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Tsukimonogatari

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Tsukimonogatari assaults the senses with a rush of flavorful dialogue and vibrant visuals that are infused with imagination.

John Lubbock had it right. “Most of us can, as we choose, make of this world either a palace or a prison.” Indeed, choice is what defines the human spirit. Stuck between Scylla and Charybdis, Araragi stands at the crossroads of Fate. To save his loved ones, he must brandish his vampiric powers once more. However, in doing so, he taints his soul and risks being hunted down by the very allies that he has sworn to protect. Can he rise to the challenge and preserve all that he holds dear? Or will he crumble under the weight of destiny? The final gambit has yet to be played…

Produced by SHAFT, Tsukimonogatari is spearheaded by Director Akiyuki Shinbo (also known for directing Puella Magi Madoka Magica and Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha) and led by Chief Animation Director Akio Watanabe (also known for directing SoulTaker and The Eden of Grisaia). Based on the immensely popular Monogatari series, Tsukimonogatari is the 13th book overall, and is the 1st book in the final arc of the story-line. Stemming from one of SHAFT’s most reputable production lines, the anime seems to hold much potential from the outset.

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The anime is distinctly divided into 3 portions based on settings: the introduction at the Araragi household, the exposition through a meeting with Kagenui, and finally the climactic conclusion at the temple grounds. Despite the simplicity of the premise, the abstract art styles and the lengthy and insightful conversations encapsulate the viewer in a surreal fantasy by not only establishing an engaging story-line, but also maturing the protagonists through the creative script writing that is the hallmark of the Monogatari series.

However, with only a limited pool of characters to work with, ratings and viewership would have been put at risk if not for a cast of competent voice actors. With the dauntless Koyomi Araragi played by Hiroshi Kamiya (also known for voicing Levi Ackerman in Attack on Titan, and Shinji Matou in Fate/stay night Unlimited Blade Works), the stoic Yotsugi Ononoki played by Saori Hayami (also known for voicing Ayase Aragaki in Oreimo and Sachi in Sword Art Online) and the adorable Shinobu Oshino played by Maaya Sakamoto (also known for voicing Ciel Phantomhive in the Black Butler series and Shiki Ryougi in the Kara no Kyoukai movie series), this star-studded line-up can easily carry the day with their incredible talent and endearing interactions.

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While the crew certainly engineered an immersive experience, the exquisite voice acting was complemented by the stunning visuals of SHAFT animation that make the Monogatari series unique. I was particularly fond of the harmonic color coordination that not only highlighted the disparate personalities of the protagonists, but also accentuated the atmosphere of the fantasy theme, spurring some imaginative screenplay.

In terms of animation, the dynamic transition between scenes and the recurring camera shifts to capture different perspectives of the situation were definitely fluid. And in spite of the detailed artwork, the ensemble of Key Animators succeeded in breathing life into the personas by making their gestures seem almost effortless. Noteworthy achievements include Yotsugi’s awkward poses and Shinobu’s charming facial expressions. After all, the sheer amount of dialogue may overwhelm the uninitiated. Hence, diversifying the way the characters communicate non-verbally is an excellent method to keep viewers engaged.

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Although Tsukimonogatari has many plus points, it does have its share of downsides too. All the build up and philosophical debate about being human eventually led to an anti-climactic resolution. While the villain did manage to make an appearance in the anime, he was eliminated right after a single conversation. And this was after all the hype about a final clash between the titans. Furthermore, there were copious amounts of sexual fanservice. While scenes sweetened with sexual tension provide comedic moments of character interaction, they were so deftly designed in this anime that they sometimes drown out the main message that the scene is trying to bring across.

However, these shortcomings can hardly be attributed to the production crew. The integrity of the source material was kept intact since the story progression was generally in line with the novels. Even the anti-climactic conclusion to the anime was accurately derived. Fanservice is also crucial to drive viewership and ratings as so many current anime have proven. Can we really fault them for pandering to the tastes and preferences of the modern audience? I think not.

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All in all, Tsukimonogatari makes for an excellent addition to the Monogatari series. The refreshing repertoire of abstract artwork combined with lengthy thought-provoking discourse makes for a unique selling point that few anime productions can rival.  While it made a concerted effort to capitalize on the hallmarks of the series, it suffers from the very ailment that defines it: too much talk and too little action. However, if one is able to look past the walls of text and peer into the essence of the debates, he can find a vast wealth of conceptual ruminations that reveal nary a glimpse at the true depth of the monumental back-story.

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The post Tsukimonogatari appeared first on WWHCurrent Anime & Manga Community.


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