Monogatari (series)

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Monogatari

Cover of the first light novel Bakemonogatari
物語
Genre Avant-garde, occult detective, romantic comedy
Light novel
Written by Nisio Isin
Illustrated by Vofan
Published by Kodansha
English publisher
Imprint Kodansha Box
Magazine Mephisto
Pandora
Original run August 10, 2005 – present
Volumes 21
Anime television series
First Season
Directed by
Produced by
  • Atsuhiro Iwakami
  • Mitsutoshi Kubota
  • Masayuki Haryu
Written by
  • Fuyashi Tō
  • Yukito Kizawa
  • Munemasa Nakamoto
Music by Satoru Kōsaki
Studio Shaft
Licensed by
Hanabee
Network Tokyo MX, MBS, TVS, TVK, TVA, CTC, TVQ, TVH, BS Japan
Original run
Episodes 30

First Season arcs:

  1. Bakemonogatari (15 episodes)
  2. Nisemonogatari (11 episodes)
  3. Nekomonogatari (Black) (4 episodes)
Audio drama
Hyakumonogatari
Written by Nisio Isin
Released August 3, 2009
Game
Bakemonogatari Portable
Developer Namco Bandai Games
Publisher Namco Bandai Games
Genre Visual novel
Platform PlayStation Portable
Released August 23, 2012
Anime television series
Second Season
Directed by
  • Akiyuki Shinbo
  • Tomoyuki Itamura
Produced by
  • Atsuhiro Iwakami
  • Mitsutoshi Kubota
  • Takuya Matsushita
Written by
  • Fuyashi Tō
  • Yukito Kizawa
  • Munemasa Nakamoto
Music by Satoru Kōsaki
Studio Shaft
Licensed by
Hanabee
Network Tokyo MX, Chiba TV, tvk, TVS, Tochigi TV, GTV, MBS, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ Kyushu, BS11
Original run
Episodes 31

Second Season arcs:

  1. Nekomonogatari (White) (5 episodes)
  2. Kabukimonogatari (4 episodes)
  3. Otorimonogatari (4 episodes)
  4. Onimonogatari (4 episodes)
  5. Koimonogatari (6 episodes)
  6. Hanamonogatari (5 episodes)
  7. Summaries (3 recap episodes)
Anime television series
Third Season
Directed by
  • Akiyuki Shinbo
  • Tomoyuki Itamura
Produced by
  • Atsuhiro Iwakami
  • Mitsutoshi Kubota
  • Takuya Matsushita
Written by
  • Fuyashi Tō
  • Yukito Kizawa
  • Munemasa Nakamoto
Music by Kei Haneoka
Studio Shaft
Licensed by
Hanabee
Network Tokyo MX, BS11, GYT, GTV
Original run
Episodes 28

Third Season arcs:

  1. Tsukimonogatari (4 episodes)
  2. Owarimonogatari (12 episodes)
  3. Koyomimonogatari (12 episodes)
Anime film series
Kizumonogatari
Directed by
  • Akiyuki Shinbo
  • Tatsuya Oishi
Produced by
  • Atsuhiro Iwakami
Written by
  • Fuyashi Tō
  • Yukito Kizawa
  • Munemasa Nakamoto
Music by Satoru Kōsaki
Studio Shaft
Licensed by
Hanabee
Released January 8, 2016 – January 6, 2017
Runtime 70 minutes (each)
Films 3

Monogatari (物語?, lit. "Story") is the general name for a series of Japanese light novels written by Japanese novelist Nisio Isin and illustrated by Taiwanese illustrator Vofan. Kodansha has published 20 novels since November 2006 under their Kodansha Box imprint, with at least two more novels planned. The story centers on Koyomi Araragi, a third-year high school student who survived a vampire attack, and finds himself helping some girls involved with all kinds of apparitions, deities, ghosts, mythological beasts, and spirits.

An anime adaptation by Shaft of Bakemonogatari aired 12 episodes between July and September 2009, and released three more episodes online between November 2009 and June 2010. An anime of the sequel Nisemonogatari aired from January to March 2012. An anime adaptation of Nekomonogatari (Kuro) aired on December 31, 2012. An anime titled Monogatari Series Second Season aired between July 6 and December 28, 2013. An anime adaptation of Hanamonogatari aired on August 16, 2014. An anime adaptation of Tsukimonogatari aired on December 31, 2014. An anime adaptation of the Owarimonogatari novels aired between October 3 and December 19, 2015. An anime film trilogy is being produced based on the prequel novel Kizumonogatari, with the first film, Kizumonogatari Part 1: Tekketsu, released on January 8, 2016.

