Bakemonogatari

It has been quite some time since I last rewatched this series (for the third time), and let me tell you one thing: I rarely rewatch an anime series. Why? Well it’s just a personal preference, mostly due to the fact that the wow and entertaining factor of a show that has already been watched will be significantly reduced with the pre-emptive knowledge (ie spoilers) from one’s first screening. This goes to show how unbelievably remarkable Bakemonogatari is. For anyone that hasn’t experienced the magic studio SHAFT has brought, you are undeniably missing out on what I consider one of the best anime of its time.

Bakemonogatari’s success has definitely been due to its originality and execution, interwoven in five dialogue-driven arcs, each based upon its respective heroines inflicted with some sort of oddity. The main protagonist, Araragi Koyomi, who was originally attacked by a vampire and consequently, became a vampire himself, was saved by the rogue-priest and oddity-expert, Oshino Meme. Bakemonogatari’s main focus is based upon Araragi’s interactions with various heroines whom are inflicted with similar issues, and his path into solving their problems.

One of the key factors that highlights Bakemonogatari is its dialogue. Heck, each episode is basically speech, with a few changes in scenery, and the rare action sequence here and there. Generally speaking, dialogue-heavy shows are a big risk, and you can guess why. Who would want to watch a show that is dedicated to people blabbing on and on to each other for twenty-five minutes, every week? Well, Bakemonogatari has blown this conception into irreparable pieces. The dialogue presented within the series is just absolutely wonderful and is what I consider to be a breath of fresh air. It is filled with wit, intellectual comedy, and a serious amount of Japanese puns with which I, even to this day, have no clue on their meaning whatsoever. I could sit here all day and watch Senjougohara verbally abuse Araragi, or listen in to Hachikuji teasing Araragi with all her stuttering, and still want more.

Dialogue cannot be achieved without character interaction, and for Bakemonogatari’s heavy dialogue, the portrayal of each character must be done well. With this, the anime’s character development for each heroine was achieved to a fairly good standard, with the splitting of each development into five separate but dedicated arcs (approximately 2-3 episodes per heroine) the right decision by SHAFT.

Before I head into a breakdown of each arc, I have to briefly mention and complement on the unique animation style SHAFT has brought for this anime. Their use of colors, contrasts, and backdrops is exquisite and it is not something I can easily explain. This is complemented with the awkward camera angles that Bakemonogatari is infamous for, and the random recurring flashes of text which no one can catch. One has to watch the series to understand what I mean when I say, ‘unique’.

Hitagi Crab (Senjougohara Hitagi Arc, Episodes 1-2)

Senjougohara is introduced as Araragi catches her from her fall down the school stairs, and realises that she has barely any weight. Despite her cold and violent retorts, Araragi persists in helping her find the solution to her weightlessness and introduces her to Oshino. Together, they discover that the cause lied deep in her cruel past, whereby her mother, being heavily influenced by an unknown occult, allowed an occult member to sexually assault Senjougahara. Senjougahara’s retaliation in self defence caused a series of events that led to the separation of her parents. From that moment on, Senjougahara was inflicted with painful memories of her mother that ranged from both anger and guilt. A crab god, heeding her strong wishes, removed the pain of those memories away in the form of her weight. Now, regretting her wish, Senjougahara with the help of Araragi and Oshino, is able to regain her memories and weight back, and is reborn into the tsundere we all love.

Mayoi Snail (Hachikuji Mayoi Arc, Episodes 3-5)

Hachikuji is introduced as a lost, wandering ghost who wants to go home but cannot find her way there no matter where she goes. As a ghost, she haunts those that are in similar circumstances as her, and thus, only individuals that do not want to go home can see her. Araragi at that time does not want to return to his household due to an argument with his sisters, and consequently able to see and interact with Hachikuji. Here begins the spectacle of loli-grabbing moments and stuttering mayhem, and with the help of Senjougahara and Hanekawa, Araragi is able to guide Hachikuji back to her home, and reconcile with his sisters.

