A step-by-step guide to watching the entire Monogatari Series released so far, in as close to chronological order as possible.
I numbered the steps 1-30 on what order to watch the episodes in, as well as wrote the name of the arc next to the episode numbers.
Please note the following,
The series employs multiple framing devices such as flashbacks, narration, or characters telling other characters about the past. This guide is ordered by the sequence of events being framed, and not by the frames themselves.
I made note of the framing devices I found notable, however, some I willfully ignored, and others I'm sure I just missed.
Also at one point two arcs occur simultaneously, and I made note of that as well. I tried to order that part in the least confusing way possible.
The series is very clearly not intended to be watched this way. In order to watch in chronological order, you need to start in the middle of some seasons and jump back and forth between others.
Controversially, having watched the series in both broadcast and chronological order, I think this is the best order to enjoy the series in. Most detractors say that the chronological order takes away from the meta mystery, however, those elements are being artificially created, and not much is lost by their removal. I feel chronological order allows for a better appreciation of the story, characters, and foreshadowing.
There is no denying that the broadcast order is a lot more convenient to watch though.
*Note I plan to update this with Monogatari Series: Off & Monster Season after it finishes airing, and I've actually watched it.
Kizumonogatari I: Tekketsu-hen
Add to My List
Movie, 2016, 1 ep Me:- Author:7
[1] Watch it in its entirety (Koyomi Vamp Arc).
Then, proceed to Kizumonogatari II: Nekketsu-hen (Koyomi Vamp Arc).
Kizumonogatari II: Nekketsu-hen
Add to My List
Movie, 2016, 1 ep Me:- Author:8
[2] After Kizumonogatari I: Tekketsu-hen (Koyomi Vamp Arc), watch it in its entirety (Koyomi Vamp Arc).
Then, proceed to Kizumonogatari III: Reiketsu-hen (Koyomi Vamp Arc).
Kizumonogatari III: Reiketsu-hen
Add to My List
Movie, 2017, 1 ep Me:- Author:9
[3] After Kizumonogatari II: Nekketsu-hen (Koyomi Vamp Arc), watch it in its entirety (Koyomi Vamp Arc).
Then, proceed to Koyomimonogatari Episode 1 (Koyomi Stone Arc).
Koyomimonogatari
Add to My List
ONA, 2016, 12 eps Me:- Author:7
[4] After Kizumonogatari III: Reiketsu-hen (Koyomi Vamp Arc), watch Episode 1 (Koyomi Stone Arc). Stop.
Then, proceed to Nekomonogatari: Kuro (Tsubasa Family Arc).
[7] After Bakemonogatari Episode 2 (Hitagi Crab Arc), watch Episode 2 (Koyomi Flower Arc). Stop.
Then, return to Bakemonogatari Episode 3 (Mayoi Snail Arc).
[9] After Bakemonogatari Episode 15 (Tsubasa Cat Arc), watch Episodes 3-4 (Episode 3 Koyomi Sand Arc, Episode 4 Koyomi Water Arc). Stop.
Then, proceed to Nisemonogatari Episode 1 (Karen Bee Arc).
[11] After Nisemonogatari Episode 7 (Karen Bee Arc), watch Episode 5 (Koyomi Wind Arc). Stop.
Then, return to Nisemonogatari Episode 8 (Tsukihi Phoenix Arc).
[17] After Monogatari Series: Second Season Episode 5 (Tsubasa Tiger Arc), watch Episodes 6-7 (Episode 6 Koyomi Tree Arc, Episode 7 Koyomi Tea Arc). Stop.
Then, return to Owarimonogatari Episode 1 (Ougi Formula Arc).
[20] After Monogatari Series: Second Season Episode 13 (Nadeko Medusa Arc), watch Episode 8 (Koyomi Mountain Arc). Stop.
Then, return to Monogatari Series: Second Season Episode 14 (Nadeko Medusa Arc).
[22] After Monogatari Series: Second Season Episode 15 (Nadeko Medusa Arc), watch Episode 9 (Koyomi Torus Arc). Stop.
