The Monogatari series is getting two new anime adaptations: Off Season and Monster Season. The announcement was initially teased as a new Aniplex project: letters and O and M were posted. SHAFT is once again animating, with Akiyuki Shinbo as a chief director. Teaser visual and trailer are now out, along with information on 2024 premiere.
Off-Season is a collection of side stories focusing on different characters. It consists of four arcs: Orokamonogatari, Wazamonogatari, Nademonogatari, and Musubimonogatari. Overall, it is the fourth saga in the novel series. Meanwhile, Monster Season tells the story of Koyomi’ Araragi’s university life in six arcs:
Midori Yoshizawa is credited as the director of the new Monogatari anime project. Shinbo is also in charge of series composition with SHAFT (Fuyashi Tou). Akio Watanabe is the character designer and chief animation director.
Monogatari is a light novel series written by Nisi Oisin and illustrated by Vofan. The series started serialization in 2006 and although volumes cover different arcs, the titles of each one end with -monogatari. Bakemonogatari is a manga adaptation of the light novel, illustrated by Oh! Great. It has been serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine since 2018 and currently has 152 chapters, compiled into 15 volumes.
The franchise received an anime adaptation titled Bakemonogatari by studio SHAFT in the Summer of 2009. Nisemonogatari and Nisemonogatari (Black) followed in 2012. Monogatari Series: Second Season aired in 2013 and covered 6 arcs of the light novel. The adaptation of Final Season, which includes Tsukimonogatari, Owarimonogatari, Koyomimonogatari, Owarimonogatari II, Zoku Owarimonogatari, aired from 2014 to 2019 as a combination of specials, TV anime, and movies.
The Kizumonogatari prequel novel was also adapted in the form of three movies: Tekketsu, Nekketsu, and Reiketsu. A new cut of the movies, titled Kizmonogatari: Koyomi Vamp, was released on January 12 in Japan. The new movie features new audio lines and edited scenes. As part of promotional efforts for the new release, the franchise revealed a special 8-minute commercial, said to be the longest in Japanese history.
In addition to studio SHAFT, names such as Tatsuya Oishi, Akiyuki Shinbo, Akio Watanabe, Yukito Kizawa, and Muneo Nakamoto worked on the franchise. In 2022, the studio revealed a trailer for the Bakemonogatari manga.
Source: Official Twitter
©Nisi Oisin, Vofan, Oh! Great/Kodansha, Shaft