There are many series that exist in the anime world where episodes aren’t told in an order that is considered, chronological. However, most of these shows aren’t overly long series with maybe one or two seasons being like that. The Bakemonogatari series, created by Nisioisin, goes beyond just one season though and instead, follows the novels and makes not one but three seasons with multiple arcs that are disjointed and all over the place! There are some viewers who have masterfully put the Bakemonogatari series in order—including the side story episodes—so people can fully understand Koyomi Araragi’s tale, but some fans feel this utter blasphemy. That’s why we here at Honey’s Anime took it upon ourselves to play the medium here and say the pro to watching Bakemonogatari out of order and the pro of watching it in a more chronological state. Tell us what you think after you read our Bakemonogatari What Order Should You Watch Them In article!
Why Bakemonogatari Out of Order Makes Sense
Human beings tend to figure a lot of the past as they age and or get new memories to hold in their minds. It’s what makes us human though, that we can’t always remember the order to what happened in our past or at some point remember something at a later date when discussing a story. Araragi—despite not being a full human—becomes a relatable character to anime viewers when he talks about his chance encounters as he remembers them. Yes, Araragi’s strange sudden “oh I remember this from a week ago” moments might leave us shocked that you could forget a ghost girl taking you on a wild adventure or going into the future due to a strange world-shattering event but also keeps us on our toes. While most shows tend to be quick to follow a common trope, Bakemonogatari laughs at the usual and keeps us constantly wondering will happen next in its plot. That’s why we suggest watching Bakemonogatari out of order to keep yourself always surprised and always curious.
Why Bakemonogatari Makes More Sense in Chronological Order
If you’re not a fan of being confused while watching a series then we’ve got to tell you…Bakemonogatari isn’t going to make you happy. Due to its narrator being extremely unreliable as he recounts his tales over summer break, Araragi will often have you wondering what happened to this character or why did the story not include this piece of relevant information? As those who like organized stories here at Honey’s Anime—organization is important in life to keeping a peaceful mind—Bakemonogatari can truly make us scream in frustration. We laughed in utter surprise when we first learned the movies—Kizumonogatari—wasn’t going to be a sequel to Araragi’s tale but act as the true beginning. That’s why for the best viewing experience to the chaos that is Araragi, you should start with the movies and then from there, look up online the viewing order and focus on that. It might remove the mystery element that the Bakemonogatari series establishes, but it equally won’t have you crying as you try to remember who characters are and where they fit in the timeline.
What Order Do We Think Works Best?
If we were to give our own opinion on which order works best for Bakemonogatari it would be the original air date order. Our reasons for this are pretty simple though. At the end of the day, we think of Araragi as the narrator whose storytelling is fun to witness when he struggles to recount past moments both good and bad. While Bakemonogatari works when it’s placed in the chronological order, it becomes a bit too format driven. Thus, we recommend the original air date release for optimal viewing of the Monogatari series! Here is the list of the air date order to help you guys out! Please note this list contains the main series primarily, the spin-off stories--which are canon and important in their own right) aren’t listed as they come out mostly after the second season and final season.
Bakemonogatari: First Season
- Bakemonogatari
- Nisemonogatari
- Nekomonogatari
Second Season
- Monogatari Series Second Season (This is split between several arcs)
- Hanamonogatari
Final Season:
- Tsukimonogatari
- Owarimonogatari (Part 1)
- Koyomimonogatari
- Kizumonogatari (There are three parts to Kizu)
- Owarimonogatari (Part 2)
- Zoku Owarimonogatari
Kizumonogatari (Which is a prequel to the whole series)
Final Thoughts
The Monogatari series can be…utterly confusing beyond words. However, that same confusion is what makes the tale so intriguing. As Araragi pieces together his disjointed story, we the viewers are left always clinging to our chairs and wondering what tale he will weave next for us. It’s a whimsical—though sometimes annoying—feeling that makes Bakemonogatari and the other seasons of it so brilliant in design. What are your feelings about the odd ordering of Bakemonogatari? Do you love how Nisioisin did it or do you prefer the “correct” viewing order made by the fans? We’d love to hear your thoughts so be sure to comment below! For more articles just like this one, be sure to keep stuck to our hive here at Honey’s Anime!
Author: Aaron
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