Monogatari Watch Order 2026: Complete Timeline Guide
Watch Monogatari in release order, from Bakemonogatari (2009) to Off & Monster Season (2024): 115 episodes and three Kizumonogatari films, about 50 hours in all. For the shortest route through Koyomi's main story, watch Koyomi Vamp instead of the three films, skip the three recap episodes, and leave Hanamonogatari and Off & Monster Season for later; that takes about 39 hours. Save the chronological order for a rewatch, because Kizumonogatari is set before the rest of Koyomi's story and Hanamonogatari after Koyomi graduates.
Last checked: October 23, 2026. Episode counts and runtimes were checked on 2026-10-23 against MyAnimeList and the AniList API, and streaming listings against JustWatch US and UK. Story placements and release dates were checked on October 23, 2026 against the official Japanese portal (monogatari-series.com), Aniplex of America's official US sites (monogatari-usa.com and kizumonogatari-usa.com), Anime News Network and Wikipedia's episode and novel lists.
Update, October 23, 2026: re-checked US and UK streaming on JustWatch. Second Season is now listed on Crunchyroll in both countries, while Bakemonogatari and Nisemonogatari in the UK and Owarimonogatari Season 2 in the US show no listing.
Update, September 24, 2026: added the watch-time table for each path, runtimes and US and UK streaming for every entry, and the release-versus-story chart.
How long each watch order takes (our calculation)
We added up the runtime of every entry on each path. Each entry's runtime is its episode count multiplied by the per-episode length listed on MyAnimeList; AniList lists slightly different lengths, so its total is shown as a cross-check rather than averaged in.
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| Path | What you watch | Episodes and films | Watch time (MyAnimeList) | Watch time (AniList) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Release order, complete | Every entry in the release-order table below, with the three Kizumonogatari films | 115 episodes, 3 recap episodes, 3 films | 49.8 h | 49.2 h |
| Chronological order, complete | The same episodes and films, in story order | 115 episodes, 3 recap episodes, 3 films | 49.8 h | 49.2 h |
| Beginner's shortest path (our pick) | Release order through Zoku Owarimonogatari, with Koyomi Vamp in place of the three films, no recap episodes, and Hanamonogatari and Off & Monster Season saved for later | 95 episodes, 1 film | 39.3 h | 39.1 h |
| Taster | Bakemonogatari only | 15 episodes | 6.2 h | 6.0 h |
Changing the order doesn't change the total; only what you leave out does. Koyomi Vamp is 69 minutes shorter than the three films combined (213 vs 144 minutes on MyAnimeList). The three recap episodes of Second Season add 75 minutes.
Our read on the shortest path: Hanamonogatari and Off & Monster Season are both set after Koyomi's graduation, which is where the main story ends (see the chronological table below), so leaving them until later doesn't skip anything the later seasons depend on. Don't cut Koyomimonogatari: its last episode leads straight into Owarimonogatari Season 2.
Runtime and streaming for each entry, US and UK
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| Entry (release order) | MyAnimeList listing | Runtime (MAL) | Runtime (AniList) | US streaming (JustWatch) | UK streaming (JustWatch) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakemonogatari | 15 × 25 min | 375 min | 360 min | Crunchyroll | No listing |
| Nisemonogatari | 11 × 25 min | 275 min | 264 min | Crunchyroll | No listing |
| Nekomonogatari (Black) | 4 × 27 min | 108 min | 108 min | No clear listing | No listing |
| Monogatari Series Second Season | 26 × 25 min (23 story episodes, 3 recaps) | 650 min | 676 min | Crunchyroll (listed as "Season 3") | Crunchyroll (listed as "Season 3") |
| Hanamonogatari | 5 × 25 min | 125 min | 120 min | Crunchyroll Amazon Channel | Buy only (Apple TV) |
| Tsukimonogatari | 4 × 26 min | 104 min | 92 min | No listing | No listing |
