Monogatari (series)
Shaft has animated the "Monogatari" series multiple times since 2009. The first season of the anime adaptation consists of 30 episodes, which were broadcast in Japan between July 2009 and December 2012. The second season consists of 28 episodes broadcast between July and December 2013, and the third and final season consists of 42 episodes broadcast between December 2014 and June 2019. A prequel anime film trilogy, "Kizumonogatari", was released in 2016 and 2017. A manga adaptation, illustrated by Oh! great and titled " Bakemonogatari", began serialization in Kodansha's "Weekly Shōnen Magazine" in March 2018. Synopsis. Premise. The  Monogatari series revolves around Koyomi Araragi, a third-year high school student who has almost restored his humanity after briefly becoming a vampire during spring break. One day, a classmate of his, the reclusive Hitagi Senjōgahara, falls down a flight of stairs at school into Koyomi's arms. To his surprise, he discovers that Hitagi weighs almost nothing, in defiance of physics. Despite being threatened to keep away, Koyomi offers his help and introduces her to Meme Oshino, a strange middle-aged man living in an abandoned cram school who helped reverse his vampirism. Once Koyomi helps solve Hitagi's  problem, she decides to become his girlfriend. As the series progresses, Koyomi finds himself involved with other girls afflicted by : the ghost of a child named Mayoi Hachikuji; his underclassman Suruga Kanbaru; Nadeko Sengoku, a friend of his sisters; his classmate Tsubasa Hanekawa; and his own younger sisters Karen and Tsukihi. To deal with the apparitions, which feed on human emotions and often take forms symbolically represented by animals, Koyomi relies on supernatural guidance from Oshino and, later, from Shinobu, the once-powerful blonde vampire who attacked him and later assumed the appearance of an eight-year-old girl. Setting . Most heroines have an item that symbolises their spectres, such as Hitagi's stapler (the claw of a crab), Mayoi's backpack (the shell of a snail), Suruga's arm (the arm of a monkey), Nadeko's hat and jacket (the head and skin of a snake), and Karen's black and yellow tracksuit (the colors of a bee). Although it incorporates elements of fantasy, horror, and action, the series primarily focuses on relationships and conversations between its characters, which make heavy use of Nisio Isin's signature word play and metahumor. Production. As Nisio Isin's previous work, the  Zaregoto series, had been accepted as a light novel, he decided to write the first "Monogatari" short story, "Hitagi Crab", with a more formal approach in mind. It was not a simple transition from light novels to formal literature, but rather an experiment to see if he could write a light novel without illustrations. However, by the series' third story, "Suruga Monkey", it was decided that illustrations would be included in publication, and he changed his approach accordingly. He has stated that the atmosphere between "Kizumonogatari" and "Nisemonogatari" differed due to his knowledge that the latter would be adapted as  an anime. Media. Light novels. The "Monogatari" series was first written by Nisio Isin as a series of short stories without illustrations for Kodansha's literary magazine "Mephisto". The first three stories were printed in the magazine's September 2005, January 2006, and May 2006 issues, respectively; they were later collected in a light novel volume entitled on November 2, 2006. A second volume of "Bakemonogatari", containing two new chapters, was released in December 2006. Both volumes were published under the Kodansha Box imprint and featured original art by Taiwanese illustrator Vofan, who would illustrate all following releases. A prequel  story to "Bakemonogatari" entitled was published in the February 2008 issue of "Pandora" magazine. It was later released as a light novel volume entitled in May 2008. The next story arc, , was released as two volumes in September 2008 and June 2009. The first volume of , subtitled , was released in July 2010, and consists of a prequel story to "Bakemonogatari" entitled . The second "Monogatari" saga, referred to as the "Second Season", released between 2010 and 2011, delves further into Koyomi's relationship with each of the heroines. The second volume of "Nekomonogatari", subtitled , was released in October 2010. It was  followed by five story arcs published in five volumes: in December 2010, in March 2011, in June 2011, in September 2011, and in December 2011. The third "Monogatari" saga, referred to as the "Final Season", released between 2012 and 2014, deepens the history of the character Ōgi Oshino, a supposed relative of Meme Oshino. It is composed of four story arcs published in six volumes: in September 2012, a collection of 12 short stories entitled in May 2013, three volumes of in October 2013, January 2014, and April 2014, and in September 2014. The fourth "Monogatari" saga, referred to as  Off Season, released between 2015 and 2017, contains side stories focusing on various characters. It is composed of four story arcs published in four volumes: in October 2015, in January 2016, in July 2016, and in January 2017. The fifth "Monogatari" saga, referred to as "Monster Season", released between 2017 and 2021, follows Koyomi's life as a