One of such anime that seems awkward at the very start is Monogatari. I recall having watched the first episode and thought that this was not going to act like a normal show. It speaks too much, cuts too fast, and is not willing to explain itself in a genial manner. but somehow I was not able to watch. It lures you in gradually, near quietly and before you realize, you are engrossed in the dialogue which, to you, is more significant than the action scenes.
Monogatari is all about human beings and their internal wounds. Details of supernatural are present, but not the primary ones. They feel more like mirrors. Every quirk is an indication of a fractured or secreted part of a character. The ideal example is Hitagi Senjougahara. Her stinging words and cold voice conceal pain, horror, and a strong desire to trust. It seems as though she and Araragi are two individuals trying to figure out how to breathe again as she talks to him.
Araragi himself is a weird protagonist. He is not strong in the conventional way and he does not do anything heroic on most occasions. He is clumsy, impulsive and at times excruciatingly forthright. The interesting thing about him is that he is a willing listener. He is there and he is letting people talk, he is letting their stories flow. That mere gesture makes him a more human being than most high-volume protagonists.
The actual star here is the dialogue. It is quick, jocular and tends to be pun-laden. It is as though it were a verbal tennis match, especially with Araragi and Senjougahara. They mock, provoke and embarrass each other with mere words. You should blink, or you will miss something, but that is the point of it. The show trusts you to keep up. It does not go slow to elaborate on each thought.
Monogatari is experimental in appearance. There are cuts between abstract images, empty rooms, text flashes and unexpected close ups. It is more like being in the mind of a person as opposed to a clean stage performance. It may seem very overwhelming at times but it will never fail to suit the mood. Space is narrow when one of the characters is trapped. As they open it, the screen breathes them.
The humorous thing is that it comes at a time when you least expect. Its humor is clumsy, even embarrassing, yet quite sincere. It is the result of misperceptions, hyped responses and the odd beat of the dialogues. The jokes do not interrupt the emotional flow. They instead make the heavy moments seem more life like, such as the way people make jokes when life seems to be a mess.
The patience is what I like most about Monogatari. It lets characters sit in silence, to talk in circles, to reiterate themselves. True healing is not quick and that is what this anime knows. Issues do not be solved automatically. They are confronted, recognized and gradually drawn along.
This is not an easy anime. It is going to be perplexing or exhausting to some individuals. It demands consideration and emotional receptiveness. However, given time it pays off with rich character relationships and scenes that will be remembered long after the screen goes black.
Monogatari is as intimate as a late-night talk with a person who understands your weaknesses and listens to you despite that. It is weird, gorgeous, and very human in the way not many anime can be.