| Owarimonogatari | 12 × 26 min (MAL counts the double-length Ougi Formula as one episode; official count 13) | 312 min | 288 min | Crunchyroll | Crunchyroll |
| Kizumonogatari Parts 1–3 | 63, 68 and 82 min | 213 min | 214 min | Rent or buy on Amazon Video | No listing |
| Koyomimonogatari | 12 × 12 min | 144 min | 168 min | No listing | No listing |
| Owarimonogatari Season 2 | 7 × 22 min | 154 min | 168 min | No listing | Crunchyroll |
| Zoku Owarimonogatari | 6 × 28 min | 168 min | 156 min | Blu-ray only | No listing |
| Kizumonogatari: Koyomi Vamp (optional) | 1 × 144 min | 144 min | 144 min | Crunchyroll | Crunchyroll |
| Off & Monster Season | 14 × 25 min | 350 min | 322 min | Crunchyroll | Crunchyroll |
| Off & Monster Season extra, "A Cruel Fairy Tale" | 1 × 12 min | 12 min | 13 min | Not listed separately | Not listed separately |
Checked on 2026-10-23. "Crunchyroll" means JustWatch lists it on Crunchyroll, the Crunchyroll Amazon Channel, or both. No official source we could open states where these seasons stream in the US or UK: the streaming section of Aniplex of America's Monogatari site has no posts, and Crunchyroll's own title pages blocked our checks. The two columns are JustWatch's listings, not a statement from the rights holders, so confirm a title in the Crunchyroll app before you subscribe. JustWatch also groups the older seasons under one "Monogatari" show page and lists them unevenly. Second Season appears there only as an unnamed "Season 3", Nekomonogatari (Black) and Tsukimonogatari aren't listed at all, and the standalone US Nisemonogatari and Owarimonogatari pages show no services even though the grouped page lists both.
Release order (recommended for first-time viewers)
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| # | Entry | Year | Format | Episodes / runtime | Arcs inside |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bakemonogatari | 2009–2010 | TV + web | 15 (12 on TV, 3 online) | Hitagi Crab (1–2), Mayoi Mai Mai (3–5), Suruga Monkey (6–8), Nadeko Snake (9–10), Tsubasa Cat (11–15) |
| 2 | Nisemonogatari | 2012 | TV | 11 | Karen Bee (1–7), Tsukihi Phoenix (8–11) |
| 3 | Nekomonogatari (Black) | 2012 | TV (aired Dec 31) | 4 | Tsubasa Family |
| 4 | Monogatari Series Second Season | 2013 | TV | 23 aired in 2013 | Nekomonogatari (White): Tsubasa Tiger (5); Kabukimonogatari: Mayoi Jiangshi (4); Otorimonogatari: Nadeko Medusa (4); Onimonogatari: Shinobu Time (4); Koimonogatari: Hitagi End (6) |
| 5 | Hanamonogatari | 2014 | TV (aired Aug 16) | 5 | Suruga Devil |
| 6 | Tsukimonogatari | 2014 | TV (aired Dec 31) | 4 | Yotsugi Doll |
| 7 | Owarimonogatari | 2015 | TV | 13 | Ougi Formula (1–2), Sodachi Riddle (3–4), Sodachi Lost (5–7), Shinobu Mail (8–13) |
| 8 | Kizumonogatari Part 1: Tekketsu, Part 2: Nekketsu, Part 3: Reiketsu | 2016–2017 | Films | about 64, 69 and 83 min | Koyomi's spring break with Kiss-shot |
| 9 | Koyomimonogatari | 2016 | Web | 12 short episodes | One story per month of Koyomi's last year of high school |
| 10 | Owarimonogatari Season 2 | 2017 | TV | 7 (eps 14–20) | Mayoi Hell (14–15), Hitagi Rendezvous (16–17), Ougi Dark (18–20) |
| 11 | Zoku Owarimonogatari | 2018 film, 2019 TV | Film, then TV | 6 on TV | Koyomi Reverse |
| – | Kizumonogatari: Koyomi Vamp (optional) | 2024 | Film | 144 min | Kizumonogatari trilogy recut as one film |
| 12 | Monogatari Series: Off & Monster Season | 2024 | Streaming, then TV | 14 + 1 extra | Tsukihi Undo (1), Nadeko Draw (2–6), A Cruel Fairy Tale (extra), Acerola Bon Appétit (7–8), Shinobu Mustard (9–14) |
Episode counts and arc ranges come from Wikipedia's Monogatari episode list and match the official portal's episode index, which gives 28 episodes for Second Season, and its Owarimonogatari index, which gives 20. Wikipedia's series article groups these into a 30-episode "first season" (2009–2012), a 28-episode second season and a 42-episode "final season" (2014–2019). Aniplex of America's Final Season Blu-ray announcement gives the same 42 episodes for Tsukimonogatari through Zoku Owarimonogatari.