university student. It is composed of six story arcs published in six volumes: in July 2017, in June 2018, in April 2019, in October 2020, and two volumes of in August 2021. In 2015, Vertical licensed the novel series for English release . The company began its paperback line with "Kizumonogatari" on December 15, 2015, and later released the "Bakemonogatari" novels in three volumes: the first in December 2016, the second in February 2017, and the third in April 2017. As of December 2020, the novels in the series up to "Zoku Owarimonogatari" have been translated. The English audiobook version of "Kizumonogatari" was released on May 25, 2016 by Bang Zoom! Entertainment with narration done by Keith Silverstein, Eric Kimerer, and Cristina Vee. The audiobook for "Nekomonogatari (White)" was released on April 9, 2019 with narration done by Cristina Vee, Eric Kimerer, and  Erica Mendez. The audiobook for the three volumes of "Bakemonogatari" were released on March 24, 2020 with narration done by Eric Kimerer, Cristina Vee, Erica Mendez, and Keith Silverstein. The Japanese audiobook version of the entire series began release by Kodansha via Audible in February 17, 2021. Each novel features narration by the voice actors/actresses of the anime adaptation. It will be released one novel each month until June 16, 2023 with the second volume of "Shinomonogatari". Anime. An anime adaptation of "Bakemonogatari" was announced in April 2008 and broadcast between July 3 and September 25, 2009 on Tokyo  MX. The 15-episode series was animated by Shaft and directed by Akiyuki Shinbo and series director Tatsuya Oishi, with series composition by Shinbo and Shaft staff under the collective pen name of Fuyashi Tō, character designs by Akio Watanabe based on Vofan's original concepts, and scripts edited by Yukito Kizawa and Muneo Nakamoto. The music for the series was composed by Satoru Kōsaki. Only the first 12 episodes were broadcast on television; the remaining three episodes were distributed on the anime's website between November 3, 2009 and June 25, 2010. At Sakura-Con 2012, Aniplex of America  announced that it had acquired "Bakemonogatari" for release in North America. All 15 episodes were released on Blu-ray with English subtitles on November 20, 2012. An 11-episode anime adaptation of "Nisemonogatari" aired from January 8 to March 18, 2012, produced by the same staff as "Bakemonogatari", but with Tomoyuki Itamura replacing Tatsuya Oishi as director. A four-episode anime television series adaptation of aired back-to-back on December 31, 2012. Two Blu-ray and DVD compilation volumes were released: the first on March 6, 2013 and the second on April 3, 2013. A 26-episode anime television  series titled "Monogatari Series Second Season", spanning five of the six novels from to "Koimonogatari", aired between July 7 and December 29, 2013. Aniplex USA later released the Blu-ray on April 22, and June 24, 2014. "Kabukimonogatari" and "Onimonogatari" featured Naoyuki Tatsuwa and Yuki Yase as series directors for those respective arcs under Itamura and Shinbo. A five-episode anime television series, adapting the remaining novel of the second series, "Hanamonogatari", aired as a marathon on August 16, 2014, and a four-episode adaptation of the first novel of the third series, "Tsukimonogatari", aired in a marathon on December  31, 2014. A 13-episode anime television series adapting two more novels of the third series, titled "Owarimonogatari", aired between October 3 and December 19, 2015. A series of three films adapting the prequel novel "Kizumonogatari" were produced, with the first one, "Kizumonogatari Part 1: Tekketsu", premiering on January 8, 2016, the second film, "Kizumonogatari Part 2: Nekketsu", premiering on August 19, 2016, and the third and final film, "Kizumonogatari Part 3: Reiketsu", premiering on January 6, 2017. A web anime series adapting "Koyomimonogatari" became available for download on the App Store and Google Play from January 9, 2016. A  seven-episode anime television series, an adaptation of the third "Owarimonogatari" novel, aired on August 12 and 13, 2017. An adaptation of "Zoku Owarimonogatari" was released in theaters on November 10, 2018 and as two Blu-ray and DVD volumes on February 27, 2019 and March 27, 2019. It aired on TV as six episodes between May 18 and June 22, 2019. The anime adaptation does not follow the order of the novels. "Kizumonogatari" was planned to be released in 2012 after "Bakemonogatari", but due to production issues, it was delayed until 2016. "Hanamonogatari" was originally planned to be animated  in its original place from the novels, but it got postponed to air after "Monogatari Series Second Season". In the Blu-ray box set of "Monogatari Series Second Season" though, "Hanamonogatari" is listed as the third arc. "Koyomimonogatari" in the novels was released before "Owarimonogatari", but in the anime adaptation, it was released on the App Store and Google Play app after "Kizumonogatari I" and "Owarimonogatari". Music. The several opening themes were written by Meg Rock and composed by Satoru Kōsaki and Mito, featuring vocals of the main characters. The ending theme for "Bakemonogatari", , was produced by Supercell and released  on August 12, 2009 featuring vocals Nagi Yanagi, and peaked at No. 5 in the Oricon singles charts. The