Bakemonogatari - Recommendations

If you're looking for anime similar to Bakemonogatari, you might like these titles.

Spice and Wolf

Spice and Wolf

Since long ago, the wolf goddess Holo has honored a contract to bless the rural village of Pasloe with fertile harvests; and in return she has been celebrated and worshipped by the villagers. But as mankind advances, the people have begun to take command of nature for themselves and have made their own god to worship. Holo finds that she is paid little more than lip service, if not outright mocked; and considering the contract annulled, she takes human form and enlists the aid of a passing merchant, Kraft Lawrence, to return to her home in the snowy forests to the north. As they journey together, Kraft finds that he has plenty to learn from this capricious god, and she from him as well.

5 votes

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Reasons you might like Spice and Wolf...

Funkgun Funkgun says...

these two titles really rely on conversation. Not just your average flair conversation. but the type that is witty, and smart.

Both have a nice pace, that allowes for plenty of discussion between a man and woman (or deity ) 

Bakemonotari is more unique with the random images and art style, and Spice is more reliant on historical era, but either one should be checked out if you liked the other.

BlackVoid BlackVoid says...

Although the descriptions would lead you to think otherwise, both of these series are actually composed of mostly (great) conversations between the 2 main characters. Both have unique and memorable main females with sharp mouthes, whom the indifferent main guy grows to like.

The witty script and interactions between characters are the highlights of both shows. These are endlessly entertaining and you'll simply love watching the main characters go at it. The conversations are both a mixture of arguing and flirting, which makes them even more fun to watch.

Bakemonogatari is a bit darker and more supernatural, although S&W throws some fantasy and intensity out there too on occasion. Still, theres no doubt that the character interactions are what makes these 2 similar, and what makes them great.

eaper eaper says...

Each of these series are extremely dialog driven, being almost completely conversation with a great deal of puns and wit being used between characters. Furthermore, each series revolves around the supernatural.

KittyEmperor KittyEmperor says...

Really probably the biggest similarity between these two series is that they mostly rely on conversations between the characters as a means to develop the story instead of events or actions and the conversation is actually intelligent and witty.  Furthermore thanks to the wonderful script the viewer never becomes tried of listening to the characters interacting with each other.  So either one should be checked out if you liked the other.

SeiyaManG SeiyaManG says...

Both of these shows rely heavily on the smart and witty dialogue, as well as the relationship between the two leading male and female characters. Both shows are fun, creative, and feature just the right touch of romance to make either of these sure favorites! If you like one, I'd definitely recommend you check out the other!

Durarara!!

Durarara!!

Looking for a change, Mikado moves from the countryside to bustling Ikebukuro to attend the same high school as his best friend, Masaomi. Though navigating a new school and friendships can prove tough by itself, Mikado also finds an overwhelming number of new delights and dangers in the district he now calls home. From a friendly Russian sushi bar to the violent color gangs, to even an urban legend in the form of a black motorcycle rider, each resident of Ikebukuro is unique and frightening. But the town is smaller than it seems at first, and these strange events appear to be connected. Will the growing storm sweep up the transplanted country boy and his friends or will Mikado find himself at the center of a dramatic change for Tokyo?

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Reasons you might like Durarara!!...

zombieiscool zombieiscool says...

For some strange reason, both of these animes reminded me of eachother. They have totally different plots but give a similar feel.

Both have gorgeous animation, and is covered in mystery. Slow paced and the storyline is very jumbled up and you don't really know what you're watching, but nevertheless they're still good animes.

awpaperwings awpaperwings says...

One thing that is very rare to see in anime: Typography. The use of non-traditional fonts and styles and font arrangements can be seen all throughout both of these shows, and are use extremely well. Also, both shows take an existing stereotype and shatter it, either through their characters crazy personalities, realistic environments, dialogue or choice of setting.

NimirRa NimirRa says...

I can't quite pinpoint the reasons why these shows remind me of each other, but it's a gut-feeling recommendation. I think the web of interconnecting stories with unique and interesting characters sets both of these shows apart. If you enjoyed piecing it all together in one show- give the other a try.

AltairSteam AltairSteam says...

