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May 19, 2024
Nekomonogatari Kuro (Black) is a good addition to the Monogatari series, serving as a solid prequel to Bakemonogatari and the story of Tsubasa Hanekawa.
Despite being a prequel, the narrative will keep you engaged, even though you are already familiar with the outcome. The prequel provides a deeper understanding of Hanekawa's character, making her more of a integral character within the broader series. That being said as much as i do like this anime and am amused it exists, i find it wasn't at all necessary. I feel it's a very nice cherry on top of an already great cake of which being Hanakawa's story
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in Bakemonogatari.
The anime's pacing being only four episodes does not have the luxury of lingering on unnecessary filler content. This concise storytelling contrasts sharply with Nisemonogatari, which i found to be overly extended and padded at times. This is to the benefit of Nekomonogatari Kuro that it ensures every scene serves a purpose. This prequel was handled very well pace wise and gives me more belief in director Tomoyuki Itamura.
As with other entries in the Monogatari series (up until this point), the monologues are prevalent. The monologues here are well done and feel a lot more interesting than the vast majority in Nisemonogatari. That being said a lot of this feeling may be down to either: 1. Me being in a better frame of mind watching the anime 2. The specific arc being shorter than Nisemonogatari or possibly a mixture of both. Although Bakemonogatari was fifteen episodes and was better than both so i feel it's more the former point than the latter. But i did prefer the character's chat's more in this than in Nisemonogatari.
Another positive i believe director Tomoyuki Itamura made was the not as egregious Fan Service. Now it is still in this anime that is a given, however it seemed to be toned down to far more acceptable standards. Fan service isn't always a negative, but i find Nisemonogatari went overboard with this and here it is used far better. That being said it is far shorter than the eleven episodes of Nisemonogatari thus maybe that is a reason for this seeming change.
The action scenes (though limited) are executed with the same creativity seen in previous instalments. The fight sequences are visually nice to look at not only because of good animation but well done choreography. It is interesting in these instalments that one of the seemingly least important aspects of the Monogatari series is one of the most impressive as action is not what the anime is known for.
The unique visual style of the series is known for is showcased here rather well. There wasn't a single time i gazed upon a scene and was negatively impacted by what i saw. Just as good as anything found in Nisemonogatari if not better than.
While the opening sequences of Bakemonogatari set high expectations, the opening of Nekomonogatari Kuro i find didn't quite hit those heights. Although it may not reach the brilliance of earlier openings, it is still fitting for the tone of the arc and complements the story’s focus on Hanekawa well enough. I also find it more visually pleasing than any Nisemonogatari opening sequence.
Overall, Nekomonogatari Kuro is a well made prequel that not only complements the existing story of Hanekawa but also the overall narrative. For fans of the series it offers valuable insights into Hanekawa’s character, while it's well paced storytelling ensures that it remains engaging from start to finish. Although not necessary, i am happy knowing it exists.
Final Score - 7/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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May 19, 2024
A few years ago I rated Nisemonogatari a perfect 10/10, however upon revisiting it i find myself questioning what I must have been thinking. While it has some of the qualities that initially drew me in to the series, it’s clear that my perspective has shifted dramatically. The most glaring difference being the shift in visual storytelling because of the change of director from Bakemonogatari. Despite this it still manages to maintain the essence of the Monogatari series unlike the Kizumonogatari movies, which felt disconnected from the series in a negative way.
My biggest issue with Nisemonogatari lies in it's character's. The character's (who were so
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compelling in Bakemonogatari) feel significantly less interesting here. Their dialogues while not boring, lack the engaging quality that made the original series (Bakemonogatari) so captivating. Now i do not by any means find Nisemonogatari's characters to be terrible, that is not but even remotely close to how i feel. That being said the reason i am so harsh upon them is because i remember what was in Bakemonogatari and it makes me hold this up to far higher standards than i would something else just as good. But the returning characters (although far worse) are not at all bad in this adaptation. The new characters introduced for the first time are somewhat more appealing than their counterparts, if only because they don't have a legacy to tarnish. This contrast highlights the missed potential in evolving the established cast.
The opening sequences are another area where this anime falls short for me. While the music (particularly Platinum Disco) matches the quality of it's predecessor, the accompanying visuals appear lazy and simplistic by comparison. The same can be said for the ending sequence of each episode which also doesn't hold a candle.
