Nisemonogatari

Nisemonogatari follows perfectly were Bakemonogatari left off. This show has an outstanding writing, which is not matched by most of the series out there. The creativity and the way the conversations develop are just hands-down masterful, but what really stands out to me is how the psychological aspect of the series is presented to the viewers. The way the characters move, express themselves, and talk to each other are to me the key combination that takes the -monogatari series to a masterpiece level (Episode 8 was totally wrong and perfect at the same time...I loved it). The cats of characters, even though not too many new ones show up, maintain that "uniqueness" that you can only find in this show. Furthermore, we get to see more character development for the Araragi sisters and Shinobu, while also obtaining a healthy dose of the remaining females. Finally, Nisemonogatari is a series that is completely different that any other show you have seen (other than Bakemono): it follows the masterful steps of Bakemonogatari (prequel) with its unique environments, story, and A+ cast of characters. But most importantly, it gives the audience a psychological experience that only a -monogatari series is capable of giving. "To be continued?", I definitely hope so.

Masterpiece.
95/100.

As mentioned in my Ore No Imouto review (go to the show page to read if you would like), I believe that five star ratings are only achieved by a combination of favoritism with quality; I would provide the favoritism when given the circumstance while the anime provides the rest. That said, I was very hesitant to give Nisemonogatari the perfect score of five stars, since it is not my favorite anime of all time; nor of the highest quality when compared to Hayao Miyasaki's films. So rather than go over the five criteria I've judged, I will instead address why the follow-up to Bakemonogatari has earned my favoritism; even if it is not my favorite anime of all time and has a few notable criticisms. In other words, I will try to address some of those criticisms and why they were not enough to deter me from giving it fives all across the board.

Readers Beware: Will Contain Plot Spoilers and Sexual Material! Read Another Review to Avoid Spoilers and Sexual Material!

How it Relates to Bakemonogatari
The amount of service that Nisemonogatari (Nise) gives to fans of Bakemonogatari (Bake) could be a bit overwhelming at first for even the fans themselves, given that the first two episodes make no attempts to establish Nise's humor or style as separate from Bake's. While it is fun to see all of the characters return, there does come a point when seeing Koyomi and Mayoi duke it out over a mispronunciation of last names starts to make eyeballs roll. Luckily, Shaft cleverly uses this as a tease for the variations of the familiar humor sketches to appear later; like when Koyomi mispronounces Mayoi's last name instead, or when Mayoi makes her biting appear all lovey-dovey instead of rabid. The reason this works for Nise is because, unlike many other sequels such as Dead Man's Chest and Ryuusei no Gemini, this sequel shows clearly what made Bake a good series and that it can evolve into even more amusing instances.

However, Shaft apparently made no attempt until the very end (with the fight between Koyomi and Yozuru) to reflect the dark nature of Bake; which was one of Bake's main strengths as a series. Overall, I felt that Nise made no attempt to portray its themes in as dark a light as Bake, and at times felt even a bit more pop-sy than necessary; which is made evident by the opening Platinum Disco. Then again, this is probably how Shaft wanted to get the message clear that Nise is not Bake, and that they can handle moving over to an environment that felt more candy-like than some of their recent work. While I do prefer the darkness of Bake, I concluded that if any criticism was to be made of the environment of Nise it should be how the old story and characters integrate with the new environment; not how the change may bring about haters.

The Toothbrush Scene
As has been pointed out by many a YouTube critic, Crunchyroll commenter, and many others (I'm guessing), one of the most infamous parts of Nise has also become the subject of great controversy for its fans. That instance, known as the "toothbrush scene", depicts Koyomi challenging Karen to a personal space and temptation challenge by brushing her teeth for her. The entire scene takes a turn for the pink, literally, and the two characters come dangerously close to having incest; saved at the last minute by Tsukihi catching them in the act and pulling a Road-Runner to buy awls from a convenience store; then followed by the suggestion that the two went ahead with their temptations after Tsukihi left anyways.

There are two main reasons why fans disliked this scene; both stem from the fact that many have disregarded this scene, and with good reason, as one breast fondle short of being soft-core pornography; or as FightingforNippon (YouTube) puts it, "its basically... hentai". The first reason is that toothbrush-related fetishes do not appear to be realistic to most audiences (myself included), giving the audience the impression that the use of the toothbrush was just an excuse to start an incestual relationship between Karen and Koyomi; a trait that can be often found in pornography, since in porn the story plays second and receives less attention than the sexual activities. The other reason is best put by FightingforNippon in his review of episode 8: "I felt wrong watching it; I had shivers going down my spine... I would rather be caught watching some hentai show... as much as it [looked fantastic]... it wasn't needed... I don't hope that happens again." Clearly, this scene is not only a poor excuse to jump to perverted thoughts but it is also extremely uncomfortable to view; I myself have not cringed as hard as I did watching this scene since reading the face-off between Svidrigaïlov and Dunya near the end of Crime and Punishment.

