Summer 2024 Preview: Monogatari Series: Off & Monster Season (2024)

Five years after the release of Zoku Owarimonogtatari, the acclaimed Monogatari Series hasn't quite concluded the way the name of its "Final Season" might suggest, as there is much left to tell. This summer, Monogatari Series: Off & Monster Season will follow the ongoing adventures of the young women who remain after Koyomi Araragi has graduated from high school.

Nisio Isin's Monogatari light novel series is split up into "seasons," of which three have been adapted up to now - First, Second, and Final - which are primarily about Araragi but frequently spotlight others as well. This newest anime ONA (Original Net Animation) will cover the Off Season and Monster Season respectfully, adapting a total of 10 volumes across an as-yet unknown number of episodes.

Monogatari Without Araragi

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Back in September 2023, we wrote about Monogatari's longevity beyond Owarimonogatari and asked why a story like this never seems to have a concrete ending. At the end of the day, the answer comes down to Isin's writing and just how compelling every character in this story is. If stories like those in Monogatari Series: Second Season have demonstrated anything, it's that this story can survive on just about any character with storytelling this mesmeric.

What is Orokamonogatari?

Of the two PV's released thus far, two volumes primarily showcased are Orokamonogatari and Nademonogatari. The former of those two has three stories, but the one given the greatest focus in the trailers is titled "Tsukihi Undo." Narrated by Yotsugi Ononoki, the story follows the series of events after she is caught moving whilst pretending to be the doll of Araragi's sister, Tsukihi.

Unable to keep up the lie, Ononoki has to lie and say she's a magical girl possessing Tsukihi's doll, and to make matters worse, she has to prove it by fighting a monster. And so, the Shikigami who once tried to kill Tsukihi back in Nisemonogatari ironically ends up protecting her to play off a big lie. In fact, Ononoki looks to be a major player in both of the teased volumes being adapted.

What is Nademonogatari?

The second novel teased is Nademonogatari and its singular story, "Nadeko Draw," once again featuring Ononoki, but this time with a focus on Sengoku Nadeko, the narrator. Nadeko continues to pursue her passion for drawing manga, but when she borrows Yotsugi's power, she accidentally creates four different versions of herself. She'll need the help of Ougi Oshino to track down her duplicates. In typical Monogatari tradition, these stories jump all around the timeline.

The Staff Behind the New Season

A New Director!

Naturally, director Akiyuki Shinbo has returned as Chief Director, but perhaps the most exciting name on the staff list is Midori Yoshizawa, the first female series director for the anime. In addition to Shindo, most fans have gotten used to directors Tatsuya Oishi or Tomoyuki Itamura, but a new director is an exciting development. Much like how past directors have made their styles apparent over the years, Yoshizawa has the chance to make her mark like never before.

And it's not like she's a novice. Yoshizawa has served as an episode director and animator in the past seasons, and she has a long reputation with Studio Shaft besides. She even directed the first season of Magia Record: Mahou Shojo Madoka Magica Side Story. It will be exciting to see how the animation and artwork measure up to past seasons, but so far, the trailers alone look gorgeous, and it's evident that there's some familiar talent on display from Magia Record.

Script, Animation, and Music

Shinbo is in charge of series composition alongside Fuyashi Tou, while Miku Ooshima, a longtime associate producer on the Monogatari Series, is also credited with the script. Naturally, animator and character designer Akio Watanabe returns not only for his iconic character designs but once again as chief animation director. He is joined by fellow chief ADs - Kana Miyai (Monogatari, Attack on Titan) and Nobuhiro Sugiyama (Magia Record, Nisekoi, RWBY: Ice Queendom).

YOASOBI will perform "UNDEAD" as the ending theme for the season. Satoru Kousaki, whose credits include much of the Monogatari Series, as well as Beastars and Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song, is back to compose the soundtrack. Monogatari Series: Off & Monster Season brings back a lot of familiar faces under the umbrella of a new and exciting director. This is not only a welcome return for one of anime's best, but it has the potential to come back stronger than ever.