The ending of the series lacks the punch needed to excite me for the continuation of the series. For new viewers, it's likely the strength of Bakemonogatari that would keep them engaged enough to continue watching beyond this installment.
The slower pacing in Nisemonogatari isn’t inherently bad, but the two arc's presented feel underwhelming compared to the five arcs in Bakemonogatari. I feel you would expect that more time per arc would allow for greater detail and interest, but i do understand longer stories are not always better. But i had far more interest in a Single Bakemonogatari episode than i did the entire runtime of Nisemonogatari which i find rather sad. Also, the heightened sexual content here feel's so very excessive. While Bakemonogatari had it's share of provocative moments, here it often seems to amplify these to an uncomfortable degree. Just because something worked previously doesn’t mean it needs to be intensified dramatically in the subsequent release.
The animation in this installment is actually the only part in which i would say it rivals that of the original. There are more over the top scenes in this one compared to the original, but i do not feel that is bad. I do prefer the camera angles of the original slightly more, however the limited action scenes in this anime are actually pretty solid throughout and if it replaced the ones in Bakemonogatari it wouldn't make the original any worse. I like how the action seems to tell just as much of a story as the words for either better or worse depending on how you look at it. Although the animation isn't ground-breaking at all, it is good and the choreography and story around the action is really what makes it great.
I understand that this review is really just comparing it to Bakemonogatari. So i do want to quickly mention how Nisemonogatari is not at all terrible in any of the aspects i talked about throughout this review. But the reason i scorned it so much is due to the fact that it's part of a great series and i do not find it does it justice.
Overall, while Nisemonogatari is a pretty good show alone, but fall's short in it being part of the Monogatari series. The characters feel less engaging, the visual storytelling lacks the interest of its predecessor and it doesn't make use of it's slower pacing as well as it could have. I do also believe that Bakemonogatari does carry Nisemonogatari heavily as without Bakemonogatari, i would not at all be as interested in any of the characters as Nisemonogatari does a far worse job with them.
Final Score - 6/10.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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May 18, 2024
Revisiting Bakemonogatari for the second time now has proven to be an experience just as captivating (if not more so) as my initial viewing. Originally, I rated this series a 10/10 and upon rewatching i stand by that rating wholeheartedly. This makes me so happy as i was rather scared i would ruin the anime for myself by rewatching a story of which i already knew.
Something i want to get out of the way early is the anime's brilliant English translation. Considering the heavy reliance on Japanese wordplay and cultural references, the fact that the English subtitles can still make the show a masterpiece
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show's just how good it is in my eyes. Despite having almost no knowledge of Japanese whatsoever, i find the dialogue compelling and engaging. Each character's speech patterns and quirks are preserved even with the language barrier and wordplay i would obviously not understand.
The character arc's alone or all banded together are what i would describe as masterful. Every storyline has not but a single moment that feel's wasted. To not have a single character that is not interesting to hear from is extremely impressive. The fact that every character introduced is genuinely interesting is by far for me the series strongest aspect (of which there are many). Even the lead, who can fall into the trope of being overly helpful and excessively nice remains extremely intriguing throughout. The anime may get some stick about how there are very many times the characters will talk for an entire episode about stuff that seems irrelevant to the story. But if you really stop to think i find this to be great. If i enjoy a set of characters so much that they could mention anything and i'm still interested that is impressive. I would be more interested and engaged in Araragi (the main lead) if he had an hour long monologue about why he has a ceiling fan in his room than i would be at 99% of anime protagonist's speaking about extremely important plot details. The unresolved nature of character arc's adds another layer of depth to the narrative. These open-ended cases not only provide a strong incentive to continue watching the rest of the series but also reflect the complexity of people, where resolutions are rarely simple and absolute. This approach i believe prevents them from being more than just mere plot devices.
While the anime isn't primarily an action anime it seems to have executed this with remarkable skill. The choreography and visual style make each encounter memorable and perfectly demonstrates that excellent action sequences don't only need to rely on brilliant animation. The animation itself though not ground-breaking, serves the story well and enhances the unique visuals that the series is known for.