Both Bakemonogatari and Durarara!! are marvellous urban anime, concentrated on supernatural elements and human relationship. They are taking from mythology (Japanese and Celtic) and create urban life as something full of mystery and good humour, but also dramatic and dangerous. Durarara!! has got more "normal" action, when Bakemonogatari is more surrealistic. Both of them gave me a lot of fun when I was watching them, so I think, if You like that kind of atmosphere, You should watch Bakemonogatari as well as Durarara!!.

Qplayer Qplayer says...

The Monogatari franchise and Durarara are two of a kind. Their similarities are more in the execution and themes rather than in story and characters. Neither anime can really be sufficiently summarized in a single sentence (or a few sentences for that matter), which makes connecting the two difficult, but even just based on the interweaving of the supernatural with the everyday in a quirky postmodern story is enough to link these two anime. Their connection goes much deeper in my opinion, but you'll have to watch them for yourself to be sure.

FLCL

FLCL

Naota Nanbada is a boring young boy who leads a boring life in a boring town. His older brother has left for America, and the closest he comes to any excitement is when his deadbeat dad has too much sake. But things change one day when a bizarre girl zooms up to him on a scooter and smacks him in the face with her guitar. What's more, once Naoto returns home he discovers that this strange woman has arrived ahead of him and moved in! Not only does she constantly engage in perverted activities with Naota's father and flirt with the young man himself, but she also claims to be an alien who is searching for the ‘Pirate King.' Now, Naota must learn to live with this new intruder, deal with an odd government agent who sports exceptionally large eyebrows and the mysterious Medical Mechanica, and come to terms with the fact that there are a variety of robots and weapons emerging out of his head - amongst other things. Perhaps boring wasn't so bad after all...

5 votes

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Reasons you might like FLCL...

unerringgungnir unerringgungnir says...

Both of these series deal with the confusion, angst, and awkwardness of growing up and the complications that arise when exploring (or ignoring) sexual desires.  There are myriad moments when the viewer is left going WTF just happened?!?!  In both of these animes there are female characters that exhibit tsudere and have a propensity for violence towards the male protagonists (one uses school supplies the other a guitar).  Along with these commonalities they both have sci-fi/fantasy elements; one has robots that pop out of a kids head, the other deals with taoist-style superstitions/curses.  All in all you'll get your fill of bloody noses, violence, innocence, perversion, laughs, and most importantly ENTERTAINMENT.

Anyki Anyki says...

Bakemonogatari is a great anime and FLCL is kind of the same greatness with its story. I think you'll enjoy it too.

sobeit sobeit says...

Both Bakemonogatari and FLCL have a story with a ton of allegory. To understand the meaning of the story you should not look at what is presented to you on the surface level, but what meaning is inferred. I would say FLCL is more about pre-teen and pubescence and Bakemonogatari is more about teenage life. Both are good if you enjoy this style of storytelling.

gpardini gpardini says...

even bakemonogatari not being as weird as FLCL, both share that wtf is going to happen next in this out the mold story!

both are really good!

Yukas Yukas says...

FLCL and Bakemonogatari is both not about "what" but "how".

Bake looks more "normal", except .... there is a lot of "except": crazy picture, crazy sound, absurd dialogues.

Both like XXI century  "Alice in Wonderland"

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

One night, Madoka has a terrible nightmare – against the backdrop of a desolate landscape, she watches a magical girl battle a terrifying creature, and lose. The next day, the teen's dream becomes reality when the girl – Homura – arrives at Mitakihara Middle School as a transfer student, mysteriously warning Madoka to stay just the way she is. But when she and her best friend Miki are pulled into a twisted illusion world and meet a magical creature named Kyubey, the pair discovers that magical girls are real, and what's more, they can choose to become one. All they must do is sign a contract with Kyubey and agree to fight witches that spread despair to the human world, and in return they will be granted a single wish. However, as Homura's omen suggests, there's far more to becoming a magical girl than Madoka and Miki realize...

5 votes

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Reasons you might like Puella Magi Madoka Magica...

theholyduck theholyduck says...

both are unconventional series with high artistic quality, consistent worlds, great characters and intresting underlying concepts.

they are both feature an exploration of a very detailed and realisitic world having a hidden and surreal counterpart

hurin hurin says...

The two shows share almost surrealist artwork, and manages to make its characters seem like real people. Once the main characters get involved in the occult they find it difficult to become uninvolved again.

