Monogatari

Bakemonogatori is trashy, lowbrow comedy, partly deeply philosophical. A good drama to boot. Harem has a reputation for being dreck, but this is one of the best shows of its generation. To start Araragi is an MC with a personality! A rarity. He is rational, and in command. An all around "nice guy" but with oversights and flaws that make him human. This depth of writing does extend to each girl and the only other male character, Oshino (a Supernatural consultant).

Stylistically flawless. A surrealist veneer of visuals and audio to keep it interesting. Camera shots swivel instantaneously, and the eye to detail breathes the show to life in contrast to its overtly simplistic setting with nonexistent cars or humans. This is done to strengthen a core storytelling mode of this show. The main mode of story is longwinded conservations. There is action, but it's placed carefully. This sounds boring but it's the opposite. Dialogue is a mile a minute, be alert with your subs.

Each section of Bakemonogatari is dedicated to a different supernatural case. In this, we progress the story and introduce new characters. The show never overwhelms you and absorbs you in its dense universe. Conversations are highly lucid, and contain wisdom. Bakemonogatori has a playful, reference laden side, but a foothold in life's realities as well. These characters have endured hardships and many moments of hopelessness. So don't watch if you expected something idyllic. This is pretty dark at times. Not too R-rated, but an adult bent for sure.

Anyways, my only complaint would be some fairly regrettable fanservice elements but you can always skip past that and that comes standard with most harems anyway. Rewatching after 2 years only confirmed how well this has aged since 2009. It will continue being just as good 10 years on.

You don't have to be a member of the anime community for long to know that the Monogatari series is very, very highly praised. Inevitably, I gave into the hype and tried it out for myself. The result? Well... I walked away entertained, but FAR from impressed. Yes the characters are amusing, yes the dialogue is witty, and yes the visuals are beautiful, but make no mistake: Bakemonogatari is just a harem. It exists only for comedic gags and fanservice. The characters are shallow and have little to offer beyond their archetypes and their dialogue, not to mention that the "plot" is loose and unimpressive to say the least. I guess I have very mixed feelings about this anime; I'm happy I watched it, but the people hailing it as a masterpiece need to check themselves.

I vaguely remembered watching this nearly a decade ago, enjoyed it, and when I stumbled upon it again, figured it was worth a rewatch..

Have to say this is one of the few times something was better the second time around. With a older eye and a deeper understanding I could see so many small things, from how the "camera" is used to focus on the female form is all used to tell the story. Nothing seems to be done just for the sake of fan service or fitting inside a genre, but to tell the tale from the perspective of the protagonist and how he'd see, even the silliest moment serves a purpose..

Maybe I've giving it too much credit, but I'd add this to any must watch list, and keep an open mind when viewing it.

Characters are really Good , the designs are really varied and distinguishable, the best way to see monogatari is without knowing what are you about to see

The visuals are great and am excited to continue the franchise because this first part was really Good and the messages between all the crazy stuff are so damn great.

Bakemonogatari is an anime for those interested in the unconventional and are looking for something unique. The show focuses on the supernatural affecting the characters lives and how the apparitions(spirits) they are bound by result from the unique struggles each character possesses. This is used to convey the shows idea of the mysteriousness of the supernatural and the human tendency to find answers and remedies through it once the suffering of the real world proves too harsh for some to deal with. Character development comes primarily through each characters personal conflict with the supernatural through the arcs which focus mainly on a specific character, allowing you to gain insight into the character and how the supernatural reveals certain truths to each character that they either sought to repress or did not understand about themselves, providing the viewer empathy to the character and personal attachment towards them. The animation through the vibrant colors and focus on light makes the physical features of the characters very striking and interesting to look at helping to capture the emotional moments of each character.