Anime Hajime Review: Tsukimonogatari

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Tsukimonogatari and all previous installments to the Monogatari series. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

Having survived the encounter with the powerful snake oddity, Koyomi Araragi (voiced by Hiroshi Kamiya) has found a reprieve. The first in several months. Unfortunately, as is the nature of these things, this moment of peace was never meant to last.

To his bewilderment, Koyomi no longer casts a reflection in a mirror. This is a trait that should have vanished long ago. Panicking, he consults with his partner, Shinobu Oshino (voiced by Maaya Sakamoto).

Shinobu suspects that Koyomi is reverting back to his old vampire self. Yet she suggests seeking out a second, more professional opinion. Limited in where to go, the two must turn to an unsavory option.

Koyomi seeks out Yozuru Kagenui (voiced by Ryoko Shiraishi) and her assistant, the doll Yotsugi Ononoki (voiced by Saori Hayami). These two pairs haven’t always seen eye to eye and have clashed in the past. Though not enemies, they are by no means on the same side.

Now for Koyomi, the worst possible news happens to come at the worst possible time.

Series Positives

Monogatari is getting harder and harder to review. I am running out of things to say. Though this is a problem for me, it isn't a problem for this series.

Tsukimonogatari delivered the quality we have come to expect from this franchise.

If you want to know my thoughts on the visuals, go ahead and read about them in my other reviews. If you want to know my thoughts on the dialogue, again go ahead and check out what I have already said over and over.

As a writer, this series is becoming a bit of a pain in the ass. But as a viewer, I couldn’t be happier.

An Exciting Arc

Tsukimonogatari does help to prove my thoughts on Hanamonogatari. This show’s predecessor was brilliant but completely unneeded. I bring this up because this next installment couldn't have been further from the truth.

Tsukimonogatari took place between the events of Second Season and Hanamonogatari. Thus, creating more confusion to an already confusing story. However, these circumstances are the reasons this addition managed to be as good as it was.

Not only was more added to the narrative, we got some much-needed clarification. Not all the questions got an answer. But for the first time since the start, we got a better understanding of what has happened so far.

At last, I can say I have a firmer grasp on who is who. As well as who has a connection to who and why some people have done the things they have done.

If that was all Tsukimonogatari did, it would have been serviceable. As luck would have it though, this was Monogatari. This means the minimum is never good enough. We got to go much further.

Tsukimonogatari had volatility and tension. These were aspects that weren't a part of Hanamonogatari. In this one, something was on the verge of breaking at any moment. I have to say, this was an impressive feat. Especially since there wasn't a single fight scene.

Then when you throw in this franchise's breathtaking visuals and outstanding dialogue, this was another welcomed continuation.

Series Negatives

Second Season is still the best. I didn’t expect this one to overtake that distinction. And surprise, it didn’t.

Throughout this review, I have been comparing Tsukimonogatari to Hanamonogatari. These two make a good paring. Having said that, the question becomes, “Which installment was the stronger?”

As I stated, Tsukimonogatari had a lot going on. There was some definite forward progression. Way more than what was in its predecessor. Also, Ononoki is a lot more fun as a character. I love Suruga Kanbaru to death and she remains one of my favorite characters of the franchise. But there is a weirdness to Monogatari’s mechanical doll that makes her all kinds of entertaining.

That notwithstanding, I have to give the edge to Hanamonogatari. It was the more engaging of the two.

The dialogue and events were interesting across the two installments. Both narratives had moments of stellar visual storytelling. It will be easy to find enjoyment in whichever one you go with. But when you get down to it, the level of intrigue from former didn’t quite carry over into the latter.

Padding

Although the conversations had my attention in Tsukimonogatari, something was off. There seemed to be a secondary purpose. A purpose that hasn't existed in any of the other entries.

It felt as though Tsukimonogatari threw in a lot more padding.

Long and complex discussions are staples of the Monogatari series. But things have always led to a point. In Tsukimonogatari, character exchanges dragged on with no sense of purpose. That was until a purpose showed up out of nowhere.

The best example of this was a scene between Koyomi and his youngest sister, Tsukihi (voiced by Yuka Iguchi). This occurred right before Koyomi noticed he no longer cast a reflection. This revelation was a bit jarring. There was no lead up to it. It arrived after a solid five-minute conversation that had nothing to do with the reveal.

This happens early on, but at no point prior was the goal of this story even hinted at. Though this was an important event, it was pretty straightforward. It should have happened a lot sooner.

And the fact this exchange occurred during a bathroom scene must have been happenstance. I'm sure this had nothing to do with this installment wanting to drag out the time. Monogatari prioritizing sexualization, who could imagine that being a thing?

That notwithstanding, Tsukimonogatari's dialogue was still very well done. But since it was so good, the quality helped highlight how off it was.

Final Thoughts

My praise of the dialogue is the same. My praise of the visuals is the same. Tsukimonogatari was another chapter of the Monogatari series. As such, my type of recommendation will the same.

If you haven't liked any of the other entries, there is no way you will like this one. Yet if you are like me and have loved everything up to this point, you will feel the same with this.

Tsukimonogatari is worth checking out.

But these are just my thoughts. What are yours? Have you seen this show? How would you advise Tsukimonogatari? Leave a comment down below because I would love to hear what you have to say.

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I’m LofZOdyssey, and I’ll see you next time.