Owarimonogatari 2nd Season

-------------------- Owarimonogatari Second Season -------------------- Well, it has beeen 2 years since the last monogatari series, and boy! let me tell you that the wait was worth it! absolutely worth it. First I have to say that the Monogatari Series is my favorite anime of all time, and this season proved why. [ART & ANIMATION] Shaft did a pretty good job with the art style and animation, it doesnt have a lot of details but it fits great with the anime. It is also consistent with the other series and it has an interesting way of desing, that has been seen since the first season aired.The desing of the background that is simple and also using no background characters was a thing I only saw with shaft and their works. Something that I really like is the way that by giving background to the viewer with the cards that appeare now and then in each episode (and the whole series as well). We also get to se the art work of Gekidan INU Curry for a part in Mayoi Hell and the ending as well, which is pretty nice art style and uncommon to see in anime (the other anime that, I know of, of having that art style is madoka with their witches). Personally I prefer the art style of the anime more than the movies. Also the animation is smooth to the eye and isn't that heavy to the eye so is easy to watch. The only thing is that if you want to read the cards, you need to be pretty fast to actually post the video so you can read it. 10/10 [SOUND] The sound had good quality and I personally enjoy it. I love the music of the openings and ending of the series, sang by the voice actor of Mayoi Hachikuji (Emiri Katou) and Ougi Oshino (Kaori Mizuhashi). The soundtrack its pretty well done and gives the ambient of the story the feeling of being alive. The voice actors did a pretty good job with their characters, they portrayed it well and they are consistent with their works on this series. I enjoy every work of the voice actos and the way they said the lines fit perfect for me with those compared to the book. The diaologue its fast and serious with sometimes hitting the comical absurd. 10/10 [STORY] I dont want to spoil anyone, so this part is going to be pretty quick. This story takes place after the events that happened in Koyomimonogatari. Its the parts of Mayoi Hell, Hitagi Rendezvous and Ougi Dark. The characters have the same personality and the dialogu exchange is quick and stupidly confussing. They do a lot of word play with the kanji of different things, like the word play with Senjougahara's driving license. It also gives background of the story with the different cards that appeared throught the episodes. The story is pretty good and get your tissues ready, because you are going to need a lot and I dont mean it because of the fan service (honestly now that I think about it, it doesn't have any fan service at all compared to the other seasons). Even though the season was sort of 2 hours long, Shaft did a good job on narriating the parts with great detail on them. The story is pretty easy to understand and to catch all the things from the beggining, that lead to the ending of the story. Story 10/10 [CONCLUSION] The Owarimonogatari s2 brought to me a lot of nostalgia and feelings, because of a huge fan I am. Honestly, if the world ends tomorrow, I would die happily knowing that I could watch this season. Owarimonogatari s2 was the best part of monogatari so far, and I highly recommend to watch it (only if you have seen the other series). If you love monogatari as same as me, then I will assure you thhat you are going to like this one as well. My Overall rating 10/10

(This review has been adapted from my blog/reddit thread. Spoilers ahead!) I’m not much of a driver myself. I have a license, and I know how to drive, but I much prefer using my own two legs for some nice exercise or Uber for a new-age taxi. As such, whether my destination is the grocery store or the nearby local mall, a car rarely enters the equation for me. Sooner or later, self-driving cars will take over the road, and I will not have to even think about driving whatsoever (since the vehicle will do everything anyway). Owarimonogatari 2nd Season also drives itself, too. Neither towards groceries norknickknacks but rather towards storied anime success. STORY The first Owarimonogatari season stands as one of the best entries in the entire series, what with its higher emphasis on a spooky new character, its symmetrical leanings, and its strong themes. So, with the sequel now upon the masses, how does the continuation carry the torch? To get everything aflame, the anime moves forward with its usual approach of distinct arcs within a single run. Three in total create this sprint: Mayoi Hell (two episodes), Hitagi Rendezvous (two episodes), and Ougi Dark (three episodes). Mayoi Hell finds Araragi literally dead and alongside Hachikuji once again. Hitagi Rendezvous is less formal than the