Some notes on the release dates:
- Bakemonogatari aired July 3 to September 25, 2009. Episodes 13–15, which finish the Tsubasa Cat arc, came out online between November 2009 and June 25, 2010 (Wikipedia).
- Nekomonogatari (Black) aired all four episodes back to back on December 31, 2012.
- Hanamonogatari belongs to Second Season. It was meant to air with the rest in 2013, but it was postponed and aired on its own on August 16, 2014, per the episode list, which cites Anime News Network.
- Zoku Owarimonogatari opened in Japanese theaters on November 10, 2018, then aired as six TV episodes from May 18 to June 22, 2019.
Our pick: use release order for a first watch. The first episode of Nekomonogatari (Black) was preceded by a short recap in which Oshino explains what happened to Koyomi in Kizumonogatari (Wikipedia's recap list). TV viewers got that story in summary years before the films came out, so the TV run holds up without the films. If you want broader background on how the two approaches differ, our guide to release and chronological watch orders covers it.
Chronological order (story timeline)
Spoiler note: this table names major late-story twists. First-time viewers can skip it and use the release order above.
This is the order events happen in the story, not the order they were made. It moves backstory that the series reveals late up to the front, which is why we suggest saving it for a rewatch.
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| # | Entry (episodes) | When it happens | Why it goes here |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wazamonogatari: A Cruel Fairy Tale + Acerola Bon Appétit (Off & Monster Season extra, eps 7–8) | Centuries before the series | The extra is set 600 years before the main story (Wikipedia). The official US site sums up this story as "a hellish spring break, and its prequel." |
| 2 | Kizumonogatari (trilogy or Koyomi Vamp) | Spring break before Koyomi's third year | The official US character bio says he "suffered an incident that made him almost immortal" during the spring break of his second year (monogatari-usa.com). |
| 3 | Nekomonogatari (Black) | Golden Week | Per the official portal, it is set after the spring break with the "beautiful vampire" and a little before "a girl falls from the sky," which is how Bakemonogatari begins. |
| 4 | Bakemonogatari | Koyomi's third year of high school | Episode 1 opens "one day in his third year" (official synopsis). Mayoi Mai Mai takes place on Mother's Day. |
| 5 | Nisemonogatari | Summer vacation | The official intro places it after the five girls' cases are resolved and the school festival is over. |
| 6 | Kabukimonogatari | Last day of summer vacation | The arc opens on the last day of summer vacation, with Koyomi looking for Mayoi to return her backpack and then asking Shinobu about going back in time (Wikipedia). |
| 7 | Onimonogatari | Right after Kabukimonogatari | It opens with Koyomi coming home from his trip through time and returning Mayoi's backpack. |
| 8 | Nekomonogatari (White) | First day of the second semester | Tsubasa Tiger begins on her way to the first day of school. Rows 6–8 overlap within a few days of each other. |
| 9 | Owarimonogatari eps 8–13 (Shinobu Mail) | Start of the second semester | The official episode 8 synopsis says this arc starts "just after summer vacation ended and the second semester began," with Koyomi almost fully human. |
| 10 | Owarimonogatari eps 1–7 (Ougi Formula, Sodachi Riddle, Sodachi Lost) | October of third year | The official intro sets it in October. Kanbaru introduces Ougi, and the arcs flash back to Koyomi's first year and middle school. |
| 11 | Otorimonogatari | Halloween onward | Nadeko meets Ougi on Halloween, a few days before the arc's opening scene (Wikipedia). |
| 12 | Koimonogatari | From New Year's Day | Hitagi calls Kaiki on New Year's Day and asks him to talk Nadeko out of killing her and Koyomi on graduation day. |
| 13 | Tsukimonogatari | February | Per the official intro, it takes place after Kaiki resolves the Nadeko situation, while Koyomi is cramming for exams. |
| 14 | Koyomimonogatari | Across the whole school year | It tells 12 stories, one per month, of his final year. The last two, Koyomi Nothing (late February) and Koyomi Dead (March 13), lead straight into row 15. |
| 15 | Owarimonogatari Season 2 | March, before graduation | Mayoi Hell begins after Gaen kills Koyomi at the end of Koyomi Dead. |
| 16 | Zoku Owarimonogatari | Morning after graduation | The official intro opens the morning after the graduation ceremony. |
| 17 | Hanamonogatari | Kanbaru's third year | It is set after Koyomi and Hitagi graduate (Wikipedia), which is why it can't go before Tsukimonogatari in story order. |
| 18 | Orokamonogatari: Tsukihi Undo, then Nademonogatari: Nadeko Draw (Off & Monster Season eps 1–6) | Tsukihi's and Nadeko's third year of middle school | The US site puts both girls in their third year of middle school. Nadeko Draw follows the Tsukihi incident. |
| 19 | Shinobumonogatari: Shinobu Mustard (Off & Monster Season eps 9–14) | Koyomi's first year of university | The US site describes Koyomi as "now a first-year university student." |
A note on Koyomimonogatari: its first story, Koyomi Stone, is set before Bakemonogatari (Wikipedia). A strict chronological rewatch would spread its 12 shorts across the whole list. Our read: it's easier to watch it as one block right before Owarimonogatari Season 2, because its final episode leads directly into that season.