GGXtreme GGXtreme says...

Very different shows that share a lot of stylistic and visual aspects, as well a unique presentation of their storylines that make up two of the higher-budget brainchildren SHAFT.

eaper eaper says...

These series, each being made by Shaft, have a very distinct art style and direction that they go in. Each series manages to avoid tropes often associated with their genres and take the series into a somewhat dark place. If you like the story telling and art in either series, they fit well together.

PraVDa PraVDa says...

in just a few minutes of watching Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica I immediately noticed similarities of this anime and BakemonogatariBoth produced by shaft which means they have a very good artwork. They have a lot of abstract and random image inside and even using same voice actor, Saito Chiwa plays both Senjougahara and Akemi, and they have similar characteristic.

Ground Control to Psychoelectric Girl

Ground Control to Psychoelectric Girl

Makoto Niwa has just moved from his rural hometown to live with his aunt and experience high school life in the big city first hand. Unfortunately, his dreams of an adolescence filled of dates and school activities are soon shattered by having to share his new home with Erio, his deluded cousin who thinks she's an alien and spends most of her time wrapped in a futon for protection! Now, in addition to enduring his aunt’s energetic attention and flirting awkwardly with the girls in his class, Makoto finds himself drawn into helping Erio rejoin regular society and stopping her 'alien' antics.

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Reasons you might like Ground Control to Psychoelectric Girl...

koreandude koreandude says...

Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko and Bakemonogatari contain the same elements of comedy, animation, scenery and over all feel. The scene transitions and cuts are almost exactly the same. The main male characters are extremely similar and the main female characters both have a unique and different personality that make them awesome. Both are made by the studio Shaft and directed by the same director which therefore makes the two even more similar. The only difference would be the plot. However, I believe the relationship/humor/combination of the two leads make these two animes go well together.

ipsilonv ipsilonv says...

Bakemonogatari and Denpa Onna are both realized by SHAFT, and the similarities are evident. If you like the interesting "camera" methodologies that SHAFT uses throughout Bakemonogatari, you will find the same deal with Denpa Onna. The same is true about the heavy dialogues between characters. The comedic banter. Bakemonogatari might be a more fullfilling show than Denpa Onna, but I believe both are amazing works. Going with the same idea, SHAFT creates characters and situations that are trully interesting and worth watching.

All that being said, both shows share a common problem. Without going into spoilers, the shows seem to leave a lot of issues unresolved and maybe open to other seasons. This could be a big issue for some, so keep this in mind.

LY2Ldeath LY2Ldeath says...

the animation and style it is presented is very similiar, these anime are done by the same company.

eaper eaper says...

These series both have the obvious marks of Shaft production- ranging from directing, to artwork, to the infamous shaft head tilts. Further, they both have a similar feel throughout and a touch of the supernatural in Denpa Onna (a lot of it in Bakemonogatari).

captaincrunch captaincrunch says...

Both feature a male lead who somehow manages to acquire a fairly healthy harem full of strange yet absolutely charming girls like they are some sort of walking, talking moe magnet.  Toss in Shaft visuals and audio, and you really can't go wrong with the other if you liked one.

Bake is heavier on the witty dialogue than Denpa, and Denpa is far more hyper moe than Bake, but both have each in quantities sufficent to satisfy the fan of either.

Mononoke

Mononoke

In feudal Japan, evil spirits known as mononoke plague both households and the countryside, leaving a trail of fear in their wake. One mysterious person has the power to slay the mononoke where they stand; he is known only as the Medicine Seller, and he vanquishes the mononoke using the power of his Exorcism Sword. However, in order to draw his sword he must first understand the Form, Truth and Reason of the mononoke. Armed with a sharp wit and keen intellect, the Medicine Seller wanders from place to place, striking down the mononoke in his wake.

4 votes

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Reasons you might like Mononoke...

Nocturnalgloria Nocturnalgloria says...

 Mononoke and Bakemonogatari are unique. Both are horror anime that give an original spin to Japanese folklore while exploring the medium in novel ways. The visual artistry involved is stunning and matches a narrative style that impacts the viewer by being genuinely creepy. These efforts match a stunning artwork and fluid animation with a keen insight into the uncanny. Fans of one are strongly advised to check out the other, especially since this kind of anime is rare and hard to come by.

