Question:<\/strong> The evocations of the word “monogatari” may explain why, in fact, it’s actually used quite frequently in anime titles. Five 2009 anime productions all having the word “monogatari” in their title is a lot, but it isn’t actually unusual in the history of anime. This list is not complete, but just to provide some illustration, here’s a sampling of other anime with titles including the word “monogatari.” Note that 1983 and 1986 also had five titles including the word “monogatari.” Even 2006 had four titles using the word “monogatari” if we include the second Galaxy Railways television series. The prevalence of the word “monogatari” in 2009 anime isn’t really unusual. It’s just more noticeable to international fans because we’re steadily becoming more aware and conscious of original Japanese titles.<\/p>\n Aru Machikado no Monogatari (1962) Question: I’ve noticed the use of the word “monagatari” in quite a few anime in this year alone. Here is a list of the titles I am aware of: Isekai no Seikishi Monogatari OAV, Genji Monogatari Sennenki TV show, Gokyoudai Monogatari TV show, Umi Monogatari ~Anata ga Ite Kureta Koto~ TV show, Bakemonogatari TV show. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18084","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ask-john"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18084","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18084"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18084\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18085,"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18084\/revisions\/18085"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18084"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18084"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.animenation.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18084"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nI’ve noticed the use of the word “monagatari” in quite a few anime in this year alone. Here is a list of the titles I am aware of: Isekai no Seikishi Monogatari OAV, Genji Monogatari Sennenki TV show, Gokyoudai Monogatari TV show, Umi Monogatari ~Anata ga Ite Kureta Koto~ TV show, Bakemonogatari TV show. Why so many? Why the need to use the word “monogatari”? Is it to set these titles apart from other anime? “Monogatari” just means “story,” right?<\/p>\n
\nAnswer:<\/strong>
\nI am regretful that I’m not immersed into Japan’s anime production and fan community enough to know whether there’s been some sort of recent fascination with the word “monogatari” or its implications that explain its frequent appearance lately. However, I’m not sure that’s necessary. While the word “monogatari” has been appearing in numerous contemporary anime titles, I think the explanation is merely coincidence. The word “monogatari,” which means “story” or “fable” is the Japanese equivalent of naming an anime “The Story Of,” or “Tales Of.” There’s a certain profound simplicity to straightforward titles. Calling something, “The Story of X,” like “Umi Monogatari” (Sea Story) prepares viewers for precisely what to expect. At the same time, the word evokes a sense of the fantastic. For example, “Tale of the Holy Knight in the Parallel Universe” (Isekai no Seikishi Monogatari) evokes an anticipation of epic fantasy. Titles like Bakemonogatari and Katanagatari are merely exemplary of author NisiOisin’s fondness for manipulating words.<\/p>\n
\nKurohime Monogatari (1967)
\nSenya Ichiya Monogatari (1969)
\nDobutsumura Monogatari (1970)
\nKonchu Monogatari: Minashigo Hutch (1970)
\nAndersen Monogatari (1971)
\nDon Chuck Monogatari (1975)
\nManga Ijin Monogatari (1977)
\nManga Hajimete Monogatari (1978)
\nPink Lady Monogatari (1978)
\nPerrine Monogatari (1978)
\nAnne Frank Monogatari (1979)
\nEntaku no Kishi Monogatari: Moero Arthur (1979)
\nJean Valjean Monogatari (1979)
\nAi no Gakko Cuore Monogatari (1981)
\nShin Taketori Monogatari: Sennen Jouo (1981)
\nHelen Keller Monogatari: Ai to Hikari no Tenshi (1981)
\nOchamegami Monogatari: Korokoro Polon (1982)
\nShiroi Kiba: White Fang Monogatari (1982)
\nAlps Monogatari: Watashi no Annette (1983)
\nManga Aesop Monogatari movie & TV series (1983)
\nSerendipity Monogatari: Pure-tou no Nakamatachi (1983)
\nKojika Monogatari (1983)
\nSoya Monogatari (1984)
\nManga Doshite Monogatari (1984)
\nAi no Wakakusa Monogatari (1986)
\nAi Shoujo Pollyanna Monogatari (1986)
\nMaple Town Monogatari (1986)
\nManga Naruhodo Monogatari (1986)
\nUltraman Kids no Kotozawa Monogatari (1986)
\nMurasaki Shikibu Genji Monogatari (1987)
\nDigital Devil Monogatari: Megami Tensei (1987)
\nMeikyu Monogatari (1987)
\nHarbour Light Monogatari: Fashion Lala Yori (1988)
\nChiisana Ahiru no Aokina, Ai no Monogatari: Ahiru no Quack (1989)
\nOchame na Futago -Clare Gakuin Monogatari- (1991)
\nTrapp Ikka Monogatari (1991)
\nChirorin Mura Monogatari (1992)
\nApfelland Monogatari (1992)
\nTezuka Osamu no Kyuyaku Seisho Monogatari (1992)
\nHeisei Inu Monogatari Bow (1993)
\nHuckleberry Finn Monogatari (1994)
\nNana Toshi Monogatari (1994)
\nGokinjo Monogatari (1995)
\nCinderella Monogatari (1996)
\nPopolocrois Monogatari (1998)
\nYoshimoto Muchikko Monogatari (1998)
\nDual! Parallel Lun-Lun Monogatari (1999)
\nAi no Wakakusuyama Monogatari (1999)
\nAjimu Kaigan Monogatari (2001)
\nLittle Monica Monogatari (2002)
\nGinga Tetsudou Monogatari ~ Galaxy Railways (2003)
\nKyogoku Natsuhiko Kosetsu Hyaku Monogatari (2003)
\nFuujin Monogatari (2004)
\nTokyo Daigaku Monogatari (2004)
\nEikoku Koi Monogatari: Emma (2005)
\nKagihime Monogatari Eikyuu Alice Rinbukyoku (2006)
\nSaiunkoku Monogatari (2006)
\nBinbou Shimai Monogatari (2006)
\nWellber no Monogatari ~Sisters of Wellber~ (2007)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"