Bakemonogatari

[Dagger]

Surprised that Andrew hasn't posted about this yet (Search didn't turn up anything, at least). Apparently NisiOisin's Bakemonogatari novel is getting made into an anime (http://giapet.net/2008/04/24/bakemonogatari-light-novel-goes-anime/). Looking forward to seeing it, with all I've heard about his work.

[Nemo_N]

Hehe. Just as I read NisiOisin I thought about Andrew too; I read his reviews on this author's works and have been hoping for a translation (professional or fan made) of them. I think an anime would have to do.

I must learn japanese pronto.

[Andrew Cunningham]

Surprised that Andrew hasn't posted about this yet (Search didn't turn up anything, at least). Apparently NisiOisin's Bakemonogatari novel is getting made into an anime (http://giapet.net/2008/04/24/bakemonogatari-light-novel-goes-anime/). Looking forward to seeing it, with all I've heard about his work.

I just woke up!
Fantastic news. These two books are some of his best, funniest work.
(He is definitely not Tsugumi Ohba, incidentally.)
Hope it turns out well.

As far as Nisioisin in English, the Death Note novel is already out, and Del Rey will be doing Faust, xxxholic, and the Zaregoto series later this year.

[Westlo]

I read your write up for it when it was linked on that other site, looks like fun, does this have a conclusive ending sicne it's only 2 volumes or did he leave it open for more?

[Lego]

Designs look really appealing. Add in the fact that I can call this "Bake" for short when it airs and I'm sold.

[Andrew Cunningham]

I read your write up for it when it was linked on that other site, looks like fun, does this have a conclusive ending sicne it's only 2 volumes or did he leave it open for more?

Fairly conclusive, yeah. He could write more, but he isn't going to, basically. We are talking two 500 page volumes, and five actual stories, most of which are at least novella length.

[NeoKakashi]

(He is definitely not Tsugumi Ohba, incidentally.)

Hah, I've heard some Japanese fans think he is Ohba, but I've never heard any reasons why. Just curious, why do you think he's not?

(I'm pretty sure the only known theory in the US is Hiroshi Gamou, but I've also read that Ohba could be Otsu-Ichi!)

[Andrew Cunningham]

(He is definitely not Tsugumi Ohba, incidentally.)

Hah, I've heard some Japanese fans think he is Ohba, but I've never heard any reasons why. Just curious, why do you think he's not?

(I'm pretty sure the only known theory in the US is Hiroshi Gamou, but I've also read that Ohba could be Otsu-Ichi!)

Style.
I've read both Nisioisin and Otsu Ichi extensively, and translated novels by both of them, and they have very different sensibilities from Ohba. (Nothing like translating someone to give you an exhaustive knowledge of their quirks.)
Additionally, part of the whole Ohba mythos is that he's a veteran writer (manga writer?) who is writing in a style pretty far removed from his usual stuff, which is why the creation of the fake identity. Otsu Ichi and Nisioisin get their names on the pile because they're both known for well plotted thrillers, but the fact that they are known for it entirely rules them out.
Gamou Hiroshi isn't know for that genre; in fact, I'd never heard of him before the name was suggested. I think he's a bit too obscure, though...
Definitely an intriguing mystery, and they're clearly running with the theme, given the mysterious "M" - a famous novelist who wrote the novelization of and the story for the L spin-off film.

[AdrianWerner]

Fairly conclusive, yeah. He could write more, but he isn't going to, basically. We are talking two 500 page volumes, and five actual stories, most of which are at least novella length.Wow...does that still count as Light Novel ?(empasis on "light") :D

[Andrew Cunningham]

Fairly conclusive, yeah. He could write more, but he isn't going to, basically. We are talking two 500 page volumes, and five actual stories, most of which are at least novella length.Wow...does that still count as Light Novel ?(empasis on "light") :D

It is in the dubious territory, yeah. I'd say no, personally; the Kodansha Box line is very deliberately pitched older. Somewhere between mainstream fiction and light novels; light novels for people who have started to outgrow them.
I mean, the Zaregoto books came from a mainstream line, but had pop art illustrations, and were named the best light novel of 2006.
So it basically makes your head hurt if you try and peg them as one thing or another. Eventually you just settle for novels that are awesome and let it be.