Howlorihara Howlorihara says...

These two animes actually have quite a bit in common.  They both deal with supernatural creatures and their affects on human beings.  In other words, in discovering more about the creatures, the main character also learns more about the people involved in the story.  They are both beautifully and uniquely animated.  These two are some of my favorite animes I have seen.

Rohjake Rohjake says...

Bakemonogatari and Mononoke both deal with monsters from Japanese folklore. To defeat monsters the main characters need to learn how the monsters came to be in the first place.

If you liked one and crave for a similar series, the other is really worth checking out.

arrow1350 arrow1350 says...

Both series have a unique art style, editing technique, musical timing, and stilted dialogue. The combination creates a very atmospheric journey that is slightly unsettling and off-kilter.

Plot-wise, they share many similarities as well. Both deal in the supernatural where the main characters expel or help spirits and monsters. Unlike other series that deal with these subjects, the stories are little to do with the spirits and monsters themselves, but the humans that cause their existence. 

The episode format is also similar in that they focus on one spirit for a couple of episodes before moving to the next. 

ef: A Tale of Memories.

ef: A Tale of Memories.

In a high school setting, there are many people whose stories must be told: Hiro, an aspiring manga artist whose view of the world is "missing a certain color," according to himself; his childhood friend Kei, who is vying for his attention; Kyosuke, a photographer and cameraman who seeks to capture true emotion in his work; the ever-cheerful Miyako, who meets Hiro by chance and immediately becomes attached to him; the gentle Renji, unsure of his aspirations to become a novelist; and Kei's mysterious and quiet sister Chihiro, who seems to be a different person every day. As time passes and they interact with one another more, their paths increasingly intertwine as shades of regrettable pasts emerge.

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Reasons you might like ef: A Tale of Memories....

TropicalMist TropicalMist says...

Watching Bakemonogatari definitely reminded me a lot of ef (both seasons) and the obvious reason would be because they're both animated by SHAFT! The artwork, and the animation are both very similar in terms of creativity and how they choose to showcase the story. 

As for the actual plot... Bake is more supernatural than ef is, although ef does have hints of supernatural happenings (which is explained later on).  They both have cute romance (more so in ef) and great character development =)  I definitely recommend one after the other because they're both very different stories that dominate their genres and showcase SHAFT's studio very well. 

ciller ciller says...

Of course I like both series because there originality. Both the series have the same style of letting the viewers experience the story. They are letting flash other –not relevant- views through conversations. And that part actually really interesting I think. Because with that view, the producers want you to experience some kind of feeling. In Ef they mostly let you see objects or some kind of scene. In Bakemonogatari they flash a word, sentence or a whole text through. I think this is done to give the watchers some kind of feeling because pretty much of the spoken parts aren’t carrying any emotions. So they actually don’t want to give the watchers the emotions the characters are carrying but want you to create your own feeling in some kind of style the give within these flashes. I think that is the reason why I love both of the series. Of course this also counts for the second season of Ef. I really recommend the other one if liked one of them because they are full of Creativity.

eaper eaper says...

This may seem like an odd rec, but each of these series had extremely unique animation styles, often doing things that I have never been seen done in other anime. Also, each series has some romances (moreso Ef) and a bit of supernatural happenings (definitely a lot more in Bake).

KittyEmperor KittyEmperor says...

While Ef tends of focus more on the romance with only a little supernatural and Bakemonogatari is the opposite with some romance but a lot more supernatural in it.  Both series have a rather unique artstyle which I guess should be expected since they are both done by Shaft but they both are enjoyable to watch.  So if you enjoyed one then you might want to check out the other. 

Natsume's Book of Friends

Natsume's Book of Friends

Natsume is lonely; he has an ability that separates him from others: he can see and interact with spirits. Soon, however, Natsume discovers that he’s not alone: his grandmother Reiko also had the gift. But things get hectic and possibly dangerous for Natsume when he finds out that he also inherited the 'Book of Friends', a book that contains the names of all the spirits Reiko defeated and subjugated. He finds himself hounded by his grandmother's underlings and, with the help of a 'cat' charm spirit, decides to free them from the Book's shackles, as well as protect the book from those who seek to misuse its power...