Then, return to Monogatari Series: Second Season Episode 21 (Hitagi End Arc).
[24] After Monogatari Series: Second Season Episode 26 (Hitagi End Arc), watch Episode 10 (Koyomi Seed Arc). Stop.
Then, proceed to Koyomi History (Koyomi History Arc).
[27] After Tsukimonogatari (Yotsugi Doll Arc), watch Episodes 11-12 (Episode 11 Koyomi Nothing Arc, Episode 12 Koyomi Dead Arc).
Then, proceed to Owarimonogatari 2nd Season Episode 1 (Mayoi Hell Arc).
Nekomonogatari: Kuro
Add to My List
TV Special, 2012, 4 eps Me:- Author:7
[5] After Koyomimonogatari Episode 1 (Koyomi Stone Arc), watch it in its entirety (Tsubasa Family Arc).
Then, proceed to Bakemonogatari Episode 1 (Hitagi Crab Arc).
Bakemonogatari
Add to My List
TV, 2009, 15 eps Me:- Author:7
[6] After Nekomonogatari: Kuro (Tsubasa Family Arc), watch Episodes 1-2 (Hitagi Crab Arc). Stop.
Then, return to Koyomimonogatari Episode 2 (Koyomi Flower Arc).
[8] After Koyomimonogatari Episode 2 (Koyomi Flower Arc), watch Episodes 3-15 (Episodes 3-5 Mayoi Snail Arc, Episodes 6-8 Suruga Monkey Arc, Episodes 9-10 Nadeko Snake Arc, and Episodes 11-15 Tsubasa Cat Arc).
Then, return to Koyomimonogatari Episode 3 (Koyomi Sand Arc).
Nisemonogatari
Add to My List
TV, 2012, 11 eps Me:- Author:7
[10] After Koyomimonogatari Episode 4 (Koyomi Water Arc), watch Episodes 1-7 (Karen Bee Arc). Stop.
Then, return to Koyomimonogatari Episode 5 (Koyomi Wind Arc).
[12] After Koyomimonogatari Episode 5 (Koyomi Wind Arc), watch Episodes 8-11 (Tsukihi Phoenix Arc).
Then, proceed to Monogatari Series: Second Season Episode 7 (Mayoi Jiangshi Arc).
Monogatari Series: Second Season
Add to My List
TV, 2013, 26 eps Me:- Author:8
*Note 1, Monogatari Series: Second Season episodes 6, 11, and 16 are recap episodes. This guide assumes those episodes are part of the numbered order. If your episodes aren't lining up with what I wrote that's probably why.
**Note 2, Monogatari Series: Second Season Episodes 7-10 (Mayoi Jiangshi Arc) are framed as a flashback. The frame occurs sometime after Owarimonogatari Episode 1 (Ougi Formula Arc), however, the events in the flashback occur in the presented order.
The frame also contains a not-yet-introduced character. No logical watch order avoids this.
[13] After Nisemonogatari Episode 11 (Tsukihi Phoenix Arc), watch Episodes 7-10 (Mayoi Jiangshi Arc). Stop.
Then, proceed to Monogatari Series: Second Season Episode 17 (Shinobu Time Arc).
***Note 3, Monogatari Series: Second Season Episodes 17-20 (Shinobu Time Arc) are framed as a conversation. The frame occurs around Koyomimonogatari Episode 9 (Koyomi Torus Arc), however, the events in the flashback occur in the presented order.
****Note 4, Monogatari Series: Second Season Episodes 17-20 (Shinobu Time Arc) occur at the same time as Monogatari Series: Second Season Episodes 1-5 (Tsubasa Tiger Arc).
[14] After Monogatari Series: Second Season Episode 10 (Mayoi Jiangshi Arc), watch Episodes 17-20 (Shinobu Time Arc). Stop.
Then, proceed to Owarimonogatari Episode 7 (Shinobu Mail Arc).
***** Note 5, Monogatari Series: Second Season Episodes 1-5 (Tsubasa Tiger Arc) occur at the same time as Monogatari Series: Second Season Episodes 17-20 (Shinobu Time Arc) and Owarimonogatari Episodes 7-12 (Shinobu Mail Arc).
