Monogatari Light Novel

[Niobe Hennigan]

Monogatariis a Japanese light novel series written by Nisio Isin and illustrated by Vofan. The plot centers around Koyomi Araragi, a third-year high school student who survives a vampire attack and subsequently finds himself helping girls involved with a variety of apparitions, ghosts, beasts, spirits, and other supernatural phenomena.

The series began as three short stories serialized in Kodansha's Mephisto magazine between the September 2005 and May 2006 issues, which were later collected in a light novel volume published in Japan on November 2, 2006. Kodansha released 29 volumes in the series under its Kodansha Box imprint. Each of the 29 entries in the series share the common title suffix -monogatari (物語, lit. "story"). In 2015, Vertical licensed the novel series for English release.[1] The company began its paperback line with Kizumonogatari on December 15, 2015,[2] and later released the Bakemonogatari novels in three volumes: the first in December 2016, the second in February 2017, and the third in April 2017.[3] As of December 2020, the novels in the series up to Zoku Owarimonogatari have been translated.[4]

The English audiobook version of Kizumonogatari was released on May 25, 2016 by Bang Zoom! Entertainment with narration done by Keith Silverstein, Eric Kimerer, and Cristina Vee.[57] The audiobook for Nekomonogatari (White) was released on April 9, 2019 with narration done by Cristina Vee, Eric Kimerer, and Erica Mendez.[58] The audiobook for the three volumes of Bakemonogatari were released on March 24, 2020 with narration done by Eric Kimerer, Cristina Vee, Erica Mendez, and Keith Silverstein.[59]

The Japanese audiobook version of the entire series began release by Kodansha via Audible on February 17, 2021. Each novel features narration by the voice actors/actresses of the anime adaptation. It released one novel each month until June 16, 2023, with the second volume of Shinomonogatari.[60][61]

Kodansha revealed that Mijikanamonogatari (短物語ミジカナモノガタリ, "Short Story" or "Short Stories") was scheduled to be released July 3, 2024 (ISBN 978-4-06-536177-1).[102] The book will contain 38 short stories, 32 of which were previously released[c] and 6 new stories:[103] On June 12, 2024, Kodansha announced that the book would be delayed after it was discovered that a story that should have been included was inadvertently left out.[104]

Mazemonogatari (混物語マゼモノガタリ) is a collection of short stories featuring characters from Nisio Isin's other works. Twelve of these stories were first distributed in Japanese cinemas during the Japanese theatrical releases of Kizumonogatari Part 1: Tekketsu,[105] Kizumonogatari Part 2: Nekketsu[106] and Kizumonogatari Part 3: Reiketsu.[107] A collected volume of these stories, alongside three previously unpublished ones, was published by Kodansha on February 6, 2019.[108] (ISBN 978-4-06-513292-0)

Even though the first two volumes were published in 2006, its English counterpart (separated in three books) was only published in 2016 and 2017. Why did it take so long ? After all, the light novels were a success and the animated series began in 2009 (in Japanese with English subtitles). The problem is the following: Nishio Ishin is way too good at Japanese pop culture and at playing on Japanese words and symbols (kanji). His novels are full of references to other Japanese works, Japanese news and Japanese laws. In what world would that be possible to translate for an American public ?

Most translated TV shows that I watch sound like garbage. This comes from a lack of budget or efforts from the producers. On the other hand, the Monogatari series took its time to be translated for a reason: it was to assure its quality and pay honour to its great author, finally giving birth to novels that I absolutely enjoy reading.

Now the problem is that your question has a bit of a variable in it. Not everyone has the same tolerance for struggle when reading. While a little bit of confusion may not ruin the enjoyment for one individual, it could completely ruin it for another person. I think a good level to start trying would be after you have worked your way through another big boy novel first. Like nothing meant for middle school or elementary school kids. Nishio Ishin has some very interesting writing at times and I think getting used to normal writing first would help with both comprehending the content and his own quirks in writing. After the first book, his next books should feel increasingly easier. Bakemonogatari is also on koohi.cafe if you wanna learn the vocab for it.

This is a tremendous start to a new adaptation of the Monogatari world. Fans of the original light novels and Oh Great! Will be more than satisfied, in addition to being a fantastic way to experience the series if you are a newcomer.

