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Monogatari was a series of light novels created by Niso Isin back in 2006, 14 years later it has become on the most successful light novels and anime of all time. I've decided to make a thread on why I believe this long series is of the best of all time.
Let's start off with the most noticeable aspects, it's production. Spearheaded by studio Shaft, Monogatari is one of the most unique and visually stimulating anime of all time. It's use of text flashes, head tilts, and lighting has become iconic.
Director Akiyuki Shinbo's distinct style of heavy uses of shading, single-color backgrounds, wide to close up shots, and lighting effects will always keep you visually stimulated even if you aren't interested on what's going on at the time.
Each character gets their own unique arc to delve deep into their flaws, traits, and growth. They all feel human, fighting their problems finding self-acceptance, emotional growth, moving forward from the past, dealing with sexuality. All real things that people deal with.
Niso Isin's use of perspective is amazing, we mostly see the world through Araragi's eyes we see the sides of the characters that they show to him. Araragi sees Kaiki as a devil that must be stopped but is Hitagi End we come to see that he's a normal con artist he isn't a devil.
To Araragi Sengoku is a cute little girl that just likes to play with him but to Hanekawa she's a liar. We never know when the characters are lying we only see what's in front of us. They lie to themselves, to each other, and some live a life of lies. Its a story about liars.
Speaking of story that's another strong suit of Monogatari's. Told in an unchronological manner it uses this to the fullest with its amazing foreshadowing. Everything in Monogatari is a Chekhov's gun either to be fired or a red herring to lead us away from the answers we seek.
Aragai's justice being challenged fired in Sodachi riddle, Nadeko, Hitagi and kaki's relationship fired in Hitagi end. Us being in the dark about certain pieces of information will make a better for a better pay-off this is why I stress the LN order so much.
Now I want to talk about my favorite character in the show, Koyomi Araragi. I love Araragi because he embodies what the show is about brimming with character traits and he has a a story about each one. He's an incredible perceptive character that notices a lot more than most.
His a sense of justice is mostly shaped by his parents being cops it even shows in his little sisters. He's someone who can't ignore who a problem when he sees one but instead of looking at all the good he does he looks at what he could do better and regret. He's depressed
Even when saving people he goes about it in the most self-destructive way. He always gets brutalized for the sake of someone else he doesn't care about what happens to him. He never addresses his problems for the longest time and in Monogatari that's something you cant do.
In Bakemonogatari, Oshino Meme says "People have to save themselves. One person saving another is impossible." and you can see this being true throughout the whole story. Hanekawa's problems weren't solved until she fully accepted herself the same with Nadeko in Hitagi End.
This all comes to ahead for Araragi in the best arc in the series Ougi Dark. I won't go into details because I want to keep this spoiler-free, but koyomi finally looks inward and saves himself he learns to love himself. Friendship the thing that he didn't want was the best help.
I would be doing a disservice to you if I didn't talk about the problematic side of Monogatari that turns people off the constant fan service and very questionable gags. I was somewhat put off by it but the show isn't for everyone and I accept that I wouldn't rec to a random.
Monogatari is one my favorite pieces of media of all time. It has given me one of my favorite villains. MC, and cast of all time. It's themes, dialogue, and production are all to behold it has its share of tasteless moments but that's what makes it a problematic masterpiece.