Plot and setting

The Monogatari series revolves around Koyomi Araragi, a third-year high school student who is almost human again after briefly becoming a vampire. One day, a classmate of his, the reclusive Hitagi Senjōgahara, falls down the stairs into Koyomi's arms. He discovers that Hitagi weighs nothing, in defiance of physics. Despite being threatened by her to keep away, Koyomi offers his help and introduces her to Meme Oshino, a strange middle-aged man living in an abandoned building, who cured him of being a vampire. Once Koyomi helps solve Hitagi's problem, she agrees to become his friend.

As the series progresses, Koyomi finds himself involved with other girls, each afflicted by different "oddities", including the ghost of a child called 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 spectres, Koyomi relies on guidance from Oshino and, later, from Shinobu, the same vampire who attacked him, now with the appearance of an eight-year-old girl.

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 suit (the colors of a bee). Although incorporating elements of fantasy, horror, and action, it primarily focuses on conversations between characters, containing parodies of other series, as well as Nisio Isin's trademark word play and metahumor.

Media

Light novels

The Monogatari series was first created by Nisio Isin as a series of short stories for Mephisto magazine. While his previous Zaregoto series featured large casts of characters, each Monogatari story tends to introduce only one new character. The previously published stories of Bakemonogatari, and some new ones, were eventually collected in two volumes as part of the Kodansha Box launch titles in 2006.[1][2] The first volume Bakemonogatari (化物語, "Monster Story") contains three stories titled "Hitagi Crab" (ひたぎクラブ), "Mayoi Snail" (まよいマイマイ) and "Suruga Monkey" (するがモンキー);[3] the second volume comes with two additional stories titled "Nadeko Snake" (なでこスネイク) and "Tsubasa Cat" (つばさキャット).[3]

A prequel to the series, titled "Koyomi Vamp" (こよみヴァンプ), was published in the first issue of Pandora magazine. It was later released as a separate volume in 2008, titled Kizumonogatari (傷物語, "Scar Story"),[4] followed by Nisemonogatari (偽物語, "Fake Story"), which was divided into two volumes released in 2008 and 2009:[5] the first containing "Karen Bee" (かれんビー) and the second "Tsukihi Phoenix" (つきひフェニックス).[6] The first volume of Nekomonogatari (猫物語, "Cat Story") released in 2010, subtitled Kuro (黒, "Black"), contains another prequel to Bakemonogatari, titled "Tsubasa Family" (つばさファミリー).

The second Monogatari saga, released between 2010 and 2011, delves further in Koyomi's relationship with each of the heroines, including a second Nekomonogatari volume, subtitled Shiro (白, "White") containing "Tsubasa Tiger" (つばさタイガー); Kabukimonogatari (傾物語, "Slope Story") containing "Mayoi Jiangshi" (まよいキョンシー); Hanamonogatari (花物語, "Flower Story") containing "Suruga Devil" (するがデビル); Otorimonogatari (囮物語, "Decoy Story") containing "Nadeko Medusa" (なでこメドゥーサ); Onimonogatari (鬼物語, "Demon Story") containing "Shinobu Time" (しのぶタイム); and Koimonogatari (恋物語, "Love Story") containing "Hitagi End" (ひたぎエンド).

The third Monogatari saga, released between 2012 and 2014, deepens the history of the character Ōgi Oshino, a supposed relative of Meme Oshino. It is composed of six volumes; Tsukimonogatari (憑物語, "Possess Story") containing "Yotsugi Doll" (よつぎドール), Koyomimonogatari (暦物語, "Calendar Story"), containing 12 short stories, three volumes of Owarimonogatari (終物語, "End Story") containing "Ōgi Formula" (おうぎフォーミュラ Ōgi Fōmyura), "Sodachi Riddle" (そだちリドル Sodachi Ridoru), "Sodachi Lost" (そだちロスト Sodachi Rosuto), "Shinobu Mail" (しのぶメイル Shinobu Meiru), "Mayoi Hell" (まよいヘル Mayoi Heru), "Hitagi Rendezvous" (ひたぎランデブー Hitagi Randebū) and "Ōgi Dark" (おうぎダーク Ōgi Dāku), and Zoku-Owarimonogatari (続・終物語, "Continued End Story") containing "Koyomi Reverse" (こよみリバース Koyomi Ribāsu).

The fourth Monogatari saga is being released between 2015 and 2016. The first book is Orokamonogatari (愚物語, "Fool Story"), containing "Sodachi Fiasco" (そだちフィアスコ), "Suruga Bonehead" (するがボーンヘッド) and "Tsukihi Undo" (つきひアンドゥ). The second book is Wazamonogatari (業物語, "Karma Story") containing "Princess Fair" (うつくし姫 Utsukushihime), "Acerola Bon Appétit" (あせろらボナペティ Aserora Bonapeti), "Karen Ogre" (かれんオウガ Karen Ouga) and "Tsubasa Sleeping" (つばさスリーピング Tsubasa Surīpingu).