Another aspect worth mentioning is the handling of fan service. For myself in many shows the fan service detracts from the overall narrative. However, this anime integrates these moments in a way that feels (like i mentioned about a Araragi ceiling fan monologue) interesting simply due to the character's that are partaking in the lewd activities. It can often also add to the character development rather than distracting from it. People may look for deeper meaning's when it comes to the lewd content. However, for myself it is as simple as stuff to enjoy that i don't find neither irritating nor extremely deep.
The minimalist visual design contributes significantly to the show's feeling. A great way to describe the visuals is in it feeling both grounded and otherworldly. I do find myself loving the approach to limited background characters and it really benefits the anime's recognition. Being unique isn't always a positive, but in this case i find it is. It is rather hard to explain without watching the anime for yourself, however i do find it to be a positive. I do want to mention that i watched the Blu-ray version as i know there are multiple versions of Bakemonogatari which has changes in it's visual presentation. But i do find that the visuals help direct to story-wise to what is important and (as stated before) makes the show feel otherworldly whilst being familiar.
The soundtrack of the anime is also great with each of the five openings and the ending song being utterly exceptional. The openings not only fit perfectly within the context of the story with their lyrics, but are also enjoyable as standalone pieces with compelling visuals and great sound. The ending also applies here.
Overall, Bakemonogatari is a masterpiece that has flaws of so little consequence they're not worth mentioning. The series offers a rewarding experience that stands the test of time and will remain a masterpiece for years to come.
Final Score - 10/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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May 16, 2024
Mieruko-Chan is a anime that has been on my watchlist for a few years now. It is one i put off for the longest time but after now seeing it i'm neither disappointed nor amused.
The anime presents itself as a horror on the surface, but it's an example of how you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. That is due to the attempt at horror being rather poor indeed. The horror elements are so very tame, making me confused whether it should be classed within the horror genre to begin with. Despite this i do like the design of the creatures and believe it
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to stand out as a strong point amid mediocrity. The monsters can be frequently visually intriguing but is let down by both their frequency and actions. I also find the movies attempt at comedy to be utterly mediocre at the very best of times. So even as a more comedic horror it still falls flat for me.
That being said, for me the most significant issue here is the anime's pacing. The narrative bombards you with "scare" after "scare" with almost no downtime. This constant barrage detracts from the overall viewing as it prevents any meaningful tension from building. The first episode is the sole exception, with a more suspenseful approach showing you how the rest of the series could have been. This is made very obvious by the fact it is by far the only good episode of the entire anime.
The story has an interesting idea around a girl who can see scary creatures others cannot. However, if the show focused less on constantly showcasing flashy creatures and more on developing it's plot and characters it would have been far more engaging. I believe the worst part of the narrative is the fact that the (as already mentioned) good monster designs go to waste as the story surrounding them is so very lacklustre it's rather sad.
The lead character is quite engaging throughout the early part of the show. That being said the more the anime goes on you find out there is almost no character development throughout the entire runtime. Her surrounding cast is absolutely fine earlier on (but like her) get boring towards the end of the show. Also the anime teases an interesting villain, only to mishandle and butcher the character to the highest degree. This detracts significantly from the overall narrative they were trying to tell, making one wonder if the show would have been better off if that character didn't exist.
Very briefly i would like to mention how the opening theme is one of which i did not like. It doesn't set the right tone for the show and feels rather out of place.
Overall, the anime has a promising premise and some well-designed creatures, but is damaged by a poor pace and inconsistent character development.
Final Score - 4/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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May 15, 2024
Serial Experiments Lain seems to have left a significant mark on anime, often rated highly. That being said i found my experience with the anime rather disappointing.
One of the main parts of the anime is it's horror that is especially prominent in the initial episodes. The series begins with a deeply unsettling atmosphere, haunting imagery and creepy(ish) audio. The first few episodes create a sense of unease and makes you feel like the anime will be laced with these great moments of psychological horror. However, as the series progresses the horror element disappears completely. The more convoluted the narrative seems to go, the less creepy
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it gets. This shift might leave fans of the horror genre feeling somewhat unsatisfied as the initial promise of psychological horror fades.
The voice acting is a standout feature here. The cast delivers performances that are so very monotone it's rather chilling. The lead Lain is particularly noteworthy as her subdued and almost emotionless delivery at times captures her detachment from the world around her. This monotone approach extends to other characters as well, creating a world where everyone seems slightly off and dreamlike. I should mention that i watched the dubbed version of the anime.