Where release order jumps around in time
Release order moves back and forth around Koyomi's last year of high school, and four of its jumps stand out. Each one has an early cue that tells you where you are.
Nekomonogatari (Black), third in release order, goes back to the start of Golden Week, before Bakemonogatari, after a short recap of Koyomi's spring break. Owarimonogatari arrives after Tsukimonogatari's February but opens in October, and its episode 8 steps back again to the days just after summer vacation. The Kizumonogatari films then return to the spring break before Koyomi's third year.
Hanamonogatari is the jump that runs furthest ahead. It's set in Kanbaru's third year, after Koyomi graduates, and Tsukimonogatari then drops back to February. That's why this site's shortest path saves Hanamonogatari for later, so a first watch only crosses graduation once the main story is over.
Many arcs name their date in the first episode, such as Golden Week, the last day of summer vacation or New Year's Day. When a scene feels out of place, match that cue against the chronological table above. The site's watch-order hub covers other franchises with the same release-versus-story choice.
Kizumonogatari: three films or Koyomi Vamp?
Kizumonogatari covers Koyomi's first meeting with the vampire Kiss-shot Acerola-Orion Heart-Under-Blade. Shaft released it as a trilogy:
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| Film | Japanese release | Runtime |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1: Tekketsu | January 8, 2016 | about 64 min |
| Part 2: Nekketsu | August 19, 2016 | about 69 min |
| Part 3: Reiketsu | January 6, 2017 | about 83 min |
| Koyomi Vamp | January 12, 2024 | 144 min |
Release dates and trilogy runtimes are from Wikipedia's Kizumonogatari article. The 144-minute runtime for Koyomi Vamp comes from the official Japanese Blu-ray page. Aniplex of America's announcement says Koyomi Vamp combines Parts 1–3 and "returns to theaters as one story." The trilogy runs about 216 minutes in total, so Koyomi Vamp is roughly 70 minutes shorter. In North America, Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures gave it a one-day theatrical release on August 28, 2024, and Aniplex of America released a limited edition Blu-ray on February 18, 2025.
Our pick: if you already pay for Crunchyroll, Koyomi Vamp is the simpler way to see this story, since JustWatch lists it there. The three original films are rent or buy only in the US. Whichever version you choose, watch it where the trilogy falls in release order, after Owarimonogatari. If you want the backstory sooner, watch it any time after Bakemonogatari.
Off & Monster Season: where it fits
Monogatari Series: Off & Monster Season adapts stories from the "Off Season" and "Monster Season" novels. It began streaming exclusively on ABEMA in Japan on July 6, 2024, and Crunchyroll streamed it as it came out (Anime News Network). The final numbered episode, 14, streamed on October 19, 2024. A TV version started airing on TOKYO MX and BS11 on September 29, 2024, and on AT-X on October 1 (official news).
The official US site sums up the premise: Koyomi has graduated and "his story is truly over now," so these episodes follow the girls he saved, "the prequel or sequel to their stories." Watch it after Zoku Owarimonogatari. The anime doesn't adapt the novels in publication order; it airs arcs out of sequence and splits some volumes across episodes, according to Wikipedia's episode list. Stick to the anime's own episode numbers. The extra episode, "A Cruel Fairy Tale: The Beautiful Princess," aired on August 17, 2024, between episodes 6 and 7. Aniplex of America's Complete Blu-ray Box (released March 10, 2026) lists it as bonus content alongside the 14 episodes.
