What is the best order to watch Bakemonogatari?

The recommended order is: 1. Bakemonogatari, 2. Nisemonogatari, 3. Koyomimonogatari, 4. Minna to Manner wo Manabou, 5. Bakemonogatari Recap, plus 3 more entries. This follows release order, which works best for most viewers.

Can I skip the Bakemonogatari movies and OVAs?

There are 1 movie and 0 OVA/specials in the franchise. Some are recap compilations you can safely skip, while others add canon story content. When in doubt, watch them in the order listed — you won't regret having the full picture.

Should I watch Bakemonogatari in release order or chronological order?

For a first watch, release order is almost always the better choice. The creators designed reveals and character introductions around the release schedule. Chronological order is better suited for a rewatch once you know the full story.

Quick Answer

Bakemonogatari(TV · 15 eps)
Nisemonogatari(TV · 11 eps)
Koyomimonogatari(ONA · 12 eps)
Minna to Manner wo Manabou(Movie · 2 eps)
Bakemonogatari Recap(TV Special · 1 eps)
Nekomonogatari Black(TV Special · 4 eps)
Nisekoimonogatari(PV · 1 eps)
...and 1 more below

Total: ~47 episodes / 19h watch time

Bakemonogatari Watch Order(2026)

Q: How long does it take to watch all of Bakemonogatari?

The entire Bakemonogatari franchise is 47 episodes across 8 entries — roughly 19 hours of watch time.

With 8 entries across the franchise, Bakemonogatari can look overwhelming. It's simpler than it seems though. Follow the list below and you'll be set.

8 entries ~19h total3 series1 movie

Full Watch Order (Release Order)

Bakemonogatari(you are here)

8.32TV15 eps~6h2009Shaft

Finished Airing

Nisemonogatari

8.12TV11 eps~4h2012Shaft

Finished Airing

Koyomimonogatari

7.62ONA12 eps~5hShaft

Finished Airing

Minna to Manner wo Manabou

5.74Movie2 eps~48minShaft

Finished Airing

Bakemonogatari Recap

7.29TV Special1 eps~24minShaft

Finished Airing

Nekomonogatari Black

7.92TV Special4 eps~2hShaft

Finished Airing

Nisekoimonogatari

6.78PV1 eps~24minShaft

Finished Airing

Bakemonogatari Shaft Special Production PV

7.17PV1 eps~24minShaft

Finished Airing

Tips for First-Timers

What you can skip

Recap episodes in Second Season (eps 6, 11, 16) and other recap/summary specials

Common mistake

Starting with Kizumonogatari because it's a prequel — without Bake/Nise context, its callbacks land worse

Short on time?

Watch Bakemonogatari, Monogatari Second Season, and Owarimonogatari (both seasons)

Start Watching Bakemonogatari

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best order to watch Bakemonogatari?

Release order. Start with Bakemonogatari and go down the list. This is how the creators intended the story to unfold — later entries build on what came before, and watching out of order can spoil key reveals.

How long does it take to watch all of Bakemonogatari?

About 19 hours total across 47 episodes and 8 entries. At 3-4 episodes per day, that's roughly 14 days.

Can I skip the movies and OVAs?

It depends. Recap movies are always safe to skip — they just compress the TV episodes. Original movies and OVAs range from "fun side stories" to "actually important for the plot." When you're unsure, just watch them where they fall in the list above. Better to have extra context than miss something.

Release order or chronological order?

Go with release order for your first time through. Chronological can be tempting, but shows are written with release order in mind — reveals hit harder and character arcs make more sense. Save chronological for a rewatch if you want a different perspective.