsukimonogatari Review: In Which Doctorkev Begins to Feel As Expressionless And Empty As Yotsugi Ononogi

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After a break of over 8 months, I’ve finally returned to complete my journey through the seemingly never-ending Monogatari series. With this first arc from the so-called Final Season, December 2014’s Tsukimonogatari, I’m only 6 years or so behind broadcast, so I’m making pretty good time. Last time, I reviewed Koimonogatari (Love Story), which wrapped up the second season’s main arc involving … Read more

Monogatari Second Season: Koimonogatari Review: In which Doctorkev is confused to discover that “Best Girl” isn’t in fact… a girl.

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It’s taken a while, but I’ve finally reached the end of Monogatari ‘s second season with this 6th and final 6-part story arc which acts as a direct sequel to Otorimonogatari, the season’s 4th arc. Yes, this has been an oddly-structured, anachronic journey held together by overarching themes rather than narrative consistency or logic. Arc 1 (Nekomonogatari: White) … Read more

Monogatari Second Season: Onimonogatari Review: In which Doctorkev merely got grit in his eye, he’s not crying… honest.

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Goodbyes are always difficult. As a kid I loved when my aunt and uncle visited for the weekend and would cry when they left, even though I knew it wouldn’t be long until I saw them again. That separation really hurt, though. Why couldn’t they just stay? As a child I couldn’t understand that people … Read more

Monogatari Second Season: Otorimonogatari Review: In which Doctorkev realises that everything he ever achieved in life was because of his innate cuteness.

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As every parent of one grows to understand, teenage girls are terrifying. In this latest part of my Monogatari-fuelled descent into madness and horror, we’ll examine the case of Nadeko Sengoku who I previously discussed in my review of Bakemonogatari part 2. In that story, she was introduced as a somewhat precociously infatuated child, another Koyomi Araragi groupie, disconcertingly … Read more

Monogatari Second Season: Hanamonogatari Review: In which Doctorkev somehow finds a story about monkey demons, ghosts and lesbian basketball players dull.

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It’s been a while since I last wrote about Monogatari — over 4 months in fact. Hopefully I can get through the back half of the second season quicker. Hanamonogatari follows the apparent convention the earlier stories established — instead of featuring main character Koyomi Araragi, each entry focuses on one of the supporting players and builds upon their … Read more

Monogatari Second Season: Kabukimonogatari Review – In which Doctorkev warns against blond loli vampires. They will be the end of us all, mark my words.

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Kabukimonogatari is the second story in Monogatari Second Season, and can be summarised as: What if Back to the Future Part II, but Monogatari? This is not a bad thing, as I am one of those weirdos for whom that darkness-tinged and narratively complex middle film is the best part of that cinematic trilogy. Tragedy-infused time-travel shenanigans are like … Read more

Monogatari Second Season: Nekomonogatari (White) Review: In which Doctorkev’s cat-girl fascination becomes a terminal affliction

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Now that I’ve progressed past the three Kizumonogatari prequel movies (reviews here, here and here), it’s time for me to finally start my odyssey through the “second season” of Studio Shaft’s and director Akiyuki Shinbou’s anime adaptation of NisiOisin’s Monogatari light novel series. Other AniTAY contributors more “in the know” (though perhaps only further mired in Monogatari-induced perversion than I am) suggested that this … Read more

Kizumonogatari: Reiketsu Collector’s Edition Blu-ray Review: In which Doctorkev discovers blood-drenched slapstick is the best slapstick.

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Finally, we arrive at the conclusion of the epic movie trilogy adaptation of NisiOisin’s Monogatari prequel, Kizumonogatari Part 3: Reiketsu (Cold Blood). My reviews of part one and two can be read here and here. It’s been quite a ride and I’m (almost) sad it’s over. Someone commented after one of my previous reviews that the Kizumonogatari movies are like the Hobbit movies of the franchise, … Read more

Kizumonogatari: Nekketsu Collector’s Edition Blu-ray Review: In which Doctorkev discovers Baseball-throwing is an adequate defence against rampaging vampires with swords for arms.

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It’s been almost 3 months since my last Monongatari review, so let me begin with an apology and a reassurance that (ab)normal service will resume shortly. A month-long delay in this particular volume’s UK release certainly didn’t help though! Before I move onto season 2, I will complete my reviews of the Kizumonogatari (Wound Story) trilogy of movies – … Read more

Kizumonogatari: Tekketsu Collector’s Edition Blu-ray Review: In which Doctorkev considers if he would sacrifice his life for a pretty vampire. SPOILER: No.

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Ask any Monogatari fan what the correct order to read or watch this series in is and you will receive a different answer. The first novel published (in two volumes) was Bakemonogatari (Monster Story), the animated adaptations I reviewed here and here. Next was Kizunomonogatari (Wound Story), a prequel that explained the situation of Koyomi Araragi, the series’ main protagonist. Next came Nisemonogatari (Fake Story), which … Read more

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