Seinen Anime Recommendation
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Monogatari series [WATCH ORDER]
Bakemonogatari was the very first one that was released, and should be the one that is watched first. While it may be a tad confusing at first, as you are effectively jumping midway into the story, Bake excels at introducing the world, and the main cast of characters.
Kizumonogatari (I-III MOVIE) is a trilogy of movies, and are chronologically the first entry in the series, acting as a flashback elaborating on some of the plot threads introduced in Bakemonogatari. This one’s placement on the watch order is a heavily debated one. The Kizu light novel was released directly after Bakemonogatari, however the anime adaptations were delayed for multiple reasons and came out alongside the third and final Season’s entries, specifically between Koyomimonogatari and Owarimonogatari Part 2. The author has also stated himself, that as it is a prequel, its a viable way to watch Kizu first before anything else. I disagree with that though, as the style of the movies is quite different to the rest of the series, and that can throw people off if they were to watch them first.
Set a month after Bakemonogatari, Nisemonogatari has 11 episodes split over two arcs, Karen Bee and Tsukihi Phoenix. This time the focus is on Koyomi’s two younger sisters as they come under threat by con artists, supernatural specialists, and their brother with a toothbrush.
Nekomonogatari: Kuro is shorter at only 4 episodes long, and covers only a single arc, Tsubasa Family. It details the events of Golden Week that were referenced in Bakemonogatari’s final arc. This should be the last one watched in the first season, as it sets up a lot of the first arc in the Second season, Tsubasa Tiger.
Monogatari series 2nd season. the bulk of the Second Season is covered by…well, the 2nd season. Monogatari 2nd is the longest entry in the series with 26 episodes, mostly focusing on the character development of Shinobu, Mayoi and Nadeko, though both Hanekawa and Senjougahara also get arcs dedicated to them. Unlike previous entries with multiple arcs, 2nd season’s 5 arcs do not follow on from each other, and are told out of order like the series as a whole.
The final entry in the Second season is Hanamonogatari. Similar to Kizumonogatari, this one is a bit of an oddity. Despite being chronologically the last of the stories, it is part of the second season. The original light novel for Hanamonogatari actually came between Second Seasons Mayoi Jiangshi and Nadeko Medusa arcs. For sake of ease though, it’s fine to watch it when the anime aired, which is right here after the full 2nd season. If you want the pure official order though, (which many would recommend abiding by) fit this arc in between episodes 10 & 11 of Second Season.
Kicking off the final season is the 4 episode long Tsukimonogatari. Set not long after the 2nd Season’s conclusion, this arc acts as a prologue to the final season, and has Yotsugi Ononoki as the focus. Yaay!
Koyomimonogatari is a series of shorts, the episodes typically only lasting about 15 minutes. Each episode takes place at various points in the timeline and are mostly fun little side stories. I don’t recommend skipping over these though, as the final 2 episodes are vital to setting up the main storyline going forward.
After the ending of Koyomimonogatari left us with nothing but questions, Owarimonogatari sets out to begin to answer them. Owari’s first season has 12 episodes and is mostly made up of arcs that are flashbacks, set roughly during the same time as Monogatari 2nd Season. The final episode links back up directly to Koyomimonogatari’s final episode.
Set directly after Koyomimonogatari’s final episode, Owarimonogatari Season 2 consists of 3 arcs. This entry marks the end of the overarching storyline thats been building up throughout the Second and Third Seasons, bringing the story of Ougi Oshino to it’s conclusion.
…And now we have the sequel to the end. Zoku Owarimonogatari consists of a single arc, Koyomi Reverse, in which Koyomi Araragi finds himself trapped in a mirror world inhabited by alternate versions of the people that he knows. While it isn’t a necessity to watch, as Owarimonogatari Season 2 wrapped everything up nicely, I can’t deny this was still a very enjoyable and worthwhile addition.
Bakemonogatari was the very first one that was released, and should be the one that is watched first. While it may be a tad confusing at first, as you are effectively jumping midway into the story, Bake excels at introducing the world, and the main cast of characters.
Kizumonogatari (I-III MOVIE) is a trilogy of movies, and are chronologically the first entry in the series, acting as a flashback elaborating on some of the plot threads introduced in Bakemonogatari. This one’s placement on the watch order is a heavily debated one. The Kizu light novel was released directly after Bakemonogatari, however the anime adaptations were delayed for multiple reasons and came out alongside the third and final Season’s entries, specifically between Koyomimonogatari and Owarimonogatari Part 2. The author has also stated himself, that as it is a prequel, its a viable way to watch Kizu first before anything else. I disagree with that though, as the style of the movies is quite different to the rest of the series, and that can throw people off if they were to watch them first.
Set a month after Bakemonogatari, Nisemonogatari has 11 episodes split over two arcs, Karen Bee and Tsukihi Phoenix. This time the focus is on Koyomi’s two younger sisters as they come under threat by con artists, supernatural specialists, and their brother with a toothbrush.
Nekomonogatari: Kuro is shorter at only 4 episodes long, and covers only a single arc, Tsubasa Family. It details the events of Golden Week that were referenced in Bakemonogatari’s final arc. This should be the last one watched in the first season, as it sets up a lot of the first arc in the Second season, Tsubasa Tiger.
Monogatari series 2nd season. the bulk of the Second Season is covered by…well, the 2nd season. Monogatari 2nd is the longest entry in the series with 26 episodes, mostly focusing on the character development of Shinobu, Mayoi and Nadeko, though both Hanekawa and Senjougahara also get arcs dedicated to them. Unlike previous entries with multiple arcs, 2nd season’s 5 arcs do not follow on from each other, and are told out of order like the series as a whole.
The final entry in the Second season is Hanamonogatari. Similar to Kizumonogatari, this one is a bit of an oddity. Despite being chronologically the last of the stories, it is part of the second season. The original light novel for Hanamonogatari actually came between Second Seasons Mayoi Jiangshi and Nadeko Medusa arcs. For sake of ease though, it’s fine to watch it when the anime aired, which is right here after the full 2nd season. If you want the pure official order though, (which many would recommend abiding by) fit this arc in between episodes 10 & 11 of Second Season.
Kicking off the final season is the 4 episode long Tsukimonogatari. Set not long after the 2nd Season’s conclusion, this arc acts as a prologue to the final season, and has Yotsugi Ononoki as the focus. Yaay!
Koyomimonogatari is a series of shorts, the episodes typically only lasting about 15 minutes. Each episode takes place at various points in the timeline and are mostly fun little side stories. I don’t recommend skipping over these though, as the final 2 episodes are vital to setting up the main storyline going forward.
After the ending of Koyomimonogatari left us with nothing but questions, Owarimonogatari sets out to begin to answer them. Owari’s first season has 12 episodes and is mostly made up of arcs that are flashbacks, set roughly during the same time as Monogatari 2nd Season. The final episode links back up directly to Koyomimonogatari’s final episode.
Set directly after Koyomimonogatari’s final episode, Owarimonogatari Season 2 consists of 3 arcs. This entry marks the end of the overarching storyline thats been building up throughout the Second and Third Seasons, bringing the story of Ougi Oshino to it’s conclusion.
…And now we have the sequel to the end. Zoku Owarimonogatari consists of a single arc, Koyomi Reverse, in which Koyomi Araragi finds himself trapped in a mirror world inhabited by alternate versions of the people that he knows. While it isn’t a necessity to watch, as Owarimonogatari Season 2 wrapped everything up nicely, I can’t deny this was still a very enjoyable and worthwhile addition.
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Try aot
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Steins Gate po. Solid.
