Anime Hajime Review: Koyomimonogatari

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Koyomimonogatari and all previous entries in the Monogatari series. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

Since that fateful Golden Week, Koyomi Araragi’s (voiced by Hiroshi Kamiya) life has been anything but normal. The world of oddities have not allow for it.

Time and time again, Koyomi has had to put his life on the line. On more than one occasion, death has been one mistake away. However, as long as there's someone who needs his help, he will face the danger. This attitude has saved the lives of an ever growing number of people.

It has also made him the center of attention. Though he has built a strong network of allies, the cost of doing so is still unknown. The worst thing he can do now is become complacent. Koyomi’s mind must remain sharp. The second he looks away, everything may come crashing down.

For all the good Koyomi has done, the repercussions of his actions remain a mystery. Perhaps, it’s all in his head. Maybe nothing awaits him at the end. Yet if there’s one thing his encounters with oddities have taught him, it’s this. There are always consequences.

Anime Hajime Review: Owarimonogatari

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Owarimonogatari and all previous entries in the Monogatari series. The following may contain spoilers from the previous entries.***

Series Synopsis

Only a few short months have passed since that fateful spring which briefly turned Koyomi Araragi (voiced by Hiroshi Kamiya) into a vampire. He has since saved many from devastating and potential fatal encounters with the shadowy entities known as oddities. Yet the details of his own past have largely remained a mystery.

Weather out of preference or happenstance, Koyomi has not faced the demons of his younger years. That changes the day Ogi Oshino (voiced by Kaori Mizuhashi) came into his life.

Ogi is a strange, eccentric girl who claims to be the niece of Koyomi’s old mentor, Meme Oshino. Nothing ever seems to bother her and she knows a lot of details concerning Koyomi’s past exploits. Possessing a keen detective sense, she can fully ascertain almost any situation nearly instantaneously. Always with a plan and always with a smile, Ogi is never without an ace up her sleeve.

This is only the beginning for Koyomi must finally address his relationship with the powerful vampire, Shinobu Oshino (voiced by Maaya Sakamoto). The hardships of many, many centuries are about to boil over and everything is on the line.

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.

Anime Hajime Review: Hanamonogatari

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

Series Synopsis

Suruga Kanbaru (voiced by Miyuki Sawashiro) laments over losing her two beloved upperclassmen to graduation. Life has become lonelier and a little boring.

Still cursed by the monkey’s paw, Suruga has adjusted her life to accommodate its existence. She continues to live what many may consider a happy life. Even if it is a hollow one.

One day she hears rumor of devil that can solve any problem with no questions asked.

Out of curiosity, Suruga tracks down this so-called devil. Who she finds is another high schooler like herself. Except that isn’t quite true. This person was her arch nemesis from her basketball days, Roka Numachi (voiced by Kana Asumi).

An injury resigned Roka to a leg cast for the past three years. Thus destroying a promising career. The only solace she has found is removing the misery within other. Even if it means fostering her own selfish desires.

Suruga's involvement increases upon learning of Roka's second hobby. Along with misery, she has been collecting the parts of an actual devil. One Suruga knows well.

Anime Hajime Review: Monogatari Series Second Season

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

Series Synopsis

Koyomi Araragi (voiced by Hiroshi Kamiya) remains on the lookout for the entities known as Oddities.

Every action is but another step into the unknown. Hard-won victories were only preludes to greater hardships. Koyomi must now face the fallout from the events of Bakemonogatari, Nisemonogatari, and Nekomonogatari.

In a dire situation, Koyomi faces some of the most dangerous Oddities yet encountered. Though the odds are stacked against him, Koyomi's not alone in this fight. Always at the ready are his trusted friends and loyal allies.

The first is Koyomi’s headstrong and intimidating girlfriend, Hitagi Senjogahara (voiced by Chiwa Saito). With an unbreakable bond, these two find strength in their feelings for each other.

The second is Koyomi’s close friend, Tsubasa Hanekawa (voiced by Yui Horie). Though not yet free of the spirit within her, Tsubasa is a much-needed voice of reason.

The third is Koyomi’s bonded partner, Shinobu Oshino (voiced by Maaya Sakamoto). With hundreds of years of experience, Shinobu is an important source insight.

Anime Hajime Review: Nekomonogatari Kuro

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Nekomonogatari Kuro and all previous entries in the Monogatari series. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

Our story takes place before the events of Bakemonogatari.

On the first day of Golden Week and Koyomi Araragi (voiced by Hiroshi Kamiya) gets a surprise wake-up call from his youngest sister Tsukihi (voiced by Yuka Iguchi). He takes the opportunity to ask his sister how he would know if he has fallen in love.

Koyomi explains that there is a girl in his class who he has started having feelings for. Tsukihi comes to the conclusion that her brother’s feelings are only sexual frustration. She suggests the best course of action would be for her brother to buy some porn magazines.

Koyomi heads off and runs into the girl he was concerned over, Tsubasa Hanekawa (voiced by Yui Horie). Although Tsubasa is wearing her usual smile, her left cheek is bandaged. Koyomi becomes infuriated when she confesses that her foster father had hit her. Wanting to keep the incident a secret, Tsubasa offers to grant one request. Koyomi says he'll stay silent if she allows him to heal her with his vampire blood.

Anime Hajime Review: Nisemonogatari

***WARNING: Nisemonogatari is a sequel to Bakemonogatari. The following may contain spoilers to Bakemonogatari as well as Nisemonogatari. Reader discretion is advised. ***

Series Synopsis

Koyomi Araragi (voiced by Hiroshi Kamiya) is a captive in an unknown location. Dazed, he sees his girlfriend, Hitagi Senjogahara (voiced by Chiwa Saito), is in the room. Hitagi admits that she is the one who kidnapped him and claims it was necessary for his own protection.

Earlier that day, Koyomi met a mysterious man who began asking him strange questions. That encounter led to the imprisonment.

According to Hitagi, that man is dangerous and will only cause trouble. She doesn’t want to risk Koyomi getting involved with that man no matter the cost.

Koyomi then receives a distressing text about his eldest younger sister, Karen Araragi (voiced by Eri Kitamura). Fearing the worst, Koyomi breaks free from his bindings with the help of his vampire strength.

Karen is suffering from a horrible fever. Both Koyomi's youngest sister, Tsukihi Araragi (voiced by Yuka Iguchi), and close friend, Tsubasa Hanekawa (voiced by Yui Horie) are looking after her. Upon learning of the situation, Koyomi leaves to cool off.

While relaxing Koyomi gets a visit from Shinobu Oshino (voiced by Maaya Sakamoto); the vampire who bit him. Shinobu explains that Karen does not have any normal fever, but is infected by a lethal oddity.

Anime Hajime Review: Bakemonogatari

Series Synopsis

While walking to class, Koyomi Araragi (voiced by Hiroshi Kamiya) is taken by surprise when he sees fellow classmate, Hitagi Senjogahara (voiced by Chiwa Saito), falling from the top of the stairs. Without thinking, he catches Hitagi, discovering her secret; she is virtually weightless.

Attempting to keep Koyomi quiet, Hitagi threatens him to stay away from her. Surprisingly undeterred, Koyomi says that he knows a way to cure her condition and offers to help.

Koyomi recognizes that Hitagi has come into contact with a powerful supernatural being known as an oddity. He knows this because until recently, he was one of these mysterious creatures; a vampire to be exact.

After helping Hitagi, they form a strong relationship; first as friends, then eventually becoming a couple. They soon begin to meet several other girls who have come into contact with some kind of oddity.