Bakemonogatari

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.

Rating: 7.8

Favorite Episode: Tsubasa kyatto sono ni

Good overall. It's witty entertaining dialogue with interesting characters. Almost like an anime Twilight Zone. It can be formulaic sometimes, but every arc brought something new to the table and it never got stale. The fanservice in the last openings was strange but didn't detract from anything.

Senjougahara is the highlight of this whole thing.

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.

Hitagi Crab, Mayoi Snail, Suruga Monkey, Nadeko Snake, and Tsubasa Cat. These are the five arcs that make up the series Bakemonogatari. Each one is so distinct and mind-blowing, and Bake never fails to deliver a great story. It is the tale of a quasi-vampire name Araragi, and he goes on a journey of self-discovery and sometimes heartbreak with a group of girls. They all have a supernatural connection somehow. Bakemonogatari is just the beginning of a the masterpiece Monogatari, which is one of the greatest animes of all time!

Bakemonogatari has a lot of entertainment value, and all the elements combined make it a perfect supernatural-romance-comedy. Each arc is enjoyable, and has a good amount of fan service for those who enjoy it. The romance was also done very well, which leaves the view with a warm feeling at the end. It took some time to get used to the weird flashing words in the beginning, but once you get used to it, you'll be in for an entertaining ride.