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Reasons you might like Natsume's Book of Friends...

MaatiSan MaatiSan says...

The japanese mythology and spirits both play a huge part in both animes.  Natsume Yuujinchou chooses a slower pace mainly by a more stotic main character, but all the same the basic premise of solving the problems of spirits to set them at peace are the stable of both animes.  Where Bakemonogatari does this in a frantic yet stylish and dialogic pace, Natsume Yuujinchou does it in a slower, serene, adventurous way.  Fans of one will most likely enjoy the other due to the paranormal backdrop, and artistic flair as well as a cast of likable characters.

eaper eaper says...

The main of each of these series, aside from being the same voice actor, has many very similar characteristics, namely that he helps absolutely everyone he can, without really trying to get a reward. Aside from that, each series focuses around the supernatural in general. If you like the main or just overly kind lead characters, either of these series would work well for you.

NimirRa NimirRa says...

These two shows take a somewhat similar premise and go in total opposite directions with it. Though both deal with 'unique' problems and are slow-paced with beautiful visuals, the similarities end there. If you enjoyed one of these shows try the other on for size and see just how differently the story can be told.

Ghost Hunt

Ghost Hunt

Mai Taniyama is a first year high school student who lives a carefree life telling ghost stories with her friends. One day, she meets Kazuya Shibuya, the head of Shibuya Psychic Research (SPR); and together, she tags along to help him investigate paranormal activities in a haunted school building. His assistant Lin was hurt during an incident to protect Mai from danger, so what more can Mai do than to take the job as Shibuya's assistant? Along with a team of other ghost hunters, they will uncover the mystery of a strange case coming their way, while Mai starts to discover her own abilities.

3 votes

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Reasons you might like Ghost Hunt...

Marshal396 Marshal396 says...

If you enjoy bakemonogatari then your going to love Ghost Hunt with its supernatural content and well thought out plots.

they both share the a similar storyline being that they help people with the paranormal

im afraid if you liked bakemonogatari for its ecchi or comedy side then you might not be the biggest fan but the more you watch it the more you wish it will go on.

Peyton112086 Peyton112086 says...

These are similar in the sense of the mystery and tone as well. Lately i have been craving supernatural mystery and that is exactly what these anime are. The process of showing the viewer each piece of the puzzle, and in the end it all coming to a spectacular conclusion. They also  each both have very creative stories. 

KittyEmperor KittyEmperor says...

Both series resolve around solving supernatural mysteries.  While Ghost Hunt doesn't have any of the comdey that Bakemonogatari has both series are good in that they never reveal everything from the beginning.  Instead they give the viewer a small piece of the puzzle and doesn't reveal everything until the end.  So if you liked one of them then you should consider checking out the other.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

The eccentric Suzumiya Haruhi wants nothing more than to meet aliens, time travelers and espers… but she’ll have to settle for the everyday Kyon instead! Along with the mysterious Itsuki and the vacant Mikuru, the duo forms the SOS Brigade – a club whose mission is to discover the mysteries of the world. Armed with a razor sharp wit and a skill for manipulation, Haruhi will stop at nothing to have fun at all costs, even at the expense of Mikuru’s dignity!

3 votes

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Reasons you might like The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya...

Konakaga Konakaga says...

Both Haruhi Suzumiya and Bakemonogatari starts off with the main lead meeting a very odd, or unique girl if you prefer; which leads him into being involved with other bizzare things, while having plenty of comedy moments as a result of this, though also in no small part due to  witty comments by the male lead of the series. Addition both series only have a rather small cast of characters, most in high school, and tend to focus on them, and generally ignore most other people. And lastly they both have the whole nobody is really normal thing.

hoonoki hoonoki says...

The dtnamic between the two main characters is similar, with beautiful, confident Haruhi dragging the guy around and treating him almost sadistically. In both; the animation is very clean and gives great attention to movement. They both have a sense of mystery. Bakemonogatari is odder and darker, with more explicit fanservice.

xaynie xaynie says...

Both are witty parody anime which break apart each characters' stereotypes. While Bakemonogatari's characters take themselves less seriously, Haruhi's characters don't even know they are stereotypes, which makes the story more interesting as they try to unravel their world.

Both are brilliant in their own way and a must watch if you like one or another.