Monogatari is a Japanese light novel series written by the famous novelist Nisio Isin. The story centers around Koyomi Araragi, a third-year high school student who survives a vampire attack. After which he starts himself helping girls involved with a variety of apparitions, deities, ghosts, beasts, spirits, and other supernatural phenomena. Currently, there are a total of 26 volumes, and is said to release two more volumes very soon.
Later the series was adapted into anime by SHAFT and instant became a huge hit. Monogatari Series consists of a very complicated timeline. The release order of the light novel as well as the anime series as well as chronologically is quite complicated. Here is a breakdown of the Monogatari Series Watch Order & Timeline for you guys to refer to.
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Table of Contents
Monogatari Series Watch Order & Timeline Guide 2022
Monogatari Season Watch Order In Anime & Novel
The book and anime adaptions are both organized in five seasons. Each of these seasons has its own “Monogatari” installments. And every installment has its own arcs which are ranging from 1-7 arcs per installment.
First Season
- Bakemonogatari (2009)
- Nisemonogatari (2012)
- Nekomonogatari Black (2012)
Second Season
- Monogatari Series Second Season (2013)
- Hanamonogatari (2014)
Final Season
- Tsukimonogatari (2014)
- Owarimonogatari (2015)
- Koyomimonogatari (2016)
- Kizumonogatari Part 1: Tekketsu (2016)
- Kizumonogatari Part 2: Nekketsu (2016)
- Kizumonogatari Part 3: Reiketsu (2017)
- Owarimonogatari (Part 2) (2017)
- Zoku Owarimonogatari (2018)
Off-Season
- Orokamonogatari (TBA)
- Wazamonogatari (TBA)
- Nademonogatari (TBA)
- Musubimonogatari (TBA)
Monster Season
- Shinobumonogatari (TBA)
- Yoimonogatari (TBA)
- Amarimonogatari (TBA)
- Ougimonogatari (TBA)
- Shinomonogatari (TBA)
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Monogatari Series Light Novel Release/Nisio Isin Order
Since Monogatari watch order in anime is quite different compared to its Light novel release by Nisio Isin. The novel version is the actual complete original order in which the stories were supposed to be shown in. In this order, you will be experiencing the story in a way that it was originally intended to be.
But it comes at a cost of missing the mystery and anticipation element of Kizumonogatari along with other minor differences in the story. For viewing the story in this order you will have to skip and shuffle certain parts. You can go ahead and see the anime in its original order as we have given below.
First Season
- Bakemonogatari (2006)
- Kizumonogatari (2008)
- Nisemonogatari (2008 – 2009)
- Nekomonogatari (Black) (2010)
Second Season
- Nekomonogatari (White) (2010)
- Kabukimonogatari (2010)
- Hanamonogatari (2011)
- Otorimonogatari (2011)
- Onimonogatari (2011)
- Koimonogatari (2011)
Final Season
- Tsukimonogatari (2012)
- Koyomimonogatari (2013)
- Owarimonogatari (2013 – 2014)
- Zoku Owarimonogatari (2014)
Off-Season
- Orokamonogatari (2015)
- Wazamonogatari (2016)
- Nademonogatari (2016)
- Musubimonogatari (2017)
Monster Season
- Shinobumonogatari (2017)
- Yoimonogatari (2018)
- Amarimonogatari (2019)
- Ougimonogatari (2020)
- Shinomonogatari (TBA)
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Monogatari Light Novel/ Kizumonogatari First Order
While the original series gets quite confusing if not followed in order the Author Nisio Isin claimed that he thinks Kizumonogatari can come before Bakemonogatari. If you wish to go with what Nisio said you can go ahead and try it out and shuffle the order according to your liking. The official English Light Novel release of the Monogatari series was followed in this manner.
Chronological Order Of The Series
Since many people prefer to watch the series after reading the novel it is recommended to watch it in chronological order. With the number of stories and characters, you will love to keep rewatching the series. While this order of viewing is recommended for fans who won’t be confused by missing information that has not been revealed or made clear yet. For once who are new to the series, it is best that you avoid watching since you may end up getting quite confused.
- Wazamonogatari
- Kizumonogatari
- Nekomonogatari (Black)
- Bakemonogatari
- Nisemonogatari
- Kabukimonogatari
- Onimonogatari
- Owarimonogatari Vol. 2
- Nekomonogatari (White)
- Owarimonogatari Vol. 1
- Wazamonogatari
- Orokamonogatari (Sodachi Fiasco)
- Otorimonogatari
- Koimonogatari
- Tsukimonogatari
- Owarimonogatari Vol. 3
- Zoku Owarimonogatari
- Hanamonogatari
- Shinobumonogatari
- Wazamonogatari
- Orokamonogatari
- Orokamonogatari
- Nademonogatari
- Musubimonogatari
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Monogatari Series Watch Order – Things To Keep In Mind
- Bakemonogatari series officially consists of 15 episodes but you will only be able to find 15 on the legal site since the last 3 episodes were only released in Japan and were not released on television. You will only be able to view these episodes through illegal sites etc.
- Since the series is meant to have mystery you may end up getting confused but do not worry as you keep watching the story will get clearer and you would definitely love to watch the series whole.
- The compilation of Kabukimonogatari, Owarimonogatari, and Onimonogatari occur at the same time as the entire Nekomonogatari Shiro arc. This is because the entire arc is supposed to be used as a flashback stage.
If you do decide to give this series you will definitely fall in love with it. Do not get thrown back by the complicated release order. Make sure to refer to our Monogatari Series Watch Order & Timeline guide to get a proper viewing order.