Background

Written by Nisio Isin with illustrations by Vofan, Owarimonogatari is a three-book story in the Monogatari series released in October 2013, January 2014, and April 2014. The first Monogatari light novel was Bakemonogatari , released in 2005 and later adapted into an anime in July 2009. All novels share the same monogatari ending, which means "story," and the "owari" of Owarimonogatari means "ending." The series mixes intricate dialogue filled with puns and a deeply woven story with supernatural touches and just a bit of fan service.

The Monogatari series itself follows Koyomi Araragi, a high school student bitten by a vampire named Kiss-Shot Acerola-Orion Heart-Under-Blade (also called Shinobu, voiced by Maaya Sakamoto) during the spring break preceding the first book. He is aided by Meme Oshino, who specializes in strange phenomena, and thus does not fully become a vampire, although he is still capable of regeneration.

Before this experience, Araragi was cold and uninterested in making friends, but during this time, he meets the sweet class president Tsubasa Hanekawa (voiced by Yui Horie in the anime), who changes his outlook on friendship. He decides to join her as class vice president to turn his life around, but his path to helping others who have encountered supernatural oddities like himself is cemented when he meets Hitagi Senjougahara, a quiet girl who is haunted by her past and cursed with a mysterious affliction that takes the form of a crab.

Owarimonogatari

Throughout the series, Araragi encounters and helps a wide variety of characters cursed with supernatural afflictions, and as the name suggests, Owarimonogatari brings many of these stories to a close. As Araragi and the others prepare to take their college entrance exams, he meets Ougi. Ougi declares himself to be a boy and the niece of Meme Oshino in the first Owarimonogatari novel, and the true background of this enigmatic character is revealed throughout the Owarimonogatari storyline.

The anime adaptation of this series has been directed by Akiyuki Shinbo and Tatsuya Oishi with animation by Shaft since 2009, and the latest release is Owarimonogatari Season 2. This release is scheduled for summer 2017 and covers the final book of Owarimonogatari including three arcs: Mayoi Hell, Hitagi Rendezvous, and Ougi Dark. When Araragi finally learns who Ougi is, will he help them or fight them?!

The cast includes Hiroshi Kamiya, Kaori Mizuhashi and Marina Inoue as Koyomi Araragi, Ougi Oshino and Sodachi Oikura respectively. Fan favorites like Chiwa Saito (Hitagi Senjougahara), Kana Hanazawa (Nadeko Sengoku), and Emiri Kato (Mayoi Hachikuji) will also return.

The new series will be directed by Akiyuki Shinbo ( Bakemonogatari, Puella Magi Madoka Magica ) and Itamura Tomoyuki ( Nekomonogatari, Nisemonogatari, Sayonara, Zetsubo-sensei ). Fuyashi Tou ( Bakemonogatari, Puella Magi Madoka Magica films) will act as the series composer, and Akio Watanabe ( Kiki's Delivery Service, Bakemonogatari ) has been hired as character designer and chief animation director. Kei Haneoka ( Air, Hanamonogatari ) is also doing the music, and Shaft is once again working on the animation.