The movie is undeniably ahead of its time with it's themes of social media that feels more real today than it would watching it back then. The anime seemed to predict the impact the internet would have on society. This is impressive and adds a nice layer to the anime that is still relevant to this very day. That all being said i do believe if Serial Experiments Lain were released today, it may not be received as well. The once decent visuals and animation does not hold up against today's techniques, making it less appealing to your average viewer. I also do believe when rating the anime it's one that you really need to take into account the time of which it was released as there are so many better alternatives for anything noteworthy in this anime in my eyes. The anime i believe provides nothing you cannot find a better version of today. That being said i obviously will take into account the time at which it was released.
The story is full of interesting ideas, however it feels more incoherent as the plot continues. The story feels messy and rather difficult to follow thus leaves you with more negative confusion than feeling any sense of intrigue. I do not believe an anime needs to always explain perfectly what is going on and/or treat the audience as if they're stupid. However i feel the way this anime treats it's story is poorly handled and feels more like a convoluted mess than something deserving of theories and discussion.
I also would like to mention how forgettable the characters are. While Lain herself is the titled named protagonist, the supporting cast lacks any memorable qualities. They often serve more as vessels for lain to tell a story rather than fully realised individual characters. This lack of strong character development can make it challenging for viewers to form emotional connections to a single character throughout the story. Although i only just watched the anime, i have already forgotten half of the cast. This all being said Lain is by far the most important character in the anime. Thus as long as her story was told better, i think this issue wouldn't have been as noticeable.
Overall, the anime is a piece of history that is good in it's voice acting, ahead of it's time exploration of the web and in the earlier episodes it's horror. However, the narrative discombobulation and lack of compelling character's throughout really hold the anime back. Despite these flaws my final score will take into account the release date of the anime (that being 1998).
Final Score - 4/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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May 13, 2024
Kizumonogatari Part 3 is a film that confuses me to the highest degree. I find this movie and the other two movies to be a rather bad sequel to what in my eyes is a great series. But people seem to overall foam at the mouth when it comes to all three of the movies. However this one in particular is everyone's crème de la crème and i simply do not see it.
Visually the film is a mixed bag. The 3D world and 2D animation on their own both have moments that i find rather nice to look at that also showcases the ability
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of the people behind the screen. However, the merging of these two styles feels wrong and the vas majority of the time fails to seamlessly merge into a cohesive visual experience. This lack of cohesion detracts from the overall immersion and can be jarring. The series overall is known for a certain contrast in the characters and the world in which they inhabit. That being said this movie doesn't do it even remotely as good as the series usually does. This is hard to explain without the review talking a year to make. But if you compare this to let's say Bakemonogatari it is like comparing the taste of both Chalk and Cheese.
While the increase in monologue throughout the runtime is a welcome addition compared to the previous two films, it often feels like something is missing. I always found myself wanting more in a negative way that left me unfulfilled. That being said, Araragi's realization that he has been fighting for the wrong side offers a glimpse into his inner conflict and moral ambiguity. It's a small glimmer of depth in an otherwise shallow narrative. On the same point however the final monologue from Araragi (that i have seen many praise) i feel to be a utter nothing burger. The monologue felt like an attempt at being both Profound and Bodacious whilst saying almost nothing. It's akin to the quote "people die when they're killed". Although that is actually more profound laughably. I genuinely think if you gave me a few days i would come up with a better ending monologue which is rather sad to imagine. Oshino also feels underutilized and lacking in impact. His resolution at the end of the movie is worded in a way that ultimately comes across as shallow and pretentious, offering little in the way of meaningful insight or resolution.
The final fight scene with Kiss-Shot is another let-down. It fails to deliver the excitement that you would expect from a climactic battle. I feel it caters more to the desires of action-hungry audiences than serving the narrative in a meaningful way. I also don't think the animation is nearly as good as people give it credit for. That being said it is not at all bad and is easily passable when compared to the fights biggest negative. That in my opinion is the choreography. Not only in this movie, but the entire trilogy the choreography for fight scenes makes the fights boring to look at.