[16] After Owarimonogatari Episode 12 (Shinobu Mail Arc), watch Episodes 1-5 (Tsubasa Tiger Arc). Stop.
Then, return to Koyomimonogatari Episode 6 (Koyomi Tree Arc).
[19] After Owarimonogatari Episode 6 (Sodachi Lost Arc), watch Episodes 12-13 (Nadeko Medusa Arc). Stop.
Then, return to Koyomimonogatari Episode 8 (Koyomi Mountain Arc).
[21] After Koyomimonogatari Episode 8 (Koyomi Mountain Arc), watch Episodes 14-15 (Nadeko Medusa Arc). Stop.
Then, return to Koyomimonogatari Episode 9 (Koyomi Torus Arc).
[23] After Koyomimonogatari Episode 9 (Koyomi Torus Arc), watch Episodes 21-26 (Hitagi End Arc).
Then, return to Koyomimonogatari Episode 10 (Koyomi Seed Arc).
Owarimonogatari
Add to My List
TV, 2015, 12 eps Me:- Author:7
*Note 1, Owarimonogatari Episodes 7-12 (Shinobu Mail Arc) are framed as a conversation that takes place on the first day of Owarimonogatari 2nd Season Episode 2 (Hitagi Rendezvous Arc), however, the events in the conversation occur in the presented order.
**Note 2, Owarimonogatari Episodes 7-12 (Shinobu Mail Arc) occur at the same time as Monogatari Series: Second Season Episodes 1-5 (Tsubasa Tiger Arc).
[15] After Monogatari Series: Second Season Episode 20 (Shinobu Time Arc), watch Episodes 7-12 (Shinobu Mail Arc). Stop.
Then, return to Monogatari Series: Second Season Episode 1 (Tsubasa Tiger Arc).
[18] After Koyomimonogatari Episode 7 (Koyomi Tea Arc), watch Episodes 1-6 (Episode 1 Ougi Formula Arc, Episodes 2-3 Sodachi Riddle Arc, and Episodes 4-6 Sodachi Lost Arc).
Then, return to Monogatari Series: Second Season Episode 12 (Nadeko Medusa Arc).
Koyomi History
Add to My List
Special, 2016, 1 ep Me:- Author:7
*Note 1, To my knowledge, this has no official placement in the timeline, however, this is the earliest and most logical place for it to occur.
[25] After Koyomimonogatari Episode 10 (Koyomi Seed Arc), watch it in its entirety (Koyomi History Arc).
Then, proceed to Tsukimonogatari (Yotsugi Doll Arc).
Tsukimonogatari
Add to My List
TV Special, 2014, 4 eps Me:- Author:7
[26] After Koyomi History (Koyomi History Arc), watch it in its entirety (Yotsugi Doll Arc).
Then, proceed to Koyomimonogatari Episode 11 (Koyomi Nothing Arc).
Owarimonogatari 2nd Season
Add to My List
TV Special, 2017, 7 eps Me:- Author:9
*Note 1, The episode numbers of Owarimonogatari 2nd Season can be different depending on how you're watching, but there's no more skipping between seasons from this point on so it doesn't matter.
[28] After Koyomimonogatari Episode 12 (Koyomi Dead Arc), watch it in its entirety (Episode 1 Mayoi Hell Arc, Episode 2 Hitagi Rendezvous Arc, Episode 3 Ougi Dark Arc).
Then, proceed to Zoku Owarimonogatari (Koyomi Reverse Arc).
Zoku Owarimonogatari
Add to My List
TV, 2019, 6 eps Me:- Author:9
[29] After Owarimonogatari 2nd Season Episode 3 (Ougi Dark Arc), watch it in its entirety (Koyomi Reverse Arc).
Then, proceed to Hanamonogatari (Suruga Devil Arc).
Hanamonogatari
Add to My List
TV Special, 2014, 5 eps Me:- Author:8
[30] After Zoku Owarimonogatari (Koyomi Reverse Arc), watch it in its entirety (Suruga Devil Arc).
