Skip to content

TSUKI MONOGATARI

Written By:

Gareth Evens
tsukimonogatari

Tsukimonogatari is the first part of Monogatari’s final season. Saying “you should watch an earlier
series first” may seem like redundant advice but as Monogatari labels its seasons with titles rather than numbers first
time viewers may be unaware that they are watching the final part of a story.
If you chose to start with Tsukimonogatari
you should still to be able to follow what happens and the questions that the
series mulls over are such that anyone can appreciate them.

In Tsukimonogatari series
protagonist Koyomi Araragi discovers that he has
utilised his
ability to temporarily turn into a vampire so many times that the change has
become permanent. He isn’t quite a vampire yet but vampirism has become the new
norm for his body and it is slowly changing to adjust.

The series focuses on his reaction to this news, how he comes to terms
with it and what it means for the future.

Tsukimonogatari makes
this change its primary focus. The plot and pacing both give Koyomi enough time
to discover what is going on to him, to understand why it is happening, and to
come to terms with it. First time viewers may not understand the full
circumstances that make up the context for what Koyomi is going through but the
writing expresses his plight in a way that is universal. The consequences of
Koyomi’s actions have caught up with him and he spends Tsukimonogatari processing that.

The time that Tsukimonogatari
spends on contemplation is not always a strength however. There is a lot of talking
and each conversation is played out in full. At its best this means that ideas
are given the space they deserve, at its worst it means that dialogue can get
very, very repetitive. A good example of this coming from when Koyomi discovers
that he is a vampire. He does so by noticing that he fails to cast a reflection
on a mirror in his bathroom. Rather than merely say “I have no
reflection” or something similar he somehow manages to spout over three
lines on how he does not have a reflection. This tendency towards being verbose
is occasionally shared by the other characters, almost to the point where it feels
like we are being treated to a philosophy lecture.

Thankfully such sections are not indicative of the whole experience. Tsukimonogatari is the sort of series
that is great for long time fans of a show. It reflects on what has come before
and is something of a breather before what is to come. Despite its placement in
Monogatari the themes and plot points
are accessible enough for newer viewers and will hopefully encourage them to
check out earlier seasons of Monogatari.
It is a thoughtful anime and worth watching.

TSUKIMONOGATARI / CERT: 15 / DIRECTORS: AKIYUKI SHINBO, TOMOYUKI ITAMURA / SCREENWRITERS:
KIZAWA YUKITO, NAKAMOTO MUNEMASA/ STARRING: KAMIYA HIROSHI, HAYAMI SAORI, SAITO
CHIWA, SAKAMOTO MAAYA
 

Gareth Evens

You May Also Like...

black widow star scarlett johansson in talks to lead new universal jurassic world film

Scarlett Johansson In Talks To Join JURASSIC WORLD Film

Another MCU star appears to be taking up the reins for Universal’s new Jurassic World movie: two-time Oscar nominee Scarlett Johansson is reportedly in talks to lead the franchise that
Read More

Exclusive Reveal! Titan Comics to Deliver Prehistoric Hysterics in First 2 DUMB DINOS Collection

Titan Comics have exclusively revealed to STARBURST that they’re gearing up to publish the first-ever collection of the hilarious cult digital comic strip 2 Dumb Dinos, and we’re not the
Read More

New Dates For Lovecraftian Key of Dreams

Key of Dreams has announced new spaces for its titular immersive luxury horror event. The critically acclaimed company is known for its overnight experiences that dunk you into a strange
Read More

FAB Café to Host Free Film Screening of New Indie Comedy SECRETS OF A WALLABY BOY

We’re well known for our championing of truly independent filmmakers here at STARBURST, so it’s doubly exciting to be writing about one of our own! After joining the crew in
Read More
colin farrell returns as oswald cobblepot in the penguin series trailer

Colin Farrell Returns In THE PENGUIN Trailer

Colin Farrell returns as Gotham City’s answer to Tony Soprano in the first trailer for Max series The Penguin, which spins out of the world of the 2022 DC film
Read More
michael keaton as beetlejuice in beetlejuice 2 trailer

First Look At Jenna Ortega In BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE Trailer

Almost 40 years down the road, the infamous bio-exorcist finally returns in the first trailer for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, a sequel to Tim Burton’s 1988 cult classic film. Jenna Ortega (Wednesday,
Read More