Another one of my issues with this movie is it's fan service, particularly in the scene involving Hanekawa. This unnecessary sexualization feels so forced i find it rather humorous. The series is know to have quite a few scenes that are sexual in nature. But where this fails flat in my eyes is the fact it feels extremely forced and doesn't fit the vibe of the movie up until this point. Most all of these types of scenes throughout the rest of the series are far more important to the story and don't feel forced. This scene in particular left me feeling violated with the amount of cringe i felt. Also the film's attempts at comedy fall so utterly flat with humour that feels so very forced. The characters themselves also feel like pale imitations of their counterparts in the rest of the series. One of those "comedy" scenes in the movie is the aforementioned Hanakawa scene which was so very poor.
Overall, Kizumonogatari Part 3 is a disappointing conclusion to a bad trilogy of movies. While it has moments of potential, they are ultimately overshadowed by it's flaws.
HotHamlet - 3/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 3
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May 13, 2024
Kizumonogatari Part 2 is a perplexing in just how it ends up being worse than the first movie. It offers itself as a disappointing follow-up to its predecessor. While the first movie set a low bar with its peculiar visuals and poorly shown storyline, the second instalment fails even harder.
One of the most glaring issues with the movie is its handling of the characters. Even compared to the first movie they feel rather off and their whole personality in this movie feels nothing like what i'd expect for worse not better. They feel like a different character altogether with no reason lore wise as
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to why this would be the case. Now even if you believe i should talk about the characters without mentioning the rest of the series, simply for this movie and this movie alone in a standalone sense they're so very boring and bland. They are not at all interesting without considering the rest of the series as the only interest i have for them is because i know what they're like in the rest of the Monogtari series. This goes for pretty much every character. The three that hunt Araragi, Oshino etc. Every character feels so boring and is rather forgettable. This especially goes for the characters that don't show up again in the series. Hanakawa is annoying, Araragi is not at all as cool as they're trying to portray him and the others are simply mind-numbingly boring.
fights are a let-down in this movie. The animation i find to not be very good albeit not terrible. The animation is secondary however to how unbelievably terrible the choreography is. Every fight is terribly boring and lacks any substance. This is especially the case for the final fight against the Human Vampire Hunter as his "fight" with Araragi not only is terribly boring and ugly to look at, it also makes absolute no sense the way he is defeated. The movie has the opposite problem to a lot of other anime. Where in some anime the fights last too long and should be shortened, this anime needs them to be stretched out. That being said if the people behind this movie are really talented, then in the time allotted i do think you could make something far more interesting in the short space of time.
While the environmental design shows slight improvement compared to the first movie, it still falls short of expectations (read my first movie review please). However the rain-drenched fight with Dramaturgy stands out for its superb animation and atmospheric setting despite the film's shortcomings in the environmental design department. This particular scene manages to shine, offering a brief glimpse of the series' potential. Maybe however this is simply due to the fact that i love the rain whether it be in anime or real life. Thu maybe i'm rather too biased here. But the way it is animated looks pretty good and the start of the film teasing the fight in the rain is a pretty good introduction i do believe. It just sucks that the fight was a big let-down in general. That being said the Dramaturgy fight is the best of the three easily, albeit still rather poor.
One of the most peculiar aspects of this film is its pacing. While the movie doesn't drag on unnecessarily, it feels so very rushed and may have been helped with a longer runtime. Moments that should have been explored further are glossed over, leaving you longing for a more substantial experience. The time is mora than enough as a single episode of Bakemonogatari has more substance and garners more interest than the entire movie. A single episode of that show being slightly over twenty minutes. But maybe if the movie was thirty minutes to an hour longer it would have come out better. Maybe showing all three fights in the movie helped in making it feel so very rushed.
I really am struggling to come up with a single positive to mention in this review as the movie is so poor. Considering it's worse to me than the first movie of which i gave a 3/10, i am struggling for any positives i can give the movie. One i could mention would be the voice acting. The voice acting throughout the movie seemed rather good, but also take into account that i do not speak fluent Japanese thus i am looking at it from a non-fluent pint of view.
Overall, Kizumonogatari Part 2 fails to live up to the first movie of which i also thought was poor. From its mishandling of characters to its utterly boring action sequences and uneven feeling pacing, the film struggles to engage you and ultimately feels like a extremely disappointing entry in the Monogatari series. Although not unwatchable garbage, thus a 1/10 feels too harsh. The movie is simply carried by the fact it is part of a great series. If the movie wasn't a sequel to a great series i firmly believe it would be unwatchable as it's that that carried me through the runtime.