So how did I not downgrade my approval of Nise while it clearly presents an easily hated scene? I loved that scene! The purpose of that scene was to create that sense of awkwardness and uneasiness, and it did it splendidly. Yes, it was incestual; yes, it was unnecessary to have the scene take over half of the episode; yes, it was an event that was unimportant and misleading about the relationship between Koyomi and Karen; and yes, it was all intended to be so! While many will have difficulty tolerating this scene due to its content, I felt that the fact the controversy was intended and enjoyable was justification enough to not criticize it on controversy alone.

The Changes in Character and Hairstyles
Almost as widely known as the toothbrush scene is how the characters were presented in NIse; both characteristically and physically. By the end of the show, Karen, Tsubasa, and Hitagi had all switched to what I think is a spring cut style reminiscent of Suruga's in Bake; Nadeko also had her own hairstyle change to appear more 'desirable' to Koyomi. While the new look alone is a bit off-putting given the characters I had gotten used to, it is also a reflection of some of my least favorite changes to the characters. Yes, it is good to watch characters you've grown attached to develop as their stories progress, but there were some that seemed either extreme or disappointing to me. Whether it was Hanekawa's new stalker-esque status in Tsukihi Phoenix, Hitagi's more forgiving and dependent mood towards Koyomi in Karen Bee, or Nadeko's sexually tempting demeanor in the only episode she starred in, the majority of the changes I found were not too welcome for me. Even Karen's development from a rebellious yet dependable sister to a amorous and dependent sister to Koyomi removed from her the features I thought made her one of the coolest characters to have been introduced in Nise; from the toothbrush scene and until the end, she acted in such a trustworthy manner that even Koyomi was perplexed by it.

Luckily for Nise, there were also character changes that I did enjoy even more than the original framework Bake had provided. Shinobu and her talkative and playful behavior with Koyomi is the most welcome addition to this adaption of the light novels since Mayoi's in Bake! In addition, Suruga's embarrassed state before Koyomi in episode 2 (which was impossible to occur in Bake due to the lack of interaction the two had) turned into one of my favorite fan moments of anime; when Koyomi got to experience what Mayoi did every time he 'greeted' her.

As for the new characters, as is the situation with Karen I mentioned before, there were an equal amounts of hit and miss. Koyomi's sisters were the main plot of the show, and did they ever stand out! The Fire Sisters balanced each others' extreme natures (Karen's passion with Tsukihi's cool, and Tsukihi's insanity with Karen's level-headedness) and were able to achieve likability as characters without the other to back them up. While not nearly as interesting as Karen (before Karen became obedient towards Koyomi) or her opening, Tsukihi's opening theme and her very nature make her one of the most adorable characters I've seen in anime so far; though also not nearly as cute as Rin from Usagi Drop. At the same time, even though it was also in the light novels, the introduction to Yuzura (the hypocrite of forcing opinions on others) and her side kick (who says things with some kind of pose and reminds everyone about it verbally) could have been removed from Nise\ without causing any problems for me; heck, maybe even having Meme's brother as the villain would have been better if not true to the books (yet).

Then there's Deishu Kaiki. While he is not the most powerful, creepy, clever, best looking or ugliest villain of all time he certainly has the best nature of one. His conflicting nature to the protagonist, Koyomi, is completely selfish; only choosing not to do darker deeds to the cast simply because he feels doing so directly would waste his time and (as of consequence) his money. Like most intelligent villain types, he also has a higher level of appreciation for Koyomi's deceitful nature while most of the other characters only accept it because of Koyomi's moral goals. In fact, he and Koyomi (like most rivals) share so many similar perspectives on things like justice, power and the truth that the only thing that makes him stand in the role of antagonist is that selfish nature spoken of earlier. Since saying that changes in character development (and hairstyle) are overall flawed in Nise would state that all the good things, like my new favorite villain profile, could not make up for it; which all together did, and then some.

The Fake Expectations
As some of you may or may not be aware of, there were two big expectations for Nise: the first is the amount of time each arc would get, and the second is how long the series would last. Instead of an even 6-6 split between Karen Bee and Tsukihi Phoenix over twelve episodes, the series gave Karen's arc seven episodes and Tsukihi's four; with the first episode of Tsukihi's arc being the toothbrush challenge given to Karen. While Karen (before the toothbrush scene and in episode 11) was my favorite addition to Koyomi's world, Tsukihi did have enough potential to have earned a larger chunk of this series than what she got. This was the one complaint that I struggled with when determining whether or not to give Nise its perfect score. In the end, while I could make a good argument about how the quality difference between Karen and Tsukihi's arcs was negligible enough to give rise to a demand for more of Tsukihi's story, I felt that it was still an argument of praise for Nise since it still commented on how much I enjoyed the series.