wording suggests insofar as Araragi meets up with Senjougahara for a much-needed date. Ougi Dark brings Gaen and the gang together to talk about the mysterious Ougi Oshino herself. Where the latest-released installment before this one (Koyomimonogatari) took a brief pitstop for an extra dosage of fun, these next few arcs get back on the plot track. Not to say that they ditch the silliness outright, though. For example, Mayoi Hell serves the narrative purpose of stripping Araragi of a key feature of his but also gives the audience one of the best Hachikuji “I fwubbed!” performances ever. Hitagi Rendezvous progresses the relationship between the crab and the pervert one more step while also providing the saucy quips from Senjougahara that have been absent for far too long. And Ougi Dark reveals the actual identity of Ougi and makes Ononoki succumb to the lighthearted-yet-unfortunate end of Tsukihi’s and Shinobu’s handling. In other words, Owarimonogatari 2nd Season remains just as similar to the rest of its family in its structure and direction. The same applies for its thematic roots, too. This time, the anime discusses what it means to do the right thing versus the right thing. It pops up in each arc with Araragi in some manner. He helps Hachikuji when he possibly shouldn’t. He competes with Senjougahara in a romantic rivalry. He goes above and beyond for Ougi. Moreover, the show challenges the concept of “right” itself, forcing Araragi to think about this word given who he is, what he is doing, and why he is worrying about it in the first place. While not the most profound setup imaginable, this theme still allows for that thoughtful edge that the series keeps tucked away behind the mystery and the comedy it regularly touts. Not everything goes right, though. Truth be told, the actual events and plot in general do not have as much weight or as much engagement when compared to the past. A particularly built-up moment involving a certain someone comes to mind when it comes and goes without a whole lot of fanfare befitting the moment. Nevertheless, Owarimonogatari 2nd Season remains a solid “conclusion” to this series. Witty wordplay, cultural knowledge, cool ideologies, interesting twists. That is to say, it’s tough to hate on such a robust story. ART & ANIMATION Not much else can be said about the visuals within Owarimonogatari 2nd Season that hasn’t been said already. This far into the series, the show has its visual direction and signature flair basically down to a science. Tons of different styles, colors, shapes, perspectives, and cuts. Fun and personality-filled character designs of both an old and new nature. Quick scenes of high-quality animation. Head tilts. It’s all there once again to stare at and appreciate in all its splendor. Some shout-outs are still in order, though. The callbacks to the “scraggly” style of the opening and ending tracks as Araragi traverses the underworld with Hachikuji were a nice touch. Plus, the fact that Ougi delivers a bunch of metaphors within Araragi’s dream by using the known constellations as a replacement for the planetarium he and Senjougahara slept through made for a neat moment, too. And showcasing a game of cricket (with cake and tea time to boot) to keep stimuli high during a long-winded explanation also deserves recognition for, as always, refusing to let the conversations stagnate on a cinematic level. In short, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” CHARACTERS This series has almost always been home to a wide range of characters. Some seasons will contain a large handful to choose from, and some seasons will instead keep the focus on just one person in particular. For Owarimonogatari 2nd Season, it goes mostly with the latter, giving nearly all the attention to Araragi. Not to dismiss them outright, the supporting cast do have their opportunities throughout this specific season, too. Hachikuji earns herself a much more fitting, much more deified position despite her stature and her snail-driven background. Senjougahara gets “put in her place” per se as she learns to lose like a champ. And Ougi becomes humanized after his ending goes down a different route than even he could have predicted (and, in the process, revealing his official gender if the previous pronouns have not done so already). Yet Owarimonogatari 2nd Season, much like the first season which predates it, puts Araragi in that limelight. For a show which prioritizes (for the most part) everybody else but him, this infrequent look into the main protagonist turns into a special occasion of sorts. Araragi has pretty much been a man of questionable morals yet an honorable guy who cares deeply for the people close to him. However, he brings up several of the significant events which have affected him over the course of this myriad set of tales, signaling how he understands that this bizarre journey of his has impacted his life in ways