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Monogatari Series Watch Order
For first-timers, watch Monogatari in release order starting with Bakemonogatari (2009). Kizumonogatari is a prequel best saved for later, despite happening first chronologically, and Hanamonogatari is set chronologically last even though it aired mid-run.
Monogatari Series Watch Order โ complete list
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Why this order?
Monogatari is famous for two things: dazzling dialogue-driven animation from Studio Shaft, and the single most argued-over watch order in anime. The reason is structural. Author NisiOisin wrote the arcs out of chronological sequence, and the anime largely followed the books, so the broadcast order deliberately withholds backstory and reveals it later for maximum effect. Getting the order right genuinely changes the experience.
The default here is the release (broadcast) order, beginning with Bakemonogatari in 2009. This is the path Shaft and Aniplex designed for newcomers. It introduces Koyomi Araragi and the cast as strangers, then slowly fills in their history. Following the studio's intended sequence preserves every twist the writers built, which is why most veterans recommend it for a first viewing.
The big gotcha is Kizumonogatari. Chronologically it comes first, telling the origin of Araragi and the vampire Kiss-Shot Acerola-Orion Heart-Under-Blade. But the film trilogy did not release until 2016โ2017 (later recut into the single feature Koyomi Vamp), and it lands far harder once you already know these characters. Watch it after Bakemonogatari, not before.
The chronological route reshuffles everything by in-story timeline: it opens with Kizumonogatari, threads the Second Season arcs together, and crucially ends with Hanamonogatari, which is set after Araragi's graduation and is the latest point in the whole saga. Tsukimonogatari also sits later than its 2014 air date suggests, falling after the Owarimonogatari arcs. It is a rewarding rewatch route but spoils itself for beginners.
If you enjoy NisiOisin's wordplay-heavy, talk-forward style, his Katanagatari is a natural next stop, and Shaft's visual language here grew out of earlier work like Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei. Pick release order first; save chronological for your second pass.
Timeline 2009โ2019
Every entry plotted by release year โ see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.
Where to play it today
Affiliate links (Bookshop.org for books, store links for games/films) slot in here.
Frequently asked questions
What order should I watch Monogatari in?
For a first viewing, use release (broadcast) order: start with Bakemonogatari (2009), then Nisemonogatari, Nekomonogatari (Black), Monogatari Series Second Season, Hanamonogatari, Tsukimonogatari, Kizumonogatari, Owarimonogatari, and finish with Zoku Owarimonogatari. This is the order Studio Shaft designed for newcomers and it preserves every reveal.
How many seasons and parts are there in Monogatari?
The core anime spans roughly nine releases: Bakemonogatari, Nisemonogatari, Nekomonogatari (Black), Monogatari Series Second Season, Hanamonogatari, Tsukimonogatari, the Kizumonogatari film trilogy, Owarimonogatari, and Zoku Owarimonogatari. Across them there are well over 100 TV episodes plus the three Kizumonogatari films. There is also a side-story anthology, Koyomimonogatari (2016), that most beginner guides skip.
Where does Kizumonogatari fit in the watch order?
Chronologically Kizumonogatari comes first โ it is the prequel showing how Araragi met the vampire Kiss-Shot Acerola-Orion Heart-Under-Blade. But it released in 2016โ2017 and hits hardest once you know the characters, so watch it after Bakemonogatari, not before.
Should I watch Monogatari in chronological order instead?
Chronological order is best saved for a rewatch. It opens with Kizumonogatari, reorders the arcs by in-story timeline, and ends with Hanamonogatari (which is set after Araragi's graduation), spoiling several twists the writers deliberately delayed. First-timers get more out of the release order.
Is Kizumonogatari the same as Koyomi Vamp?
Yes. Kizumonogatari was a three-part film trilogy (released January 2016, August 2016, and January 2017). It was later re-edited into a single feature titled Kizumonogatari: Koyomi Vamp, which covers the same story.
Where can I watch the Monogatari Series?
The TV entries stream on Crunchyroll and Hulu in many regions, and individual seasons or the Kizumonogatari films are available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video. Availability varies by country, so check your local catalog.
Last verified · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, Wikidata
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