ending theme for "Nisemonogatari" is sung by ClariS and written by Ryo of Supercell. The ending theme for "Nekomonogatari (Black)" is , written by Saori Kodama, composed by Satoru Kōsaki and performed by Marina Kawano. "Monogatari Series Second Season" features four ending songs: , produced by Jin (Shizen no Teki-P) and performed by Luna Haruna for "Nekomonogatari (White)" and "Kabukimonogatari"; by Kawano for "Otorimonogatari" and "Onimonogatari"; "snowdrop" by both Haruna and Kawano for "Koimonogatari"; and by Kawano for "Hanamonogatari". For "Monogatari Series  Third and Final Season", it features five ending songs: "Border" by ClariS for "Tsukimonogatari", by Alisa Takigawa for the first season of "Owarimonogatari", "whiz" by TrySail for "Koyomimonogatari", "Shiori" by ClariS for the second season of "Owarimonogatari", and "azure" by TrySail for "Zoku Owarimonogatari". Utamonogatari. The collection of theme songs, , released on January 6, 2016, ranked at No. 1 on Oricon's weekly album chart at the time selling over 66,000 copies. It was the fifth anime theme song collection to top the Oricon's weekly album chart since 2010's "One Piece Memorial Best" album. It also sold over  100,000 copies and was certified as a Gold Disc by Japan Record Association. Disc 1 feature the opening and ending themes for "Monogatari First Season": "Bakemonogatari", "Nisemonogatari", and "Nekomonogatari (Black)". Disc 2 feature the opening and ending themes for "Monogatari Second Season": "Nekomonogatari (White)", "Kabukimonogatari", "Hanamonogatari", "Otorimonogatari", "Onimonogatari", and "Koimonogatari". Utamonogatari 2. The second collection of theme songs, , released on May 10, 2019, sold over 16,000 copies in its first week and was ranked at No. 1 on Oricon's weekly album chart. It feature the opening and ending themes of "Monogatari Final Season": "Tsukimonogatari", "Owarimonogatari I" and "II", and  Zoku Owarimonogatari. It also feature the ending theme of "Koyomimonogatari", the two ending themes of the "Kizumonogatari"'s trilogy and the opening theme for the mobile game "PucPuc". Manga. A manga adaptation of the series, illustrated by Oh! great, started in Kodansha's "shōnen" manga magazine "Weekly Shōnen Magazine" on March 14, 2018. Vertical began releasing the manga in North America in October 2019. Other media. A drama CD titled , a reference to the parlor game "Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai", was released on August 3, 2009. The script was written by Nisio Isin and is bundled with the CD. A PlayStation Portable  visual novel titled developed by Bandai Namco Games was released on August 23, 2012. Good Smile Company has made several nendoroid petit figures for the series, releasing them as separate sets. The first set contains the characters Koyomi Araragi, Hitagi Senjōgahara and Tsubasa Hanekawa. The second set contains Suruga Kanbaru, Mayoi Hachikuji and Nadeko Sengoku and the third set contains the Araragi sisters Karen and Tsukihi, as well as Shinobu Oshino. The company also made a line of separate, 1/8 scale figures of Hitagi Senjōgahara, Suruga Kanbaru, Nadeko Sengoku, Tsubasa Hanekawa, Mayoi Hachikuji, Karen Araragi, Tsukihi Araragi, Shinobu Oshino, Kiss -Shot Acerola-Orion Heart-Under-Blade (from "Kizumonogatari"), Nadeko Sengoku in her Medusa form, and Yotsugi Ononoki. They have also made figma figures of several of the characters: Koyomi Araragi, Hitagi Senjōgahara, Mayoi Hachikuji, Suruga Kanbaru, Nadeko Sengoku, and Tsubasa Hanekawa. They have planned to make the Araragi sisters, Karen and Tsukihi. Alter, Bandai, Kotobukiya, and others have made figures of some of the other characters as well. Reception. The light novel series ranked sixth in the 2009 issue of the light novel guidebook "This Light Novel is Amazing!" published by Takarajimasha. It later went on to rank as high  as second in 2010, and 2017 issue, with the latter in the "tankōbon" category. In the 2019 issue, in the "tankōbon" category, the series ranked third. In the 2020 issue it was revealed the top 10 light novels of the past decade, and the series ranked in the 10th place. Koyomi Araragi ranked sixth in the Best Male Character in 2009, second in 2010, seventh in 2011, third in 2012, and sixth in 2013. Meanwhile, Hitagi Senjōgahara ranked seventh in the Best Female Character in 2009, fourth in 2010, eighth in 2011, and seventh in 2012. The anime adaptation won  the Users' Special Award in the 2nd annual DEG Japan Awards/Blu-ray Prizes. Over one million DVDs and BDs of "Bakemonogatari" and "Nisemonogatari" have been sold combined as of September 2012. Across its 27 volumes, the series has sold over two million DVDs and BDs as of October 2015. The Tokyo Anime Award Festival held in 2017 selected "Bakemonogatari" as the best anime released in 2009. According to CBR, the series is "one of the most interesting and unusual series" to come out in the 2010s and praised the series for standing out "from other supernatural vampire series in  the anime space." CBR further said that the characters, the music, dialogue, experimentation, and animation, have aged well, while the interactions between Koyomi and the children, Suruga Kanbaru as a lesbian stereotype, women needing to be saved by a man, the fact it is a harem anime, and fan service have not "aged well."