Vertical has licensed the Kizumonogatari, Bakemonogatari, and Nisemonogatari novels for English release. The company released Kizumonogatari on December 15, 2015,[7] and plans to release the Bakemonogatari novels in three volumes; the first being released in December 2016, the second in January 2017, and the third in February 2017.[8] The first volume of Nisemonogatari is scheduled for April 2017.[9]

Anime

The anime adaptation of Bakemonogatari aired between July 3 and September 25, 2009 on Tokyo MX.[10][11] The series is part of Kodansha's Nisio Isin Anime Project and is produced by Shaft, directed by Akiyuki Shinbō with assistance from Tatsuya Oishi, written by Fuyashi Tō and featuring a character designs by Akio Watanabe based on Vofan's original concepts.[12] The music for the series is produced by Satoru Kōsaki under the supervision of Yota Tsuruoka.[13] The series was scheduled to be 15 episodes long, but only the first 12 episodes were broadcast. The remaining three episodes were distributed on the official website between November 3, 2009 and June 25, 2010.[14] At Sakura-Con 2012, Aniplex of America announced that they have acquired Bakemonogatari for a North America release.[15] The series was released in North America on Blu-ray on November 20, 2012.[16]

An 11-episode anime adaptation of Nisemonogatari aired from January 7 to March 17, 2012,[Note 1] produced by the same staff as Bakemonogatari. A four-episode anime television series adaptation of Nekomonogatari (Kuro) (猫物語(黒), "Cat Story (Black)") aired back-to-back on December 31, 2012.[17] Two BD/DVD compilation volumes were released: the first on March 6, 2013 and the second on April 3, 2013.[17] A 26-episode anime television series titled Monogatari Series Second Season, spanning five of the six novels from Nekomonogatari (Shiro) (猫物語(白), "Cat Story (White)") to Koimonogatari,[18] aired between July 6 and December 28, 2013.[Note 2][19][20]

A five-episode television anime series, adapting the remaining novel of the second series, Hanamonogatari, aired as a marathon on August 16, 2014,[21] and a four-episode adaptation of the first novel of the third series, Tsukimonogatari, which falls chronologically between Monogatari Series Second Season and Hanamonogatari, aired in a marathon on December 31, 2014.[22] A 12-episode television anime 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 are being produced, with the first one, Kizumonogatari Part 1: Tekketsu, premiering on January 8, 2016,[23] the second film, Kizumonogatari Part 2: Nekketsu, premiering on August 19, 2016,[24][25] and the third and final film, Kizumonogatari Part 3: Reiketsu, premiering on January 6, 2017.[26] A web anime series adapting Koyomimonogatari became available for download on the App Store and Google Play from January 9, 2016.[27]

Other media

A drama CD titled Original Drama CD Hyakumonogatari (オリジナルドラマCD　佰物語 Orijinaru Dorama Shīdi Hyakumonogatari), 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.[28]

A PlayStation Portable visual novel titled Bakemonogatari Portable (化物語 ポータブル) developed by Bandai Namco Games was released on August 23, 2012.[29][30]

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.[31] The second set contains Suruga Kanbaru, Mayoi Hachikuji and Nadeko Sengoku[32] and the third set contains the Araragi sisters Karen and Tsukihi, as well as Shinobu Oshino.[33] The company also made a line of separate, 1/8 scale figures of Hitagi Senjōgahara,[34] Suruga Kanbaru,[35] Nadeko Sengoku,[36] Tsubasa Hanekawa,[37] Mayoi Hachikuji,[38] and Shinobu Oshino[39] They also plan to make a figure of the older form of Shinobu from Kizumonogatari. They have also made figma figures of several of the characters: Koyomi Araragi,[40] Hitagi Senjōgahara,[41] Mayoi Hachikuji,[42] Suruga Kanbaru,[43] Nadeko Sengoku,[44] and Tsubasa Hanekawa.[45] 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 Takarajimasha's light novel guide book Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi!. It later went on to rank as high as second in 2010. 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.[46][47] Over one million DVDs and BDs of Bakemonogatari and Nisemonogatari have been sold.[48]

Notes

  1. ↑ As Nisemonogatari aired in Tokyo MX's Saturday 24:00 (00:00 JST) time slot, the premiere technically occurred on Sunday, January 8, 2012.
  2. ↑ As Monogatari Series Second Season aired in Tokyo MX's Saturday 24:00 (00:00 JST) time slot, the premiere technically occurred on Sunday, July 7, 2013.

