How to start watching the Monogatari Series – Bakemonogatari Watch Order

In my experience, one of the most common anime questions asked is, “how do you start the Monogatari Series?” It’s a fair question, considering there’s a total of 14 different novels that received the anime treatment, all released out of chronological order, as series author Nisio Isin intended.

In theory, like many other media, there are two ways to watch the Monogatari Series: the order in which it aired and the chronological order. The community vastly prefers one of those methods — I once said newcomers could pick how they’d like to watch the series during a panel and almost immediately received angry tweets. All this to say — watch the series however you want to.

So, if you’re interested in starting the Monogatari Series, and if I didn’t scare you off by mentioning the growing pile of adapted light novels, then let’s jump into the meat and potatoes. Here’s how to watch the Monogatari Series by release or chronological order.

How to Watch the Monogatari Series in Light Novel Release Order

I know I said you can pick how you want to watch this series, but I do truly recommend watching it in release order. It may not make much sense at times, but if you’re patient, most, if not all, questions will be revealed, and the payoff will be that much greater. This is the author’s intended viewing order.

Also — in this list, Hanamonogatari is listed after Monogatari Series Second Season, but it was actually released in-between Kabukimonogatari and Otorimonogatari, meaning if you were to follow this order, you’d pause the Second Season then and switch over to Hanamonogatari. 

1. Bakemonogatari
   Streaming on: Crunchyroll, Funimation

2. Kizumonogatari
   Streaming on: N/A
   Note: The Kizumonogatari adaptation manifested as three films released from 2016 to 2017. They are not available to stream for free, though they can be purchased digitally.

3. Nisemonogatari
   Streaming on: Crunchyroll, Funimation

4. Nekomonogatari Black
   Streaming on: Crunchyroll, Funimation

5. Monogatari Series Second Season (Nekomonogatari White, Kabukimonogatari, Otorimonogatari, Onimonogatari, Koimonogatari)
   Streaming on: Crunchyroll, Funimation

6. Hanamonogatari
   Streaming on: Crunchyroll, Funimation

7. Tsukimonogatari
   Streaming on: Crunchyroll, Funimation

8. Koyomimonogatari
   Streaming on: Funimation

9. Owarimonogatari
   Streaming on: Crunchyroll

10. Zoku Owarimonogatari
    Streaming on: N/A
    Note: Zoku Owarimonogatari is not available anywhere to stream legally. It is available on home media, however, via Aniplex of America. 

How to Watch the Monogatari Series in Chronological Order

If you have seen the entire series (or at least until the end of Owarimonogatari), then you should watch the series chronologically. You can do whatever you want, but from my perspective, this method is best saved for a second watch. It’s also worth noting that stories that don’t have an anime (yet) have been omitted from this chronological list.

1. Koyomi Vamp (Kizumonogatari)
2. Koyomi Stone (Koyomimonogatari E1)
3. Tsubasa Family (Nekomonogatari Black E1—E4)
4. Hitagi Crab (Bakemonogatari E1—E2)
5. Koyomi Flower (Koyomimonogatari E2)
6. Mayoi Snail (Bakemonogatari E3—E5)
7. Suruga Monkey (Bakemonogatari E6—E8)
8. Nadeko Snake (Bakemonogatari E9—E10)
9. Tsubasa Cat (Bakemonogatari E11—E15)
10. Koyomi Sand (Koyomimonogatari E3)
11. Koyomi Water (Koyomimonogatari E4)
12. Karen Bee (Nisemonogatari E1—E7)
13. Koyomi Wind (Koyomimonogatari E5)
14. Tsukihi Phoenix (Nisemonogatari E8—E11)
15. Mayoi Jiangshi (Monogatari Series Second Season E7—E10)
16. Shinobu Time (Monogatari Series Second Season E17—E20)
17. Tsubasa Tiger (Monogatari Series Second Season E1—E5)
18. Shinobu Mail (Owarimonogatari E8—E13)
19. Koyomi Tree (Koyomimonogatari E6)
20. Koyomi Tea (Koyomimonogatari E7)
21. Ougi Formula (Owarimonogatari E1—E2)
22. Sodachi Riddle (Owarimonogatari E3—E4)
23. Sodachi Lost (Owarimonogatari E5—E7)
24. Nadeko Medusa (Monogatari Series Second Season E12—E15)
25. Koyomi Mountain (Koyomimonogatari E8)
26. Koyomi Torus (Koyomimonogatari E9)
27. Hitagi End (Monogatari Series Second Season E21—E26)
28. Koyomi Seed (Koyomimonogatari E10)
29. Yotsugi Doll (Tsukimonogatari)
30. Koyomi Nothing (Koyomimonogatari E11)
31. Koyomi Dead (Koyomimonogatari E12)
32. Mayoi Hell (Owarimonogatari E14—E15)
33. Hitagi Rendezvous (Owarimonogatari E16—E17)
34. Ougi Dark (Owarimonogatari E18—E20)
35. Koyomi Reverse (Zoku Owarimonogatari)
36. Suruga Devil (Hanamonogatari)