Being not very familiar with Bakemonogatari led to an interesting watch that clearly felt like an introduction to the characters. It's a long series that has given me the first push, and left me satisfied and looking forward to what happens next in the story.

Wherever I go, the only part of Monogatari that I ever really see get mentioned are it's controversies. What I don't understand is how these people who cry out about this series about that don't say anything about other, much more popular anime, some that are in their favorites. I mentioned this a while back when I reviewed Violet Evergarden, when I addressed it's episode about an arranged marriage between an older man and much younger girl.

For example, you can enjoy Evangelion, Violet Evergarden, and Bakemongatari, as well. That doesn't mean that you accept and support everything that happens. We would have barely any media to our consumption if we take the mindset of these individuals who think that we must agree with and accept 100% of everything that happens in an anime. I understand some people are put off by some of what happens, and if they can't watch media like this because of it, that's fine, but I'd raise this point for consideration, at least.

As for me, I could be criticized. Someone could tell me, "you are going to criticize Mushoku Tensei the way you did, but accept Monogatari?" As I have come to an understanding now, I can criticize these parts of a series, and after casting them aside, still consume the rest of the series and enjoy the other things it has to offer.

Personally, Bakemonogatary made me really think about fan service in anime. It made me realize that if I focus too much on the controversies, I can miss out on everything else that makes the anime great.

Personally, what I enjoyed the most about Bakemonogatari, among the lot that there is to enjoy about it, is the romance between Araragi and Senjougahara. Their dynamic is entertaining and clever as she goes around having fun with him while he tries to defend himself and be as rational as possible to the absurdity. What I got from Araragi's story is that he is a sort of savior that is willing to do whatever he can do to help the people he runs into. It doesn't matter to him, whether or not he can even prevail, and he's willing to even sacrifice himself. He is selfless enough to place himself into anyone's problems that he becomes aware of. The mysterious Oshino criticizes him about this, telling him that it may be better for Araragi to leave many of these problems alone. Araragi tells him that he can't turn a blind eye to the misfortunes he witnesses, and wonders if Oshino means that he is irresponsible in doing this. At the same time, Oshino tells him that he can't always depend on his advice with every Oddity. Oshino at least has enough faith in Araragi towards being able to take care of the oddities himself towards the end. Araragi grows as he thinks all this over, and finds a reason to help people, but also not to so mindlessly throw his life away in the process, and breaks down eventually in a sad way.

He absurdly bumps into Senjougahara, "Castle in the Sky" style after she slips on a banana peel. Senjougahara herself had been troubled by a peculiar weight problem, and at first pushes Araragi away. Araragi, being the type of person that he is, chases after her, and wins her over in allowing him to help her.

This leads me to Senjougahara. She became my favorite character, which I am sure is the most common case among the viewers. There is an episode where her and Araragi go on a date with her dad driving. Besides being one of the most funniest episodes of all time for me, it does a great job showing what type of person she is. She likes to mess with Araragi, and it amazes me how she can keep a straight face through it all. It's not to just torture him, as she has good intentions, and finds him fun as a person. As tough and assertive as she is, she can be insecure, and shy when she gets intimate. That's when she becomes vulnerable, partly from her childhood trauma, and shows this side to Araragi in one of the most adorable and stand out episodes I have ever seen in anime that left me feeling very heart warmed. It's a great episode that makes you roll with laughter, and them seamlessly gets serious and fleshes out the romance greatly.

Kanbaru, to me, feels like the type of person to fill any room or scene she is in vibrant with positivity and fun. She has the most fun personality. The romance gets complicated, as she has feelings for Senjougahara. This leads to her absolutely hating Araragi to the point of trying to kill him. And yet, Araragi tries to help once he finds out that she has a monkey arm oddity on her. Kanbaru has a funny absurdity to her. There's her funnily described constant running, stalking of Araragi's sexual preferences, strange personality, and herself throwing her body at Araragi to try to get Senjougahara away from him by assuming he was only in it for Senjougahara's body.

Hanekawa felt like the most happiest character that was obviously hiding something. This leads into her becoming what felt like the most tragic character. Also involved with the romance, she gets eaten up with jealousy, keeping up her high image in school, and trouble at home with parents that feel as if they don't love her. The beginning of the series reveals she already overflowed from this stress once. Senjougahara getting with Araragi starts to take her back to this dark place.

Production standpoint, there's no denying the efficiency. Every major character arc features a new opening for that character, sung by the voice actress. 5 amazing openings back to back in a 15 episode series is commendable. The lyrics also give great insight into the characters themselves. By the end I wondered what kind of opening Araragi would have, as he himself didn't get one despite being the protagonist. The tension increases as the series continues, and with the final arc, it drove deep into me the intense feeling that "this is it. It's approaching the climactic end."

The music does 2 things for me. The first is that more diverse songs, also diverse in genre, and the vocal songs that are all pleasant. Second is the more repetitive songs, many that don't really stand out on their own, though they do great in fulfilling their purpose in the series.

These more repetitive songs do well in adding tension and drama to another of the great parts of this series: the dialogue. It feels as if everything about the production is focused on the dialogue. The camera angles, detailed zoom ins, head tilts, signs to show their inner thoughts in real time, quick shots of their faces to show their reaction in real time, quick, absurd shots that often change the art style in hilarious ways, etc. Bakemonogatari hit me with the most engaging dialogue in a series. Maybe characters are standing in one place for more than an episode talking, though I can't deny I am captivated by how well written and clever the dialogue is, and how entertaining and appealing it is executed. I'm on the edge of my seat. There is other anime that tries to do this, but fails because it's dialogue being weak and uninteresting makes the entire execution of it fall apart.

Bakemonogatari still has so much more to offer besides this. It involves vampires, brutal, fast paced action, and more comedy that is better to watch play out than me typing it all down here. Thanks to this series, I can be more open minded about anime, with things I was approaching ignorantly before.