References

  1. ↑ 化物語（上） [Bakemonogatari (Vol. 1)] (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  2. ↑ 化物語（下） [Bakemonogatari (Vol. 2)] (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  3. 1 2 概要 [Outline] (in Japanese). Shaft. Retrieved October 6, 2009.
  4. ↑ 傷物語 [Kizumonogatari] (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  5. ↑ 偽物語（上） [Nisemonogatari (Vol. 1)] (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  6. ↑ 偽物語（下） [Nisemonogatari (Vol. 2)] (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Kizumonogatari by Nisio Isin". Penguin Random House. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Vertical Licenses NisiOisin's Bakemonogatari Novels". Anime News Network. February 13, 2016. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Vertical Licenses Nisemonogatari Novels". Anime News Network. July 2, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  10. ↑ ひたぎクラブ (in Japanese). Shaft. Retrieved October 6, 2009.
  11. ↑ "NisiOisin's Bakemonogatari Light Novels to Get Anime". Anime News Network. April 4, 2008. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
  12. ↑ "Bakemonogatari Anime Promo Video Posted". Anime News Network. March 18, 2009. Archived from the original on 21 March 2009. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
  13. ↑ スタッフ・キャスト [Staff & cast] (in Japanese). Shaft. Retrieved October 6, 2009.
  14. ↑ "Bakemonogatari Anime Promo Video Streamed". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  15. ↑ "Aniplex of America Adds Bakemonogatari TV Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  16. ↑ "Bakemonogatari Blu-ray Complete Set (S) Limited Edition". The Right Stuf International. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
  17. 1 2 "Nekomonogatari (Black) Anime's Promo Streamed". Anime News Network. December 7, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
  18. ↑ "NisiOisin's Nekomonogatari (Black) Anime to Air on TV". Anime News Network. September 26, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  19. ↑ "Monogatari 2nd Season to Run for 1/2 Year Starting in July". Anime News Network. January 7, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Luna Haruna Sings Monogatari Series 2nd Season Anime's Ending". Anime News Network. May 22, 2013. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  21. ↑ "Monogatari Series' Hanamonogatari Delayed Until August 16". Anime News Network. May 13, 2014. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Monogatari Series' 1st 'Final Season' Anime to Air on December 31". Anime News Network. October 21, 2014. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Kizumonogatari Confirmed as 3 Films Starting on January 8". Anime News Network. October 3, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  24. ↑ "2nd Kizumonogatari Film Opens in Japan Next Summer". Anime News Network. December 21, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  25. ↑ "Kizumonogatari II Film Slated for August 19". Anime News Network. June 28, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  26. ↑ "3rd Kizumonogatari Film Slated for January 6". Anime News Network. August 18, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  27. ↑ ""Koyomimonogatari" Short Anime to be Available from January 9, 2016". Crunchyroll. December 12, 2015. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
  28. ↑ オリジナルドラマCD　佰物語 [Original Drama CD Hyakumonogatari] (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  29. ↑ ジャンル検討中の『化物語 ポータブル』が8月23日に発売! 豪華6大特典が付く限定版も (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. February 24, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  30. ↑ "青春をPSPで妄想し――プレイヤーの想像が創造につながる『化物語 ポータブル』のプレイレポを掲載!" (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  31. ↑ "Nendoroid Petite: Bakemonogatari Set #1". Good Smile Company. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  32. ↑ "Nendoroid Petite: Bakemonogatari Set #2". Good Smile Company. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  33. ↑ "Nendoroid Petite: Bakemonogatari Set #3". Good Smile Company. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  34. ↑ "Hitagi Senjougahara". Good Smile Company. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  35. ↑ "Suruga Kanbaru". Good Smile Company. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  36. ↑ "Nadeko Sengoku". Good Smile Company. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  37. ↑ "Tsubasa Hanekawa". Good Smile Company. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  38. ↑ "Mayoi Hachikuji". Good Smile Company. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  39. ↑ "Shinobu Oshino". Good Smile Company. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  40. ↑ "figma Koyomi Araragi". Good Smile Company. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  41. ↑ "figma Hitagi Senjougahara". Good Smile Company. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  42. ↑ "figma Mayoi Hachikuji". Good Smile Company. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  43. ↑ "figma Suruga Kanbaru". Good Smile Company. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  44. ↑ "figma Nadeko Sengoku". Good Smile Company. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  45. ↑ "figma Tsubasa Hanekawa". Good Smile Company. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  46. ↑ "Ponyo, Bakemonogatari, Conan Win Japanese BD Prizes". Anime News Network. February 18, 2010. Archived from the original on 20 February 2010. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
  47. ↑ "第2回「DEGジャパン・アワード/ブルーレイ大賞」受賞作品発表｜DEGジャパン" (in Japanese). deg-japan.jp. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
  48. ↑ "1+ Million Bakemonogatari/Nisemonogatari DVD/BDs Sold". Anime News Network. September 25, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
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