unforeseen. The audience thinks about his progress in turn. What has improved for him, how his failures have shaped his course. He’s clearly been through a lot, and this season adds to this fact. His conversations with Hachikuji have him reflect on the choices he has made up to this point and whether he would perform the same ones again if given the chance. His date with Senjougahara has him growing closer to her with “vows” the two share together. And his final talk with Ougi has him looking inwards at himself about who he really happens to be. These moments, combined with his imminent graduation from high school into college and therefore pre-adulthood, find Araragi overcoming his adolescence. He had naturally been moving towards maturity as he became studious once again in school and thought about others before himself these past several months. But, here in Owarimonogatari 2nd Season, a last solid push pushes him onto that side with nary a trouble. This season has also reaffirms an idea arguably much more important and much more intriguing: that not everything about Araragi (or anyone for that matter) must be fixed or changed or redone. In real life, mundane issues or traumatic happenings can drastically morph people, but this situation is not always the case. Just because someone comes upon a new perspective does not mean that his or her entire personality flips or that he or she undergoes a physical transformation. Often, they remain mostly the same yet gain a newfound idea, outlook, or lesson that will be carried with them indefinitely. The same applies for characters in anime, and Araragi here in this season of the franchise represents a prime example. His maturity does not equate to him ditching his old self. Rather, he realizes that he can still be who he has always been – a vampire who cannot help but help others – while simultaneously increasing his position in life by absorbing the experiences he faces. So, yes, Araragi does not “develop” writing-wise to any grand extent. But, because of his dedication to maintain both his past and his future, he finishes up this season as a strong contender for the fact that a character does not need to necessarily change to have a meaningful purpose in the story told. MUSIC & SOUND (Note: The second OP for Owarimonogatari 2nd Season, “dreamy date drive”, did not air as part of the televised broadcast. Because this review analyzes that version and not the BD version, said song will not be included in this deliberation. However, personally speaking, I do like the dreamy vibe and the POV visuals of the track. It’s a fitting piece for the romantic bond between Senjougahara and Araragi.) Much like its artistic brethren, the audio decisions within Owarimonogatari 2nd Season can speak and play for themselves. Impressive voice-acting performances which make the characters feel alive. The same strong, ambient original soundtrack. A multitude of sound-design elements for added flair. What’s tried-and-true remains so in this season without a doubt. The only major differences are (perhaps obviously) the new opening tracks and the new ending track. The first OP, titled “terminal terminal”, channels Hachikuji’s cuteness in song form. It blends together many instruments – piano keys, castanets, bells, trumpets, acoustic guitar, chimes – for a happy, fun foundation, and her vocals throughout (especially on the timing of the distinct triplet of notes at certain points) give it the adorable charm which follows the lovable snail around. Its tone somewhat contrasts with the story arc which it precedes, but that provides it even more staying power when watching the show. The second OP, titled “dark cherry mystery”, combines hip-hop beats and string segments to get at a mellow-yet-charged track to helm the way for the finale of the season. The snapping and clapping in the background give the song a smoother feel, and the perceived repetition in the vocal delivery has a hypnotizing effect to it while listening. Both sides complement the harsher sounds of the record scratching, the drowned-out instruments, and the fluttering sound-effects. It isn’t as nuanced of a song as the other OP, and it isn’t as interesting either, but it still has a nice place within Owarimonogatari 2nd Season. As for the ED, titled “SHIORI”, its piano melodies, grander sound, and multiple vocalists create an airy, heartfelt closing for this iteration of the anime. It’s a pretty song, so it has a feelgood vibe, but it doesn’t quite leave as much of an impression as its counterparts. Altogether, this season hardly falters in terms of its audio, and its OP-ED offerings, while not the most memorable, still stand as strong additions to the already huge number of specialized tracks available from this long-standing franchise. ENJOYMENT Once again, this project reels me in and has me liking most of what it dishes out. It was extremely nice to have Senjougahara back into