More is coming. On July 2, 2026, the official site announced a new episode, "Wazamonogatari: Karen Ogre," to air in winter 2026. Its setup has Karen Araragi, now in her first year of high school, sent into the mountains to train (official announcement). As of October 23, 2026, no exact date or US streaming partner has been announced.
Where to watch Monogatari legally in the US and UK
The entry table near the top of this page lists what JustWatch shows in the US and UK for every season and film. In short, Second Season, the first Owarimonogatari season, Koyomi Vamp and Off & Monster Season are listed on Crunchyroll in both countries. Bakemonogatari, Nisemonogatari and Hanamonogatari are listed in the US only, and Owarimonogatari Season 2 in the UK only. The three original Kizumonogatari films are rent or buy only in the US and not listed in the UK, so Koyomi Vamp is the easier way to see that story on a subscription. Koyomimonogatari and Zoku Owarimonogatari have no streaming listing in either country. JustWatch listed Netflix for none of these titles. For Crunchyroll's current plans, see our Crunchyroll and Funimation guide. Our where to watch anime legally guide shows how to find any title.
On disc: Aniplex of America has announced a Second Season complete Blu-ray box, a Final Season Complete Blu-ray Set (42 episodes on 8 discs, Tsukimonogatari through Zoku Owarimonogatari), the Koyomi Vamp limited edition, and the Off & Monster Season box (14 episodes on 4 discs, about 353 minutes). The Final Season, Koyomi Vamp and Off & Monster Season sets list Japanese audio with English subtitles. Koyomi is voiced by Hiroshi Kamiya, per the US cast page.
Reading the novels in English
The source is NisiOisin's light novel series, published in English by Vertical. Vertical announced its license in February 2015, starting with Kizumonogatari on NisiOisin's editor's suggestion. According to Wikipedia's novel list, Kizumonogatari came out on December 15, 2015. Bakemonogatari followed in three parts (December 2016, February 2017 and April 2017), and as of December 2020 the novels through Zoku Owarimonogatari had been translated. Vertical also publishes the Bakemonogatari manga illustrated by Oh! great, which it began releasing in North America in October 2019 (Wikipedia).
For another franchise with prequels and several places to start, see our Fate watch order.
Frequently asked questions
What order should I watch Monogatari in?
Use release order: Bakemonogatari, Nisemonogatari, Nekomonogatari (Black), Second Season (with Hanamonogatari), Tsukimonogatari, Owarimonogatari, the Kizumonogatari films, Koyomimonogatari, Owarimonogatari Season 2, Zoku Owarimonogatari, then Off & Monster Season.
Should I watch Kizumonogatari first?
It is the earliest of Koyomi's stories, but it wasn't released until 2016–2017, and the TV series recaps its events before Nekomonogatari (Black). Watching it after Owarimonogatari, where it came out, works well. So does watching it any time after Bakemonogatari.
Is Hanamonogatari before or after Tsukimonogatari?
It came out first (August 2014 vs December 2014), but its story is set after Koyomi and Hitagi graduate. That puts it after Zoku Owarimonogatari in the chronological order.
Is Kizumonogatari: Koyomi Vamp the same as the three films?
It is the trilogy re-edited into a single 144-minute film, released in Japan on January 12, 2024. The three original films run about 216 minutes combined.
Are Koimonogatari and Nekomonogatari (White) animated?
Yes. Both are part of Monogatari Series Second Season (2013). Nekomonogatari (White) has 5 episodes and Koimonogatari has 6.
How long does it take to watch all of Monogatari?
About 50 hours (49.8 h by MyAnimeList's episode lengths, 49.2 h by AniList's) for every episode and all three Kizumonogatari films. The beginner's shortest path above takes about 39 hours, and Bakemonogatari alone about 6 hours.
How many Monogatari episodes are there?
There are 100 TV and web episodes from 2009 to 2019, plus the three Kizumonogatari films. Off & Monster Season adds 14 more episodes and one extra, and the new "Karen Ogre" episode is set for winter 2026.
Who publishes the Monogatari novels in English?
Vertical. Its English line began with Kizumonogatari in December 2015 and had reached Zoku Owarimonogatari by December 2020.
Published by Rai Ansar
Owner and editorRai Ansar, a software engineer who goes by WeebRai online, owns and runs PrimeTime Anime. Rai chooses what gets published and fixes errors when readers report them. Facts come from the sources linked on each page, not from claims of hands-on testing.