The End
Although this also fits in to the previous argument, I feel the ending is the most fitting way to end this discussion. Apart from how short the series was, the ending was also a bit irksome. Like the sequel to Darker than Black, the ending left the audience and myself with a tease leading up to the third season; which may, if long enough, may bring about the segment Hitagi End (the finale, as the title foreshadows). Having the Fire sisters find out their brother had a secret girlfriend and that Hitagi cut her hair is not the best cliffhanger to end the series on; especially when fooled into thinking there was one more episode left when it was a fake. But then again, everything about this show- including the name, which translates loosely as 'Fake Story'- had the theme of falsification throughout the series. Whether it's the toothbrush scene, Tsukihi, Deishu's profession or the switch to the spring cuts (I hope), the artistic development and portrayal that went into Nise and its main theme is no failing matter. Because I have grown accustomed to enjoying nearly everything that sets Koyomi's story apart from other anime I've had the fortune of viewing, all this ending really made me feel was giddiness for the next season; even if the ending seemed a bit fake.

Nisemonogatari is a direct sequel to Bakemonogatari and, as was the case with its predecessor, is a very interesting albeit peculiar show. The storyline is interesting and the characters are curious and fun, making it hard to not pick a favourite. Like Bakemonogatari, Nisemonogatari focuses on specific aspects in detail and as such, it would be wise to pay attention if you plan on giving this series a watch as well as watching Bakemonogatari beforehand.

The Monogatari series is renowned for its peculiar art style, interesting characters and intriguing storyline. From here on out, I will explore the different aspects that make this series the phenomenal anime series that it is.


--Storyline--
Nisemonogatari (which for the sake of making it quicker for me to type will from now on be abbreviated as "Nise") is a lot more plot driven than its predecessor, which had a heavy focus on character development with references to the series' storyline being mentioned here and there. The way I see it is that Bakemonogatari (which will from now on be abbreviated as "Bake") was a fifteen episode introduction and while this may seem like a rather extreme way of putting it, is actually not all that far from the truth. Bake focused a lot on the characters and how the interact with each other as well as making a sustained effort to develop the characters accordingly. Nise, on the other hand, focuses a lot more on the actual storyline which isn't that much of a bad thing. The only downside to this was that there was far less time for the series to focus on the character and as a result, many of Bake's original characters took a backseat role. This did, however, leave room for other characters to take the spotlight. The plot is primarily focused around one arc - 'Karen Bee' - which, in my opinion, was very interesting. This arc gives us a lot of background on Koyomi Araragi's personal life when he is not with Hitagi Senjougahara, giving us a new perspective and insight into Koyomi's relationship with his two sisters, leading to some intense and emotional developments.

--Music--
One thing that let Nise down was the lack of music. Unlike Bake, Nise seemed to stray from the focus on music, leaving us with many scenes that lacked background tracks. For some people, this may not be all that much of a problem but for someone like me who likes to have some background music to set the mood, this was a major disappointment. In addition to leaving out the music in most places, the creators also seemed to have completely ignored the original soundtrack and while this was hardly surprising, it still left me feeling dissatisfied, longing for the music that was in Bake. That being said, there were a few good tracks in Nise such as the opening song for Karen Bee, however, one of the opening songs seemed to be almost exactly like "Staple Stable".

--Characters--
In Nise, we are presented with familiar faces such as Senjougahara but at the same time we are introduced to some new characters such as Kaiki Deishu. All the characters, both old and new, are as fun and interesting as always and their interactions with one another often lead to some fun situations. As I mentioned under "Storyline", Nise is not as focused on character development as its predecessor and as such, only seems to focus on a select few characters which, fortunately, does not detract too much from the show due to the fact that all of the necessary development was carrier out in Bake. One thing that displease me in Nise, however, was the lack of Meme Oshino. The lack of such a great character left me feeling rather dissatisfied and empty.

--Animation--
If there is one thing that the Monogatari series has never failed to impress me with, it is the art and animation. The art was more or less the same as in Bake, however, there were some minor tweaks in Nise that made the art look more polished and the animation more fluid. One thing I have always liked about the series' art is that it has a very odd feel to it. The characters are designed in a typical anime-style type of art while the backgrounds and scenery take on a completely different type of art. This type of approach adds to the peculiar, niche style that the Monogatari series has always gone for and also helps the viewer focus on the events that transpire as opposed to always being focused on the lavish backgrounds (as was the case with Guilty Crown).


--Overall--
So, to conclude, Nisemonogatari is a must-watch for those who liked the Bakemonogatari series. You will most likely be impressed with the high standard of art and animation and the sudden shift in what characters are focused on and what characters are not is a breath of fresh air. But be warned, if you have not watched Bakemonogatari and do not know what the series is about, let me make it clear:
If you are looking for a series with action-packed scenes that cause your heart to skip a beat then take the next bus, this series is not for you.
If you are, however, the type of person who will look at the Monogatari series for what it is rather than what it could be then give it a go after watching Bakemonogatari.
It is people who can appreciate the true value of this series that will get the most out of watching it.