HotHamlet - 2/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 2
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May 13, 2024
Kizumonogatari Part 1 falls short in several aspects compared to its sequels (Bakemonogatari etc). I watched this movie a few years ago and absolutely hated it. This was after watching most of the Monogatari series before hand. I felt harsh as i originally gave it a 1/10 years ago because i felt it wasn't anything like the Monogatari series i have come to love. That being said all these years later and i decided to re-watch all three movies again starting with this one, and although i still find the movie to be a rather poor representation of the best of Monogatari, i believe i
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was far too harsh on my first viewing.
One of the most glaring issues of the movie lies in it's departure from the signature art style and animation quality that define the rest of the Monogatari series (not including the other two movies in the mini-series). While Monogatari to me is known for it's basic but interesting and important environments. This movie felt like it threw all of that out the window as nothing that should be recognisable is recognisable. From Araragi's house to the abandoned cram school all the environments feel so stupidly different it's rather ridiculous. Not only does the Cram school look far too pristine compared to the original, i also feel like the design is far less meaningful and the use of 3d animation makes the characters look far too out of place in the building. That last part also goes for the entire movie, from Araragi's meeting with Hanakawa to the meeting with Kiss-Shot, all of the environments look rather peculiar. This can be easily overlooked and i actually believe this is a very small issue in the grand scheme of things. The environment's although not what i have come to expect from the series, are not even close to terrible and are easily acceptable in my opinion. I do still believe there should have been limited changes from wat we have come to expect however.
Secondly, the meeting between Araragi and Kiss-Shot feels so very confusing. Araragi's initial encounter with Kiss-Shot is marked by a trail of blood leading to her in a subway in which Araragi goes down for what i believe to be pure interest. The explanation as to why Araragi is willing to die to save a Vampire lacks sufficient explanation. Now although the book explains it rather well as far as i am aware, i understand movies and books can be different in the way they tell stories. But the movie doesn't show anything visually or verbally before during and even after the incident anything that would suggest a reason as to why Araragi did what he did. If i try to find reason from the movie, i would say that he thought his life was meaningless. But nothing in the movie before really hints at this and especially after his initial meeting with the Vampire almost ending in him running away completely i am rather puzzled for a proper explanation. The lack of clarity in this pivotal moment of the film detracts from the overall narrative and undermines the emotional impact of their subsequent interactions in my eyes.
The dialogue throughout the film also falls far short of anything you would expect from the series. A single episode of Bakemonogatari has far more to offer than the entire movie. While the series is celebrated for its thought-provoking dialogue between characters, Kizumonogatari Part 1 feels devoid of the same depth that hooks you to not only the story but the characters within it. The viewers experience is one that is far less engaging as a result i do believe.
However, despite its shortcomings Kizumonogatari Part 1 does improve somewhat as the story progresses. As Araragi becomes more deeply entangled in the supernatural world and grapples with the consequences of his choice tot same the Vampire the story gains a slight bit of momentum and begins to draw you in. The latter half of the film offers glimpses of the brilliance that characterizes the Monogatari series and hints at the potential for a more compelling narrative in subsequent instalments. The conversation with both the aforementioned characters and Oshino at the end of the movie was actually rather interesting (to and extent) and far better than anything in the movie up until this point. Especially compared to the first conversation in the entire movie Araragi has with Hanakawa. This conversation was so poor i have barley mentioned it in this review as it was so very boring and had very few words of interest.
The animation in general was actually not too bad at all. It is nothing special and i have seen far better from the series. But if the movie was better in all the other aspects previously mentioned i feel the animation would hold up just fine. The opening scene also had me rather interested and the animation was definitely not at all bad. That being said nothing stood out as good animation wise. The animation would get an average score from me. I think the reason it looks rather poor whilst watching the movie is simply down to the aforementioned environmental design. The scene earlier on in the movie in which Araragi is running on a train-track looks absolutely terrible due to the background on which he is running. Not because of the animation itself.
I want to quickly mention before i end this review that the movie did not at all drag. The movie felt as quick as it's runtime would suggest and doesn't feel like a long experience even considering all the negatives i gave the movie and what my final score may show.
