Back to rotanrotan1's Profile rotanrotan1's Profile

Finally!! after almost a year of waiting, including the wait for the translated version (I'm really sorry cloverworks), and waiting for my right time to watch this! It freaking aged like fine wine, waiting for me to watch it.

There's really something about how the studio crafted this great series. I'm not sure if this is how the author really intended to present it (I'll be reading the lightnovel soon), but this is just so perfectly made for me (and as how they've said it "dumb fantasies for the otaku"). I really really really like how they are basically subtly telling the whole plot in ... the dialogue. It may sound cheap, or lazy, but it was (for me) perfectly well-placed that maybe most people would not have noticed (I'm sure most people did).


#MINOR SPOILER ALERT in the next paragraph, skip to the next to avoid it (I'm sorry)#

The scenes!! Yes, this is the perfect, the lewdest, the cutest animation of couples holding hands!! They're freaking h&ld$*g h%nds! God! The emphasis on how XXXXXX slipped their hands, my freaking degenerate heart can't hold it. I freaking love the subtlety, how XXXXXX just narrated the scene a while ago, and then enacting it.

#END OF SPOILER#

As much as I do not want to admit, I have an otaku heart, and this is what I (we) want. A freaking normal show, but it's not, but it is. It's so normal that, but it really is not. I may be hyping (but I don't think so). No anime couple could ever top this. They're just way too anime-y. THIS IS THE ULTIMATE RIAJUU DREAM THE OTAKU REALLY WANT. I could never get enough of this. I'll keep rewatching the whole series every year as long as I am alive.

I was prepared to cry my eyes out by the start of story. But I did not have the chance. The premise was somehow unique, but it progressed to a predictable plot that I really just zoomed through the last volume.
I did not feel that the characters developed from the first chapter, it felt like they were already the way they are, and that it was just not given the screentime.
The author did intend to have this only as a short story (although 3 volumes is also relatively short). It still felt that it was rushed, especially in the last volume where everything just keeps ... coming out nowhere (it might also be that it felt like that because I was zooming through the chapters).

Overall, it is a fine short read, it was not so good, yet it is not so bad either.

Initial review:

The demographic tag says Shounen, but with the story's themes, I think it would be much more appreciated by an older demographic.

Short but sweet, humorous but mature. I expected that I would feel the same as I would in typical drama; especially with the premise sounding like a typical affair drama. No, as I read through the first stages of the story, I felt I had this toneless expression (much like Sakaki-san) when their baggage are being slowly hinted. This is not to say that it was a bad thing, I'm not sure if I am/will be making sense when I say that I ... felt emotional while also looking emotionless. It might be because I speed through reading the 24 chapters (I wish I could have took my time, but the story was just too compelling to make me move from a chapter to the next).

I like my drama manga to stir me up, I love/hate how it hits close to home when the story tackled past traumas.

I like how characters are acting human in their actions. Although their words, especially a 16-year-old's, have a bit too much wisdom for their age.

I would like to reread this.

This manga is close to my heart. I took it up because of its very unusual premise of boy-like girl, girl-like boy, girl-like boy with girls, and all the very convoluted parts of their relationships. I love how sexuality and sexual desire are being talked about seriously in this story. I love-hate how close each character has represented my own sexual desires and tendencies. Yuki's compulsive desire to masturbate, Sho's aggressive tendencies, Mikako's risky behavior, and Kaito's white knight tendencies.

It was very complicated up to the last chapter, but in a way, they made sense as to say that I can see no plothole in ... the story. Although the ending was somehow lacking for me, timeskip endings do be like that, it was clean enough for me to say that the ending is okay.

I love every bit of it. or not really, I hate-love how jealousy is vividly portrayed throughout the story.

I've only come to realize that this is the same author as Sakamichi no Apollon. As I've read, I've wondered why I get this feeling of being enthralled with Owara, a folk dance I've only just known first in this manga. Frames, I've never imagined I would feel so much passion from characters talking about nothing but Owara. I've tried watching clips of the dance in real life on YouTube, and I don't necessarily feel anything. But as I continue to read, all the dancing ... they do just comes alive in my head. I'm a sucker for romance and drama, of course I came to this manga because of that, but really, it makes me want to go back dancing, or do something I'm really passionate about.