[AdrianWerner]

Fairly conclusive, yeah. He could write more, but he isn't going to, basically. We are talking two 500 page volumes, and five actual stories, most of which are at least novella length.Wow...does that still count as Light Novel ?(empasis on "light") :D

It is in the dubious territory, yeah. I'd say no, personally; the Kodansha Box line is very deliberately pitched older. Somewhere between mainstream fiction and light novels; light novels for people who have started to outgrow them.
I mean, the Zaregoto books came from a mainstream line, but had pop art illustrations, and were named the best light novel of 2006.
So it basically makes your head hurt if you try and peg them as one thing or another. Eventually you just settle for novels that are awesome and let it be.
Yeah, that's definitely the right aproach :) I must say though I really wish more longer works would be released. As much as I like light novels, they're preety thin and with huge letters, so they end preety fast.
I have always been in love in thick brick-like novels, so I'm happy that at least Zerotogo and Faust 1 seem to be on a longer side, I just hope they will also have normal-sized font.

[Andrew Cunningham]

Fairly conclusive, yeah. He could write more, but he isn't going to, basically. We are talking two 500 page volumes, and five actual stories, most of which are at least novella length.Wow...does that still count as Light Novel ?(empasis on "light") :D

It is in the dubious territory, yeah. I'd say no, personally; the Kodansha Box line is very deliberately pitched older. Somewhere between mainstream fiction and light novels; light novels for people who have started to outgrow them.
I mean, the Zaregoto books came from a mainstream line, but had pop art illustrations, and were named the best light novel of 2006.
So it basically makes your head hurt if you try and peg them as one thing or another. Eventually you just settle for novels that are awesome and let it be.
Yeah, that's definitely the right aproach :) I must say though I really wish more longer works would be released. As much as I like light novels, they're preety thin and with huge letters, so they end preety fast.
I have always been in love in thick brick-like novels, so I'm happy that at least Zerotogo and Faust 1 seem to be on a longer side, I just hope they will also have normal-sized font.

Most of the Zaregoto novels are 400 pages in Japanese, and published at a regular paperback size. The bunko edition of the first novel is 553 pages, a good two to three hundred more than most light novels...and with much, much longer paragraphs.

[AdrianWerner]

Most of the Zaregoto novels are 400 pages in Japanese, and published at a regular paperback size. The bunko edition of the first novel is 553 pages, a good two to three hundred more than most light novels...and with much, much longer paragraphs.
You're making me drool :)

[NeoKakashi]

But damn, it's another three months before it comes out in the US. Although, I was waiting for Another Note for damn well over a year, and that book has already come and gone quickly, so maybe these three months will pass quickly. I'm definitely excited for another NisiOisiN book after that one.

By the way, according to amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Zaregoto-Book-Kubikiri-Cycle-NISIOISIN/dp/0345504275/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209192952&sr=8-1), it's 352 pages long.

[Andrew Cunningham]

Official site up! No staff details yet.
http://www.bakemonogatari.com/

[Andrew Cunningham]

This inspired me to read the prequel novel, Kizumonogatari. Only just got started really - covers the time he got bit by a vampire, which is mentioned constantly through Bakemonogatari, but never actually explained. And for once, he actually went back and wrote it. (Nisioisin loves to leave chunks of backstory unexplained.)

Definitely hope they work this into the anime, if only to hear the Japanese actors attempt to pronounce the vampire's name: Kissshot Acerolaorion Heartunderblade.
Doesn't quite beat Bluesharp Babysplit or Backyard Bottomslash, but for sheer length...

