People are trying to get into the Monogatari series now, but the watch order might be a bit confusing.
It’s not supposed to be watched in chronological order — in fact, it’s completely impossible.
The optimal watch order is the light novel release order, which is very close to the anime release order.
As it naturally happens whenever a new season is announced, many people try to get into the Monogatari series before the next season is released.
With a series that’s over a hundred episodes long and divided into many separate entries that aren’t arranged chronologically or numbered, it’s bound to get pretty confusing.
Here’s a somewhat simple guide that explains how to watch the Monogatari series.
It’s impossible to watch in fully chronological order
First of all, there is no way to watch the series in chronological order — and it shouldn’t be watched that way. Some of the entries cover multiple arcs that are spread throughout the timeline. One may think they can watch the anime chronologically arc-by-arc — except that isn’t true either.
Some of Monogatari’s arcs happen at the same time — which is quite normal for a series with a non-linear narrative and multiple points of view. It’s completely impossible to arrange it in a chronological order, and that’s how it should be: you shouldn’t be scared of a non-linear narrative when getting into it.
The watch order follows the anime release order (mostly)
Outside of that, the watch order is pretty straightforward: it’s just the anime/novel release order with some caveats. You start with Bakemonogatari — and after that, the next novel is Kizumonogatari, which was adapted into a movie trilogy.
The movies spent years in production hell, but it’s pretty much the common consensus now that they should be watched after Bakemonogatari. Then you follow up with Nisemonogatari, Nekomonogatari: Kuro and Monogatari Series Second Season.
Hanamonogatari was originally planned to be part of the Second Season (as it is in the light novels). It’s often recommended to watch it after the second arc of the Second Season, Mayoi Jiangshi. Granted, watching it after Second Season is also fine — just don’t put it off (it’s the last one chronologically among the released ones, but shouldn’t be watched last).
After Second Season and Hana, the rest is pretty easy and just follows the release order. You watch Tsukimonogatari, Owarimonogatari (the first part), Kizumonogatari if you haven’t seen it yet. Koyomimonogatari is a collection of 10 short stories that answer some questions about previous arcs, plus the last 2 episodes that set you up for Owarimonogatari Part 2.
After that, there’s Zoku Owarimonogatari, and then the upcoming projects for Off Season and Monster Season. The Kizumonogatari remake movie is not out on Blu-Ray yet, but you can watch it at any point if you have seen the original trilogy
It’s actually easier than you think.
Summary:
People are trying to get into the Monogatari series now, but the watch order might be a bit confusing.
It’s not supposed to be watched in chronological order — in fact, it’s completely impossible.
The optimal watch order is the light novel release order, which is very close to the anime release order.
As it naturally happens whenever a new season is announced, many people try to get into the Monogatari series before the next season is released.
With a series that’s over a hundred episodes long and divided into many separate entries that aren’t arranged chronologically or numbered, it’s bound to get pretty confusing.
Here’s a somewhat simple guide that explains how to watch the Monogatari series.
It’s impossible to watch in fully chronological order
First of all, there is no way to watch the series in chronological order — and it shouldn’t be watched that way. Some of the entries cover multiple arcs that are spread throughout the timeline. One may think they can watch the anime chronologically arc-by-arc — except that isn’t true either.
Some of Monogatari’s arcs happen at the same time — which is quite normal for a series with a non-linear narrative and multiple points of view. It’s completely impossible to arrange it in a chronological order, and that’s how it should be: you shouldn’t be scared of a non-linear narrative when getting into it.
The watch order follows the anime release order (mostly)
Outside of that, the watch order is pretty straightforward: it’s just the anime/novel release order with some caveats. You start with Bakemonogatari — and after that, the next novel is Kizumonogatari, which was adapted into a movie trilogy.
The movies spent years in production hell, but it’s pretty much the common consensus now that they should be watched after Bakemonogatari. Then you follow up with Nisemonogatari, Nekomonogatari: Kuro and Monogatari Series Second Season.
Hanamonogatari was originally planned to be part of the Second Season (as it is in the light novels). It’s often recommended to watch it after the second arc of the Second Season, Mayoi Jiangshi. Granted, watching it after Second Season is also fine — just don’t put it off (it’s the last one chronologically among the released ones, but shouldn’t be watched last).
After Second Season and Hana, the rest is pretty easy and just follows the release order. You watch Tsukimonogatari, Owarimonogatari (the first part), Kizumonogatari if you haven’t seen it yet. Koyomimonogatari is a collection of 10 short stories that answer some questions about previous arcs, plus the last 2 episodes that set you up for Owarimonogatari Part 2.
After that, there’s Zoku Owarimonogatari, and then the upcoming projects for Off Season and Monster Season. The Kizumonogatari remake movie is not out on Blu-Ray yet, but you can watch it at any point if you have seen the original trilogy