the fold, and so her whole arc ended up being the most fun for me. The teasing. The reactions. The silliness. The kindness. The romance. It was a pure treat to hear her and see her have some deserved focus once again. Hachikuji, Tsukihi, and Ononoki were hilarious per usual as well, and seeing Shinobu in her adult form made for quite the spectacle. Ougi’s asides kept me captivated, too, which is often the point. And I even appreciated Hanekawa’s small appearance near the last several minutes since she is one of my favorites from the anime overall. Compared to the first season, key differences stir up my personal attachment. The lack of any new characters was unfortunate, but Ougi finally losing per se provided some satisfying comeuppance. Gaen still gets on my nerves, but she wasn’t as annoying this time around. And each arc did not reach the same level of critical analysis to indulge in, but they came off as consistently entertaining rather than rising and falling throughout. So, like last time, while I cannot say I adore this sequel, it has its merits for sure. I will have a bone to pick with the series sooner rather than later, should it choose not to conclusively end (after all, this season is translated literally as “End Story”). But that’ll be a discussion for another day. For now, the series stamps in yet another positive experience in its record books. Owarimonogatari 2nd Season makes for a super-swell follow-up within this famous franchise. The artistry and the music keep the same signature structure (and rightfully so), leading to refined production values. The story content also remains familiar and thematic even if the plot itself is not quite as engaging as usual. And the returned focus on Araragi, with the smattering of supporting cast members here and there, leads to a neat finish for his arc. The total package isn’t the best that the series has to offer, but it certainly drives home the fact that its juggernaut status is just as deserved as always. SUMMARY Story: Good, despite the passable narrative moments, themes on doing the right thing take hold as the mystery, the comedy, and the dialogue within each worthwhile arc keep a similar stance as others in the family Art & Animation: Great, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” Characters: Good, Araragi demonstrates that a character does not require “development” to be meaningful Music & Sound: Good, the same impressive audio design is welcomed back, and the new OP-ED offerings, while not too memorable, have their place Enjoyment: Good, consistently entertaining even if not the most stellar entry in the series Final Score: 8/10

Owarimonogatari season 2 is the conclusion, final chapter, to the main storyline presented since Bakemonogatari in 2009. And to say that it was a long time coming would be an understatement. It has been nearly a decade since I fell in love with this anime. While it has had its ups and downs it never became intolerable. For anyone who kept watching this series for this long or joined the train, enjoy the finale. Mayoi Hell and Hitagi Rendevous are arcs with essential information that is needed to be build up before reaching the final boss. The final boss known as Ougi has been foreshadowedfor some time now. Who is she? Where did she come from? We will have the answers to all our questions in this arc. All the pieces that have been lingering will finally connect. Mayoi Hell consists of Ararargi going to hell after being intentionally killed by Gaen. If you haven't watched Koyominonogatari by now you should go back because it is very necessary. As well as obviously watching the rest of the series that has aired beforehand. Visually it is an extremely fun episode and seeing Ararargi and Mayoi banter after all these years is great. We saw them send each other off in the Second Season in a touching moment and in the Final Season, we see the wonderful reunion. The music that accompanies the touching moment towards the end pulls at your heartstrings. Can you call it manipulative? Sure but it sure has hell worked well. The comedic timing can be abrasive and I say this in a positive way. It's an onslaught of comedy smacking in your face with animation shifting from cartoony back to on model. With sprinkles of deep dialogue, we get a traditional Monogatari script. The most important element of the arc is Ararargi showing his attitude towards life changing but his heart remains the same. He will always want to save people even if he went back and did things again. However, he still shows some regret in the approach he took and how he could have improved on it. Anyone who has been interested in Ararararararagi's character development will be satisfied seeing him converse with Mayoi. In the second half of the arc, we are met with a character that was first introduced in Tsukimonogatari. To not get spoilers they converse about why Ararargi had to die and come back to