This manga just made me feel all sorts of emotions that I love and hate. I just love it so much. It seems to have nothing of the unnecessary plot points common to drama. I love how it seems to be more about the Owara, and how the characters developed throughout because of Owara.

[I'll keep this short.]
[I had a break from anime, so I'm not sure if I could remember most of the details I've noticed.]

I could really tell that the directors of this season stepped up and made it more daring. I really like how the screen is very expressive that they can bring the humor by themselves.

Season 1 already brought forth the god-tier humor of this anime, this season topped it off. I was expecting it to be fun, but the hilarity it displayed was really unexpected, which made it even more fun to watch.

I like it even more because it presents itself with what ... it is. It mixes the comedy and the serious tones very well. Ishigami's backstory was convincing enough.

The end credits was really an original in anime! I don't think I've ever seen an anime somehow break the fourth wall, referencing to the first season's opening clip.

[Rewatching the Monogatari Series]

The forerunner of the Monogatari series. After reading some analysis, I've appreciated the series even more. Even if I'm not well-versed with actual literary pieces, I can say that the Monogatari series (anime) is literature, with Bakemonogatari highlighting it.

I love how the story is sold in a supernatural narrative, when it is actually a very creative work on humans and our relational issues. In BROTTOY's blog, he expounds on the thematic analysis of the whole monogatari and mentions how escapism is heavily used in Bakemonogatari. I just can't feel anything other than be really amazed by how Shaft and Nisio Isin ... managed to present such themes in animation. Even the screenplay is very creative and imaginative. In every Monogatari, Shaft really knows how to make use of frames to convey the most subtle messages. Rewatching the series and recognizing these frames adds so much flavor to watching anime.

There may be times that a joke or a story gets over my head, but I would associate that to something being lost in translation or a difference in culture. This issue makes it hard to recommend the Monogatari series to light watchers of anime. Regardless, Bakemonogatari is a masterpiece that definitely has layers of rich in story telling and symbolism.

[NOT A REVIEW]
[IGNORE THIS WRITING]
[I'm writing this as notes for what I feel for this arc as I rewatch the Monogatari series.]

I'm still not sure what to feel after watching this arc. For one, I am now clarified with the storyline (now that I'm rewatching by Chronological Order). I've come to understand Araragi and Hanekawa's relationship.

There are still many mysteries that I've yet to understand. I still don't understand what Oshino Meme represents. The motives of the Sawari Neko are still muddy to me. The idea of the Kokoro Watari is not clear to me, but I've come to realize that it's something related ... about using our 'inner feelings' as a weapon or something.

I'd like to once again appreciate the frames used to convey the story of Monogatari. I've got the reference of most of them, and it is still entertaining to watch.

[Rewatching all of Monogatari in chronological order.]
[This review will be consolidation of the trilogy.]

First things, I've been exalting the Monogatari series from the first time I've started watching it. It might be that my views of it are pretentious, with which I feel that this series transcends anime culture. It's more than just anime, it involves symbolism, Japanese culture, Pop culture, and full-on poetry, all of which I feel that there's a deeper mystery I have yet to discover. It's either all that or I really don't understand what I'm watching. With that said, I may not be totally objective with how I ... rate the Monogatari series.

Being a trilogy, I see this story as one big story in three parts, so I will be making an overall review. (Either way, I may be repeating what I would say if I'd make three reviews, given that each part creates the whole, for me.)

The way I see it, Kizumonogatari diverted from the usual Monogatari rich in symbols and themes to tell the origin of the whole Monogatari. This is not to say that it is lacking in that aspect, but for me, the plot is highlighted more.

The first time I've watched the trilogy, I've seen how this story has unfolded the events in future arcs. This time of rewatching it, I've seen some of the imagery in the screenplay and in dialogue that are important for the development of the characters and the story. It seems to me that every time I watch it, I discover a layer in the story. This might be why I highly regard the entire Monogatari series. The mysteries are unfolded yet they still remain.

I've caught a glimpse of how 'monsters' and 'humanity' are portrayed. I've seen Kiyomi's self-sacrificing and sense of saving portrayed. I've witnessed the progressions of Hanekawa's repressive behavior. I now understand why Shinobu is how she is in Bakemonogatari. I've only come to understand a few. I still believe that there's more to know. I've yet to understand the intents of Meme, Hanekawa, the aberrations, and probably other themes I've not recognized.