The first encounter is with a girl named Senjougahara Hitagi, a self-proclaimed tsundere(more like a yandere) who is abnormally light. She goes on to become his girlfriend as Araragi becomes a huge pillar of support for her. This story is detailed in the episodes titled Hitagi Crab.

The next encounter is with an old acquaintance/junior of Senjougahara named Kanbaru Suruga who turns into a murderous demon(only wants to kill Araragi) with a monkey paw for one of her hands, a result of wishing on a mummified arm for spoiler reasons(watch the anime or read the light novels). This story is detailed in the episodes titles Suruga Monkey.

And so Monogatari begins. A winding story of oddities and the people possessed by them. A tale spun through mountains of symbolic dialogue and stylistic visuals. A journey that is as unapologetic as it is layered (and often misunderstood because of it).

I found this blog as I was researching for my translation project, and even though I hoped for more of a light novel analysis, seeing the story also from a directorial perspective is really helping me roughing up my own adaptation.

Novel translation guide.

I think there is no translation about the ending chapter yet but you can use this summary as a guide. -monogatari-ending-spoilers.html?m=1

You're welcome! The novel/anime/manga was quite famous in the Shoujo lovers community way back then. I hope the series will follow the central plot of the original story to attract more people to the community and vice versa.

OK, given the Chinese live-action drama's imminent release. I hope the anime get re-license in the US since Funimation let it expire in 2011 (despite I can watch it on Retrocrush and Amazon Prime Video, makes me wonder who has the license now). I wonder if Netflix (or which streaming site can get the US license) to stream the live-action Chinese dramas for people who are watching (or have watched) the anime.

Also speaking of animation, and given that Chinese animation has done OK. I wouldn't mind if The Story of Saiunkoku would get a Chinese animation remake alongside the live-action adaptation. I mean after watching the Chinese animation, Heaven Official's Blessing (which itself is also being adapted into live-action too) and The Daily Life of the Immortal King, I thought why not give The Story of Saiunkoku a Chinese animation remake/adaptation. The Japanese anime was interesting, but the light novel was finished in 2012 when the 2nd season of the anime was done in March 2008 meaning a lot of material was never adapted into the anime. I wouldn't mind if the Chinese animation can start over fresh and finished what the 2-season Japanese anime couldn't.

I am currently translating the original novels of Saiunkoku. If you are interested, you can check it out here.

-tale-of-saiunkoku/

You can also track the update here as well.

-monogatari/

Tales of Reincarnations in Maydare (メイデーア転生物語, Meideea Tensei Monogatari) is a light novel series written by Midori Yuuma and illustrated by Esora Amaichi, published by Kadokawa under their Fujimi L Bunko imprint. It is a remake of the author's earlier web novel Oretachi no Maou wa Korekara da., and shares many similar concepts and worldbuilding. A manga adaptation by Nana Natsunishi began serialization in Square Enix's Monthly GFantasy magazine in January 2020.

The Story of Saiunkoku (彩雲国物語, Saiunkoku Monogatari, lit. "Tale of the Land of Colored Clouds") is a series of Japanese light novels written by Sai Yukino and illustrated by Kairi Yura. As of July 2011, the eighteenth and final volume was released, concluding the series. Four side story anthologies have also been released, collecting stories originally published in The Beans magazine.

A manga version, also illustrated by Kairi Yura, is serialized in Beans Ace, which is published by Kadokawa Shoten. However when Beans Ace ended, the manga was moved to Monthly Asuka. Currently, nine tankōbon volumes have been released. The series has been licensed by Viz Media for an English release in North America as part of their Shojo Beat imprint. English translations of volumes 1 - 9 of the comics are also available at Kadokawa's eBook store.[1]

The anime adaptation, produced by Madhouse Studios, was directed by Jun Shishido, and broadcast on the Japanese television network NHK on Saturday mornings. The first season began airing on April 8, 2006, and completed its run on February 24, 2007, airing a total of 39 episodes. The second season, titled Saiunkoku Monogatari Second Series (彩雲国物語 第2シリーズ) began airing on April 7, 2007 and consists of another 39 episodes, ending its run on March 8, 2008.

Set in the fictional empire of Saiunkoku, Saiunkoku Monogatari tells the story of a kingdom who is recuperating after a tumultuous war that left the throne in the hands of an incapable Emperor and how a girl's dream of serving the Imperial Court changed the lives of the people around him and molded a new beginning for Saiunkoku.

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