Bakemonogatari

Final Rating: 4.3/5.0

Bakemonogatari is an anime that requires a lot patience and attention. Its editing is fast-paced and sudden, the animation is always random and the dialogue is complex and have a tendency to just go over your head. Some people may find all these features annoying and confusing but to me and to the most patient and attentive, Bakemonogatari is a one of a kind anime. Its characters are enjoyable and fun to be around with, the style and pacing of each episode is intriguing to watch and the dialogues are smart and fun to listen to.

Bakemonogatari means "Ghostory" and is the mixture of the words" Bakemono" (Ghost) and "Monogatari" (Story) and that's what the anime is about: ghost stories. It has a very strange premise and follows Koyomi Araragi, an ex-vampire who helps other people with ghost related problems. His first encounter in the series is a weightless girl named Hitagi Senjougahara, a sharp tongued, self proclaimed tsundere and Koyomi's eventual girlfriend. The whole series involves Koyomi and Hitagi helping other people who are cursed by ghosts or gods.

From the very first episode, you will be introduced to the anime's trademark editing style and its use of surreal imagery between cuts. This can be at times intriguing and annoying at times but it's about one's preference. The story itself is told by the use of its imagery while accompanied by its very intelligent dialogues though it can be visually straining at times and if you really want to pay attention to the story, pay really good attention because it will just fly by and go. The anime's more obvious aspect that it tries to put across is its dialogue. You will never hear such intelligence in other anime that this anime's script has. If you are patient enough to soak in its long dialogue, they are just fun and interesting to listen to (or read, if you don't know the Japanese language).

For me, the best thing about this anime is the romance between Koyomi and Hitagi. It is just perfect. Whenever these two are in a conversation, you just want to join in because it sounds so much fun. Koyomi's straight man persona mixed with Hitagi's intelligent yet abusively playful personality makes them one anime's best couple. Koyomi is also one of the few male leads in a romance anime who is not a dumbass. He's logical and assertive but he's selfless and can tolerate Hitagi's abusive comments and Hitagi is pretty much one of my favourite female characters. Her intelligent style of speech and her strange ways of showing affection to Koyomi makes her one of the most interesting female characters in anime.

When watching Bakemonogatari, you need to take a deep breathe and concentrate. If done correctly, you will be treated to a strange yet fascinating experience. Bakemonogatari is a clever show. It plays with imagery and words in an intriguing way and to the most patient and attentive, they will see why this anime is awesome. Its characters are unique and have colourful personalities, the animation is surreal and interesting to look at and while the editing does get annoying at times, it still does a good job of telling the story.

Overall: A very different experience on a long haul. No anime is presented and executed like this.
Storyline: Though its editing style can make the story unfocused at times, it is a well paced and overall great occult love story.
Music: Its opening and closing is catchy in its own right.
Characters: Colourful, intelligent and amazingly fun to watch.
Animation: Its heavy use of surreal imagery at times blocks out its animation style but if you take notice, it has a vibrant and colourful animation style.