life. This arc truly benefitted from the TV Special format because they were a ton of different settings being presented as Mayoi and Ararargi take a journey to meet the man who will bring him back to life. The animation quality was astonishing far better than what we saw in Owarimonogatari season 1. Hitagi Rendevouz isn't just a filler date between our main cast and heroine. While Hitagi takes a large chunk of her self-proclaimed arc, Ougi Oshino interrupts to speak about the important implications that were presented in Mayoi Hell. Ougi's near threatening dialogue and the sound design gives me chills down my spine when hearing her speak to Ararargi. Without having any knowledge of the next arc, Ougi Dark, you feel anxiety throughout. But wait wait wait let's get back to the date between our main girl and main boy. Hitagi probably looks the most beautiful here than in any other series. While this is obviously a personal feeling I had to put it in the ethersphere. But being beautiful isn't just about the character design, shaft really kept up with the animation and kept her on model almost throughout. With the obvious exception of comedic animation shifts. The backgrounds are rich and full of life as Hitagi, with her new driving license, takes out Ararargi on a date. The date itself was very charming. The most befitting to a 6 months relationship. To the viewers, it has been 8 years. Ougi Oshino is Ougi Oshino What makes this arc very different than most arcs is that it is a bit mature, not as mature as Hanamonogatari was but close. We don't see much fan service and we see a lot of reflection of the past. Its a somber ending. I am glad we are at the conclusion. But do not fret there are more novels to be adapted which will be. While they might not hit as hard as these arcs in this season it will still be a joy to watch. Thank you for the best 8 years of my life Nisio and SHAFT.

Before the review this is my personal opinion: I am so glad that this series didn’t disappoint me at all and I had such a great time watching it . Monogatari will always be one of the best anime I saw and I genuinely love it with all my heart starting with the great characters and ending with the lessons told from each series. This is the final puzzle piece from the Monogatari series. In this series every little detail from the other series that were left unexplained was revealed to its audience. Another worth praising writing style from the author who knows damnwell how to leave intentionally plot holes who are gonna be filled later in his future works. This is why the flaws are what makes Monogatari a great piece from the storytelling medium. Once again Shaft managed to use the visuals in perfect harmony with the current action of the characters and dialogue lines to emphasis the message for its audience. As an example I will mention the fantastic and beautiful association of each character from monogatari with a star constellation during Ougi’s explications .The dialogue is well used for the characterization and plot helping with the progression of the story. As we all know the minor characters from Monogatari are so well used for the plot and characterization of the main characters and in this series doesn’t disappoint us at all . Who taught that Tadatsuru a minor character from Tsukimonogatari would had such a impact across the story in Owari 2. Let’s not forget Oshino Meme disappearance after Bake which had a purpose after all and finally Gaen who is the shining star from Owari 2 using again her brilliant mind to solve a problem. Fantastic! Owari 2 also manages to give screen time to the two main characters from Bake Senjougahara and Araragi. It’s always a pleasure to see Senjougahara verbal abusing Araragi but caring for him deep down in her heart proving once again why her actions are unpredictable and her personality unique. What I am trying to say is that in this series we finally see the choices that those decided to take as a couple for their future after their long fight with their own problems. One of the main themes that needs to be mentioned is about change, portrayed through the actions and choices Araragi goes through . As for each part from Owari 2 they each have a different plot and message but they are all connected to the main story from Owari 2.Mayoi Hell is the preparation stage for Ougi Dark and Hitagi Rendevouz is the bridge that connects them . In Ougi Dark everything comes together giving a conclusion to the Monogatari series and presenting how the actions and choices the characters made influenced their lives . Trust me you will not regret any moment by watching Owari 2 , you will experience a lot of emotions through each arc and the conclusion will leave you in tears of joy and sadness. This series managed to give a conclusion to all of the other series from Monogatari and answer all the left questions.

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