Overall, Kizumonogatari Part 1 is a disappointing entry in the Monogatari series as it fails to live up to the high standards set. While it offers an intriguing prelude to the events of the series its disjointed narrative and underwhelming dialogue ultimately undermine its potential. Despite its flaws i do believe fans of the series may find some enjoyment in revisiting some familiar characters, but for many this instalment may leave them longing for the brilliance they have come to expect.
HotHamlet - 3/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 3
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May 10, 2024
I am so very happy with this Anime i could grin from ear to ear.
The original Bleach whilst not terrible was far to slow. The fights took a decade to complete and they didn't feel satisfying as they didn't feel like they had any consequences. I feel this made the original quite the slog to get through. Especially someone who watched bleach for the first time only a few years ago. Maybe it's simply due to it aging poorly however this improved upon the original in every way imaginable.
The fights in this Anime look great in terms of animation quality and i also
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believe they're far more interesting as a result of a faster pace. This Season perfectly shows how you can tell a big story in a faster pace as the original. The original (if it told the same story) would have dragged and probably made these thirteen episodes last fifty or possibly sixty episodes. I'm so happy with this more modern approach to the Anime. I have also failed to yet mention how there are real consequences felt within this season. Now i will not spoilt anything, but if you have seen the original i believe this will make you so happy. The only part that the original does almost as well i believe is the story. However this season handles it better with a quicker pace. The issue in the original was it was far too dragged out.
I must also mention how the villains feel great and their threat feels real. I am also shocked at how graphic it can be. Now it isn't anything i would consider truly Gorey. That being said it doesn't need to be. This season perfectly shows the brutal nature of attacks with a fair amount of blood and body parts being dismembered. If you are reading this and haven't seen the Anime please do not watch this if my words have made you believe it is extremely gory as it is not. But compared to the original i have far more interest in the effects of attacks and the consequences of their outcomes. The gore i also believe is perfect how it is this season. There is no need for it to get more adult at all. I'm very impressed with the team behind this revival of Bleach.
Overall i think this is definitely a recommendation from me. That being said you of course should know the story of the original before coming to this which is a sad requirement to truly get the most out of this Anime i believe.
8/10 - HotHamlet
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Oct 2, 2022
So after watching this anime as someone who really liked the first three seasons and really wanted more, i must say i feel disappointed and amazed at the same time. It is such a weird feeling i can't really describe it well enough for many to understand.
The story of this season (obviously) followed on from the last season and the seasons before and it did a good enough job at that i thought. That being the case i must say i am ever so slightly in disagreement with many. I'm not sure how many share this opinion but i've seen people disappointed in not only
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this season but seasons prior about how Ainz human self is never really a key point ever. I however believe this really doesn't matter for what the show is trying to show. It's a lot like That Time I Reincarnated As A Slime (if anyone has seen that anime) in terms of the backstory of the isekai character isn't important at all. But with almost all isekai shows this is the case unless it's the main plot-point of the show. But for this anime i believe it is not at all a issue. I must say story wise however, the first 7-8 Episodes ranged from a 2/10 to a 6/10 and the anime up until that point was average at best. The last few episodes were so very great however. Especially episode 11 which i think is one of the best anime episodes i have seen in a long while. The ending i thought had a pointless flashback scene but it wasn't necessarily bad, just pointless in my eyes. Story was very similar in rating (if not the same) to the first three seasons.
The characters were absolutely fine. Ainz is just as good as he usually is (bit nothing special). All his allies are in a similar boat and the characters that are the antagonists to the main cast were simply fine too. Nobody stood out, but not a single character was abysmal in any way.
The animation was absolutely passable. Very few moments impressed me visually, but not a single part of the animation disappointed me personally. The animation is as good as it's always been for overlord and i enjoyed it. It is easily passable. I'm not sure if it's something i believe after watching the third season so very long ago, but i feel there is less 3d animation in this season. I could however be remembering completely wrong and this point would be pointless from my point of view. Overall the animation and visuals in general were absolutely fine and i'd argue a little better than average. Far better than most trashy isekai that's for sure.
Story - 6.5/10
Characters - 5.5/10
Animation & Visuals - 6.5/10
Episode 11 - 10/10
A decent addition to the Overlord anime series and one most Overlord fans would be happy with, 6/10.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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