Final Rating: 4.7/5.0

Nisemonogatari is just as good or even better than Bakemonogatari. Everything I love in Bakemonogatari is here. The intelligent dialogue, the cast of interesting and fun characters, the carefully slow pacing, the strange editing style and the unique animation and art style. Like Bakemonogatari, you need a lot of patience and attention because if you don't, the story and what the characters are saying will fly over your head.

Nisemonogatari is the sequel to Bakemonogatari, one of the strangest and also one of the most unique anime I have ever seen. It is recommended that you watch Bakemonogatari first before this to know what this anime is about, especially if you are new to the series because you will get lost and confused. A quick recap, this series is about an ex-vampire named Koyomi and it involves him helping others with supernatural problems. Nisemonogatari follows shortly after Bakemonogatari and focuses on Koyomi's two sisters.

What I said about Bakemonogatari will be the same with Nisemonogatari. The pacing is slow, the editing is strange and the dialogue is intelligent, making the simplest conversations into expressive and grandiose events. While the editing style made Bakemonogatari's storytelling unfocused at times, it is improved in Nisemonogatari because it is not as hectic as Bakemonogatari and has a bigger chance showing off its high production values in its animation and by god, the animation is absolutely amazing but it requires more patience because it stretches out two arcs in 11 episodes instead of many in Bakemonogatari, which makes it drag. The music is really good, especially Platinum Disco opening on the Tsukihi Phoenix arc. It is just so unique and yet such a great opening. Probably one of the best openings I've seen in any anime this year.

The dialogue is as intelligent as ever and this is the main reason why Nisemonogatari and Bakemonogatari are so great. You get sucked in by the conversations and gives you insights into the characters and their motives. Speaking of characters, they are still intriguing, complex and just fun to watch. Koyomi is still the logical everyman protagonist and the other character he encounters have their own unique traits and personalities. Also, Hitagi Senjougahara, one of my favourite female anime characters is still the sharp tongued, flirtatiously and verbally abusive girlfriend of Koyomi and its great to see her in a new anime again.

Overall: A great follow up to a great anime. It is as strange and as unique as its predecessor.
Storyline: Has more focus because of its toned down editing and it helps shines the characters and the ongoing story but it's also a drag since it only focuses and stretches on two characters throughout.
Music: Tsukihi Phoenix arc's Platinum Disco is one of the best opening songs I have heard in an anime this year and Karen Bee's opening was really good too.
Characters: A great cast of intelligent characters with their own unique and complex personalities.
Animation: Unlike Bakemonogatari, Nisemonogatari tones down on its editing and showcases its high production values more and we get to see its vibrant, fluid and fantastic looking animation.

If you loved Bakemonogatari or Katanagatari, you will love this! I love how this anime makes you think about simple subjects, but then turns them into complex subjects before you know it. It has the right amount of funny, and the right amount of ecchi and action. If your a person who likes great stories and truly unique characters, I recommend you check Nisemonogatari out along with Bakemono and Katan!

NisiOisin has the enviable ability to take run-of-the-mill concepts and transform them into complex, beatifically expressed stories. I first came across his work when Bakemonogatari, began as an anime series two years ago. NisiOisin's literary versatility had continued to amaze me with Katanagatari, which was aired a while after that. The same can be said now, of Nisemonogatari, the sequel to Bakemonogatari.





NisiOisin carries on his tradition of alternating between poking fun and capitalizing on genre tropes, pop-culture and current events. The artwork is richly detailed, a bit sophisticated, and a bit avant-garde. Vofan's superb artistic talent helps bring the lovely, unabashedly complicated characters of both Bakemonogatari and Nisemonogatari to life. Their foibles, hopes and desires are laid bare in design and dialogue, which is still as clever as ever and constantly shifting smoothly from intelligently light-hearted and somewhat perverse to unexpectedly gut-wrenching.

Added 04/04/2012:

Sadly, that beautiful balance seems to have evaporated. By episode 8 story-telling had been superseded by an endless parade of pointlessly sexually suggestive dialogue and cleavage close ups and you guessed it, panty shots. Suddenly, the story that I liked very much had managed to degenerate into soft core porn and our intrepid hero is far more interested in trying to get it on with his little sister/s than.. I don't even know what because who knows what this hell this story is about anymore?

Who knows? Maybe it actually manages to redeem itself in the remaining episodes. I haven't been inclined to watch anymore to find out. The sad fact is this sick stunt will likely make this franchise more popular. Audiences respond to it in a way that encourages this kind of travesty--the irony here isn't entirely lost on me.