Suruga Monkey (Kanbaru Suruga Arc, Episodes 6-8)

Kanbaru is introduced as a tomboy and Senjougahara’s underclassman who idolises Senjougahara to something along the lines of unrequited yuri love. As she beings to interact with Araragi throughout his daily life, it is revealed that Senjougahara’s past is interlinked with Kanbaru. During middle school, they were the aces in their fields of track (Senjougahara) and basketball (Kanbaru) and named the ‘Valhalla Combo’. Their relationship as kohai (underclassman) and senpai (upperclassman) was likened as being best of friends, until Senjougahara became inflicted with her oddity and broke off their relationship. Despite this, Kanbaru’s feelings for Senjougahara remained, and it is no surprise that jealously would arise when Araragi’s relationship with Senjougahara is revealed to her. Using the monkey paw or devil’s arm which grants her three wishes in exchange for her soul, she violently assaults Araragi at the expense of both their lives, only for both of them to be saved by Senjougahara.

Nadeko Snake (Sengoku Nadeko Arc, Episodes 9-10)

Sengoku is introduced as a childhood friend of his sisters with an unrequited love for Araragi. Araragi, accompanied by Kanbaru, is sent to a nearby abandoned temple at the request of Oshino to place a charm on the shrine to ward away various oddities and ‘evil spirits’. Sengoku passes by, whom Araragi does not recognise until he reconciles into the past. At the shrine, they encounter a litter of dead snakes and they later realise that it was due to some sort of crude ritual. When Araragi confronts Sengoku about this, it is revealed that Sengoku was possessed by a snake spirit via a curse placed upon her by a classmate, whereby her amateurish attempt in removing the curse only made it worse. As the snake slowly begins to constrict her body Araragi manages to save Sengoku at the brink of death.

Tsubasa Cat (Hanekawa Tsubasa Arc, Episodes 11, 13-15)

Hanewaka is introduced, and although she has already been introduced throughout the series as one of Araragi’s closest friends and advisors of sorts, her shocking circumstances in an unloving abusive family is revealed. Her oddity, being possessed by a cat spirit and changing into a deadly persona (Black Hanekawa), is finally shown. It is known that Hanekawa was saved by Oshino along with Araragi before the events of Bakemonogatari (to be shown in the movie, Kizumonogatari), and revealed that her oddity is directly related to her stress. With her stress reignited, Black Hanekawa re-emerges and targets Araragi (the cause of her stress), as Araragi struggles to find Shinobu, the solution into combating Hanekawa’s oddity. Here begins one of the most action-packed and bloody sequences of the series, with fanboys (such as myself) delighting ourselves to Hanekawa in PJ’s and cat ears (Nyan, Nyan!). Honorable mentions to the Araragi tongue twister and Black Hanekawa’s ‘nyan-dition’ which I have to say was absolutely brilliant and one of the greatest moments of the show.

Araragi x Senjougohara (Episode 12)

After Araragi’s meeting with her father, and sitting under the moonlit starry night sky, Senjougahara offers everything she owns to Araragi, including her love, with Araragi responding likewise. Well, to be honest, this is what I would call an unlikely couple…at first. Her demeanor throughout the series towards Araragi is not anything lovey-dovey, but more of a manager-employee relationship with Senjougahara pulling on the reigns of Araragi. Although this is typical of any tsundere, what Senjougahara lacks and something that undermines this relationship is ‘expression’. However, understand that her expressionless demeanor is due to her anti-socialistic withdrawal during her time being inflicted with her oddity, and recovery takes time. Although I did not ‘feel’ the love because of this, I understand that Senjougahara and Araragi truly do love each other, and it is this episode which sealed the deal and removed any doubts on their relationship.

Final Impressions

I don't think there is any doubt about this one - Bakemonogatari is an absolute masterpiece!