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Bakemonogatari
Anime Review
"Bakemono" means ghost or monster while "monogatari" means story or stories, so one good English translation of the title Bakemonogatari is "GhoStory." However, a more revealing English title might be ExistentialiStory: despite the emphasis on freaky monsters, with the play-like focus on bizarre conversations between two characters, the show often feels like the anime version of Beckett's Waiting for Godot. There's no denying that Bakemonogatari is strange, but fortunately it's often as interesting as it is bizarre.
The most immediately compelling character is Hitagi Senjougahara, a coldly intense high school girl who somehow keeps a nigh-infinite amount of school supplies hidden under her skirt. Eschewing guns and knives, Senjougahara has decided that staplers and pens are the weapons of the future, and she's quick to wield them when anyone discovers a shameful secret: for some reason, she weighs almost nothing. When Koyomi Araragi, a seemingly normal classmate, catches her after a fall and realizes this, it's stapler-to-the-face time.
 However, Araragi isn't quite as normal as he seems, and before Senjougahara knows it, the two are on a supernatural quest together to not only solve her weight problem (so to speak), but to confront the supernatural "aberrations" that trouble their friends and acquaintances. Helping them out are mysterious homeless man and sometimes-priest Meme Oshino, and studious class representative Tsubasa Hanekawa, who has a bad habit of getting possessed.
Most of the show is comprised of extended conversations between two or more characters; one episode features Araragi and Senjougahara arguing in an empty playground for its entirety. Directed by Akiyuki Shinbo, who would later go on to direct the wildly popular Puella Magi Madoka Magica, the show is filled with his trademark shots of eerily empty, ultra-modern scenery. Most anime will feature at least a few background characters in order to give the impression that the world is populated, but Bakemonogatari takes place in a world strangely devoid of life; virtually the only people we ever see are the named characters. The sensation of an empty world makes the series feel more surreal than it already was-- in fact, we haven't ruled out the possibility that this is all someone's nightmare.
 The fingerprints of studio Shaft, as well as Shinbo himself, can be seen all over Bakemonogatari, which is artistic to a fault. The anime is filled with repeated close-ups of character's eyes, on-screen text that usually flashes too fast for viewers to read, and empty black and red screens that may or may not align with Araragi's eye blinks. Some will find the style intriguing and relish the opportunity to freeze-frame the show to read all of that onscreen text, while others will likely find it pretentious and over-directed. We found ourselves somewhat on the fence, finding the direction jarring and even annoying during the early episodes, but more effective later on.
Despite the emphasis on chatting about nothing, almost like a supernatural Seinfeld, there are occasional (and alarmingly brutal) action scenes. Between the graphic violence, partial nudity and some disturbing sexual imagery, Bakemonogatari is not appropriate for younger viewers, however, it should be noted that somehow, all this sex and violence rarely feels gratuitous. Senjougahara spends half an episode parading around mostly naked, and while on most shows this would feel like pointless fanservice, it actually seems in-character here. Viewers may find themselves surprised to see what else the show can get away with without feeling dirty.
 It's also worth noting that excepting Araragi, since all the characters with supernatural problems are female, the show can sometimes feel like a bit of a harem anime. However, those who hate silly harem cliches needn't worry: Bakemonogatari is simply too weird for that sort of thing, and besides, Senjougahara wouldn't put up with it.
While originally slated for a 15-episode run, notorious scheduling problems left the TV broadcast to end at episode 12, while the final three episodes were aired on the web much later. While episode 12 is great for fans of Senjougahara (a group which should include everyone), the final three episodes, dealing with an adorable cat spirit, provide a satisfying conclusion. However, those who find they can't get enough of that strange -mongatari style will be happy to note that a sequel, Nisenmonogatari, started airing in 2012. In addition, an upcoming prequel movie, Kizumonogatari, promises to answer some of our questions about Araragi and his mysterious past.
Undoubtedly, the conversation-driven style of the show will bore some viewers, but for those with some patience, the story rewards you for sticking it out. Furthermore, even those who aren't as intrigued by Bakemongatari as we are will have to admit that Senjougahara has done more to raise the coolness quotient of the common stapler than anyone since the movie Office Space, and that's a beautiful thing.
Reviewed by Karen Gellender, April 2012
Below: Scenes from Bakemonogatari.
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