[Andrew Cunningham]

Surprised that Andrew hasn't posted about this yet (Search didn't turn up anything, at least). Apparently NisiOisin's Bakemonogatari novel is getting made into an anime (http://giapet.net/2008/04/24/bakemonogatari-light-novel-goes-anime/). Looking forward to seeing it, with all I've heard about his work.

The cover of Nisemonogatari, Nisioisin's newest book (probably part of the francise) indicates the director is Shinbo.
After SZS, he may well be the perfect choice.

[TheGreenMan]

Trailer for anime has been posted. Basically, it's SZS text for most of the trailer with some anime at the end. The girl at the end being held by the guy looked pretty awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPgwOt0Q_98

[Suwako Moriya]

Trailer for anime has been posted. Basically, it's SZS text for most of the trailer with some anime at the end. The girl at the end being held by the guy looked pretty awesome.

Ah, so it's the same trailer that's been floating around for awhile. I wish they'd post a new one. Not just new, but one that's much better than that one as well.

[Westlo]

It was only a trailer to announce the staff wasn't it? Came out in Feb.. no suprise it didn't have much animation in it...

Here's a blog entry with some info on it, good va list.

http://metanorn.kokidokom.net/2009/06/09/first-look-bakemonogatari/

[angelx03]

New trailer is out!

http://www.bakemonogatari.com/special/pv02.html

What's with the stapler in the end? :sweat:

[Suwako Moriya]

New trailer is out!

Ah, nice to have more animation this time. Although I'm still having trouble forming a pre-opinion on this. Other than being curious about purple hair girl.

What's with the stapler in the end? :sweat:

Perhaps the fate of the universe depends on that stapler? In other words, I have no idea. Still it does stand out.

[TheGreenMan]

What's with the stapler in the end? :sweat:

It looks like she threatening him. It's near his jugular vein.

[Westlo]

New trailer is out!

http://www.bakemonogatari.com/special/pv02.html

What's with the stapler in the end? :sweat:

Looks fantastic, Aniplex being behind production should make this the best looking SHAFT series ever.

[Westlo]

Sirn posted this on AS

From 2ch thread:

- There will be five theme songs for five stories each with different animation. The music will be done by Kousaki Satoru and the lyrics will be done by Megumi Hinata (meg rock).

Nice. Kousaki Satoru is the one behind Kannagi OP, Seikirei OP and the Haruhi songs.

[Fencedude]

What's with the stapler in the end? :sweat:

It looks like she threatening him. It's near his jugular vein.

Her love is a stapler?

[Andrew Cunningham]

What's with the stapler in the end? :sweat:

It looks like she threatening him. It's near his jugular vein.

It's in his mouth, ready to slam a staple into the inside of his cheek. She's sort of an uber tsundere that way.

[Westlo]

SHAFT go the extra mile.

According to the interview with director Shinbo and producer Iwakami, "Bakemonogatari" will be 15 episode long. The programming block of the TV channel accommodates only 12 episodes, so they plan to stream the rest of the three episodes on the official website for free. Director Shinbo decided on the irregular series organization in order to reproduce the original novel faithfully.

Director Shinbo insisted that the idea of the un-aired episodes was not developed on account of their marketing strategy.

Source: Bakemonogatari official website

http://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=96261&pages=1&show=0#msg3784535

*applauds*

[Ashyukun]

OK, I hadn't read most of this thread for a while to have picked up that Shinbo/SHAFT were going to be behind this- but it's not like it took more than a second or two of the show to figure this out quite definitively.

I don't really feel like typing up a full review of it- I'm not sure how well I could any way given it's kind of hard to faithfully explain IMO- but suffice it to say that this is one show I'll be making every effort to follow. It's got SHAFT style in spades, looks DAMN slick, and I'm loving the characters and plot setup so far. Hitagi is all kinds of Chiwa Saito-voiced awesome, Araragi is quite amusing- and I'm seriously hoping we get to see more of/about the class rep as well, since she looks quite interesting as well.

Definitely a keeper. Though I'll be setting my stapler a bit further away from me than normal tomorrow at work...