Deluoode BBS | Steins;Gate Forum

I say we're gravely missing a thread on this highly cultured topic. Come out from your hiding holes and let's share our thoughts on:

• What Monogatari means to you
• Your favorite arc
• Your least favorite arc
• The best girl
• The anime, its music, and the novels
• Anything you learned from it
• Whether ghosts, vampires, or dolls are more powerful
• Screencaps and funny Monogatari related stuff
• And any other things you might have in mimind

Sorry, I stuttered.

cidoku wrote: Fri Feb 20, 2026 11:10 pm

[*]What Monogatari means to you

It's just a consistently excellent series, definitely my favourite ongoing one and has such a special feel to it. I often find myself feeling that a lot of modern anime lack truly great direction; like, a lot of older anime had all of these incredibly scenic shots and whatnot, my working theory for why is because it was cel and animating frames took years off the animators life so they had to work around the limitations more which drove innovation. But it feels to me like after the transition to digital you started seeing less and less great cinematography in the medium; Monogatari is a fantastic exception to this rule. Also really enjoy the excellent dialog and prose, fantastic character writing too.

[*]Your favorite arc

Koyomi Vamp. My two favourite characters are Meme and Shinobu and they pretty much star in this arc, the writing is impeccable too.

[*]Your least favorite arc

Almost all of Koyomimonogatari is a pretty terrible blip on an otherwise great series.

[*]The best girl

[*]The anime, its music, and the novels

This opinion will probably get me killed most places but I think most of the OPs are kind of overrated. Love that retro 80s style one with Hitagi and Kaiki for Hitagi End though. The anime is just a fantastic production through and through; an essential must-watch for any fan of the medium.

[*]Anything you learned from it

I'd say I picked up more on how Shintoism works, still far from an expert or anything but I never quite knew that followers saw spirits or deities in so many little places.

[*]Whether ghosts, vampires, or dolls are more powerful

Kiss-shot is stated to be the strongest character so vampires.

[*]Screencaps and funny Monogatari related stuff

A vintage Ononoki meme for you.

[*]And any other things you might have in mimind
Sorry, I stuttered.

That was on purpose.

I unfortunately can't give an answer to any of these because I haven't hopped on peak yet! I've been meaning to for years but it seems a bit daunting. Do I just follow the anime by release order? I've gotten a lot of conflicting advice about this over the years that are what made it feel so daunting. Help a brotha out onegai!

I happen to be an expert on this topic!
You should watch the anime in the order it was released, with a single exception, Kizumonogatari:

1. First season
   1. Bakemonogatari
   2. Kizumonogatari *
   3. Nisemonogatari
   4. Nekomonogatari (Black)
2. Second Season
   1. Second Season
   2. Hanamonogatari **
3. Final Season
   1. Tsukimonogatari
   2. Owarimonogatari I
   3. Koyomimonogatari ***
   4. Owarimonogatari II
   5. Zoku Owarimonogatari
4. Off and Monster Season ****

Notes:
*The Kizumonogatari novel came right after Bake and is part of the same First Season, but it was adapted very late, around the time of Owarimonogatari I. Imo, it doesn't make much sense to watch it at that point, so just watch it in the season it belongs.
**Hanamonogatari is part of Second Season proper and was released right after Kabukimonogatari (Mayoi Jiangshi) in the novel, but it was adapted around a year after the Second Season anime ended. Because of how certain characters are developed in Second Season, it makes a lot of sense to watch Hana after Koimonogatari (Hitagi Love), but it's a choice you can make.
***The Koyomimonogatari novel was released before Owarimonogatari, but the last story from Koyomi connects directly to Mayoi Hell in Owari II, so it's nice to watch it right before it.
****The anime adaptation skips Orokamonogatari and Wazamonogatari from Off Season.

No need to overthink it. If you then want to read the novels, then just read them in the order they were released.

cidoku wrote: Sat Feb 21, 2026 11:54 am

Ok! Sweet, thanks a bunch! I appreciate it!

Disclaimer: anime only fag

cidoku wrote: Fri Feb 20, 2026 11:10 pm

What Monogatari means to you

Peak SHAFT with Zetsubou-sensei and brain candy for people with a modicum of taste.

Your favorite arc

On the top of my head, probably the "Ougi Formula" / "Sodachi Riddle" / "Sodachi Lost" trio or the still special in my heart "Hitagi Crab" for being my first contact with it. Hard to pinpoint, really.

Your least favorite arc

"Suruga Monkey"? Too much action for my taste and a character I always found a bit less interesting.

The best girl

for_what_purpose.jxl

And any other things you might have in mimind

What about subs? Important for such wordy works. I personally find that the oldie ANE-mod is still the best for Bakemonogatari, then MTBB for the rest (despite the rare too localized/liberal swerve) if only for consistency; and because it's the only option after some point.

Did you like "Off & Monster Season"?

Sorry, I stuttered.

It's okay, happens even to the best of us.

RadioHades wrote: Sun Jun 07, 2026 3:36 pm

Did you like "Off & Monster Season"?

Of course, I loved it. Wanna know why? The Shinobu arc was interesting but Yotsugi and Nadeko were awesome; I wasn't expecting them to work that well together since they'd never interacted before (well, not that I remember, at least...) I hear there's more of this new duo later in the novels, but I haven't read that far. Also, Tsukihi is hot (duh).

I haven't watched any Monogatari since Zoku Owarimonogatari released. I really need to watch Off & Monster Season. Honestly, I'm probably due for a rewatch of the whole series, but IDK when I'll get around to that.

What Monogatari means to you

It's a based anime for intellectuals, simple as. Excellent writing and makes you THINK. NOT FOR NORMIES!

[*]Your favorite arc

I forgor

[*]Your least favorite arc
I forgor

[*]The best girl

Kiss-Shot Acerola-Orion Heart-Under-Blade

its music

Favorite OP: Sugar Sweet Nightmare

[*]Anything you learned from it

How to use a toothbrush

And any other things you might have in mimind

Sometimes, if I sleep just right, I can wake up with my hair looking like Ararararagi-kun's

Oh god yes. Good thread.
i LOVE this show. Over the years, whenever a new season was released i watched it from the start till the end.
Also forced several friends of mine to watch it fully with me, in long multi hour sessions :D

i havent seen the latest season yet, cause im just so busy nowadays. rl caught up with me.
how can one become a neet ToT

What Monogatari means to you

a show where everything has a meaning. where in every rewatch i notice more details explaining more things or foreshadowing in sublte ways. any scene is art and nothing is a coincidence.
i love this.

Your favorite arc

Hm. thats hard, but, probably kaiki arc in second season. I remember being glued to the screen watching it for the first time, laughing and smiling.

its music

perfection. also time to kill that guy earlier that doesent like the OPs

And any other things you might have in mimind

when i was living in japan i visited the 40 years SHAFT anniversary event MADOGATARI.
it was amazing, i saw a lot of behind the scenes material from gatari like keyframes and concept art.
also got some cute souvenirs from that event. im glad i was able to go there.

Sorry, I stuttered.

IT WAS ON PURPOSE

I just started this, I'm a few chapters into the first book. I'm curious how they did some stuff in the English tl (since I'm reading in JP). Primarily so far, 戦場ヶ原 (Senjougahara)'s name. In JP it basically reads as battlefield, so Hanekawa initially mentions how Senjougahara is such a nice girl, that her name doesn't really fit. And then after Senjougahara basically attacks the protagonist, he says that her name really fits. Its also mentioned that its more of a place name than a person's name I think. I wonder if they just skipped over that in english, or somehow made that work?