The storytelling of the Monogatari is just superb. Each frame seems random, but once you've come to understand the references, it's just too entertaining to watch. The dialogue that's not as blindingly fast as in the future arcs hold more meaning than I think they do. Honestly, I feel like a child beginning to understand language the more people talk. I admit that I really don't fully understand much of what's going on, but the mystery and revelations of it entertain me fully well.

One thing that is hard to swallow for me is the ecchi moments. This is something 'ordinary' in the Monogatari series. I've always ignored it and just let it pass. I thought that they are symbolizing something. I thought that they are there as deconstruction for the whole anime culture on fanservice. I still believe that a message is trying to get through. But I still can't see it. With how sexuality issues come up in society, and how these issues are being handled in media, I (and hopefully the whole community) just can't keep on tolerating the fanservice in anime. With how I praise Monogatari as something beyond anime, the fanservice is the string that holds them down from the wholesome view I make of this series.

This season has both the second [next to Kamino Arc] strongest and weakest parts in the entire series.

The fight scenes in this season are actually most of the video clips I saw on other platforms that made me want to watch BNHA. Majority of the episodes involve the Shie Hassaikai Arc. I like Overhaul as a villain. There's something ominous about him, and the way he choose his words and actions are really chilling.

I like the obvious nonverbal behavior of Eri, Mirio and Overhaul. It made me think of how Mirio is able to compose himself. One could really feel the thrill of ... being within the reach of a villain and a victim, her helplessness and the heroes' inability to act... Shigaraki Tomura attempted to do this, but he only comes off as a random crazy person.

One thing I did not like about Overhaul's group is that they're actions make it seem that Overhaul is the only one sinister even if they were implied to be equally so. Their group had an eight-person elite team of sorts, and they could have been more menacing if there weren't beaten by student-heroes.

Speaking of heroes, I find it very off that students did most of the dangerous jobs for pro-heroes. I'd also like to nitpick: why are they made to live in dorms if they are still allowed to work as interns outside of their campus?They're provisional heroes, which allows them to help in emergencies if I recall correctly. So why are they performing operations with pro heroes and police?

Other things that bothered me that I'd like to let out:
1. Overhaul seemed to have downgraded.
2. Nighteye's quirk is not clear and I did not feel anything in his piece about the future.
3. Really? with the knowledge that the League of Villains are involved, they've only sent one hero to guard Overhaul, and they've also put the serum in the same vehicle???? That's too sloppy.
4. How did Eri escape in the first place? One pro hero pointed this out, but they did not have a compelling explanation to this.

After the Overhaul arc, I understand that down times are important, but the following arcs seem very much like fillers that we don't really need to watch. Maybe we could have had some hero-work from the other students. Instead we got a school festival (not bad by it self) and suddenly we get told that the students are actually performers. The next arc about Gentle could've also been better.

The fight was amazing, the motivations of Deku and Gentle are compelling enough to give me chills, especially considering Gentle's backstory. What I don't like is the build up to this scene. I understand that the show wants to set the tone lighter after the Overhaul arc. But the slice-of-life theme of the school festival just don't feel right to me as a build up for Gentle and Deku's fight. Even the interactions that lead to the both of them meeting seem too forced.

Fight scenes, especially on major villains, have good animation. But there are lapses, such as on Endeavor's fight. The opening songs are not that bad. Some OSTs don't fit well for me.

a sidenote and a recommendation:
I can't help but compare BNHA to Haikyuu (a sports anime, but essentially a battle anime; and the closest thing I've recently watched that is shounen). I never would have imagined that I would really like a sports anime to the point that I'm recommending it to my friends. Essentially, Haikyuu is similar to most shounen, battle anime; people have their unique skills, they compete. Only difference is that BNHA struggle to show a compelling villain/antagonist while Haikyuu has it easy with worrying only about competitiveness. But the big advantage of BNHA is the freedom to creative quirks that bypass reality. The entire world is involved in the story which allows BNHA to have a diverse set of characters and a imaginative story. Yet I am more entertained with Haikyuu, the rallies and every volley did not disappoint me to feel goosebumps. Watch Haikyuu!