Transcript

Speaker: Hi, I'm Crypt, and you're welcome to another episode of Lifeblood. It's a podcast for fans of manga, light novels, manhwa, and other types of comic books. Every episode I pick one title and talk about its story, my likes, dislikes, and give a general opinion of the book. I also recommend a few titles for those on both sides of the fence. So if you like what you hear, keep listening.

Speaker: In this episode I cover the Japanese light novel Kizumonogatari, written by Nisio Isin and illustrated by Wofan. It is part of the Monogatari series and serves as a prequel to the first novel back in Monogatari. Nisio Isin is known for his unique storytelling style and world narratives, which have made him a bit of a celebrity in Japan and the rest of the world.

Speaker: His themes usually revolve around some of my favorites like the supernatural, mystery, and psychological horror. There is even a bit of romance in there. The novel takes readers to a world in which mythical creatures, the supernatural, and more coexist with the regular world we know.

Speaker: The series has captivated thousands of readers and led to several anime adaptations. Kizumu Nagatari in particular was released as an anime film trilogy with I think the first two being released in January and August of 2016.

Speaker: That's Teketsu and Neketsu. And then the final part, Reiketsu, in January 2017. These adaptations were created by Studio Shaft and directed by Tatsuya Hoishi.

Speaker: Story Kizumono katari follows the story of Koyomi Araragi, a teenage boy that is suddenly thrust into the dark and mysterious world of aberrations and various supernatural beings. No supernatural huh? Set in a contemporary Japanese town,

Speaker: The main protagonist of the Monogatari series tumbles upon the vampire Kishot, Aserola, Oran, Heart on the Blade, which attains his perception of reality and turns his life upside down. Araragi is forever transformed as he must now fight for his own survival if he is to ever go back to living a normal human life. We see his relationship with Kishot grow, but we are also introduced to other eccentric characters like the oddity specialist, Meme, Oshino, and the overachieving class president, Subaru Hanikawa.

Speaker: From the beginning, we are told not to expect a happy ending, but neither does this to anything about Badon. However, Kizumonogatari will leave you aghast, doubtful, and excited throughout the read. It's a weretale that blurs a line between novel and light novel, which, to some, that difference is negligible. But it shows us Araki's internal struggles and complexities of the world he now sees through a new light. Plus or minus.

Speaker: Wofan's illustrations are different from your usual film, blending itself on a simplistic, almost abstract look. The colours are vibrant and the use of line, tint and shade is playful and mysterious at the same time.

Speaker: As for Nisio Sin, writing is quirky but a bit repetitive. Yes, this repetitiveness helps breathe life into Ariragi. I know. That's our unmuting protagonist, the narrator. We feel his naivete and his perverse thoughts show us he truly is at that point in life when a young boy's hormones are raging. Hoshino sounds like that bomb of an uncle every family seems to have, you know, kind of like me.

Speaker: and Hanekawa is a dream girl of every male heterosexual attack. There are even more characters but my point is you've never met people like these before and by the end of the book they'll feel like close friends, enemies or frenemies. Guess which one is Keisha? In fact I don't think I'm really a fan of Arunagi.

Speaker: Anyway, conversations are dripping with wit and humour with oodles or worldly scattles about and I love that. That's cool. Like take for example the title Kizumunogatari. Kizu is a word for or the word for wound. Kizumunu is defective or damaged goods and monogatari is story or tale.

Speaker: So Kizumu Nogatari is actually Wound Tail, like it says in the title. Now, by the first few chapters, you see white called Wound Tail, and this is just the beginning. You're going to see more of that kind of stuff. The action scenes are easy to follow, and this year's scene doesn't really try to complicate things with fancy names for abilities and skills. You're not trying to cram

Speaker: the names of Jitsus or something. The fewer the words, the more action -packed these scenes seem. And while there are a few battles that are a bit underwhelming, they all fit nicely into narrative without too many plot devices getting new. The story even goes on to plug -in plot holes after the fact.

Speaker: which is considered of the author and also shows that a lot of thought went into the book. However, okay, well, I guess it helps the mystery that you don't get that info as it's happening. On the flip side, readers present only for the action may be overwhelmed by the long dialogue and the complex narrative structure. It's like plenty. This is a thing I believe that drives Otaku away from the idea of adaptations, making it call it things like boring.

Speaker: as I don't think this translates well into the medium.

Speaker: One needs to pay more attention to the specific things that are said here more than you'd expect in most of the light novels. And that's exactly why you cannot mistake this for shounen. But it does bear some similarities. While the irrepressiveness displayed by Araki helps us get an image of his character, having him call Kishot by her full name, like I struggled, and he's calling her full name every time and it can be tahrin, especially if you're reading.

Speaker: I'm sure even those that listen to your audiobook would have their feel before the end. Then there's a constant reminder of how perverted he is and my opinion this could have been toned down a lot. But I suppose the aspect of the story is mostly what we would call fanservice. Especially in reality.

Speaker: Kizumu Nogatali is an exceptionally sometimes embarrassingly good read. The combination of Nisja the Sin and Luhan adds to the unique mysterious air and it's mostly for fans of the back of the Nogatali series and those in search of a captivating supernatural tale. As a prequel it sets off the following books nicely and provides a lot of insight into some of the main characters. The world blocks the great circumstances world and the story is thought provoking. Fans of supernatural mystery can't go wrong.

Speaker: reading list. For fans of Kizumonogatari, I highly recommend the entire Monogatari series. If you haven't read it already, that is. Expect more of the same, but you'll be digging deeper into the lives of Nisio Sin's characters. So yeah, that's back in Monogatari monster tale part one light novel.

Speaker: If Izumunu Ghatari isn't your cup of tea, but you do enjoy the psychological aspects of the story and any kind of intricate story, then try out Wind Dog Bird Chronicle by Haruki Imura Kami.

Speaker: It's the tale of a man that gets caught up in a mystery while searching for his wife's missing cut. I know it's funny, but try it. Another good one is Lightning Over All Spice and Wolf, written by Isuna Hasekura. That takes us on an adventure with a traveling merchant and an ancient wolf deity.

Speaker: The anime has been out for quite a while, if I'm not mistaken. I think Adena was a bit popular among, well, at least among my friends. And it has a nice mix of fancy politics, trading for all you MMO merchants.

Speaker: We come to the end of yet another episode. I really enjoy talking about Ariragi and company and whether this is your first time coming across the Baku Monogatari series or not, I do hope I've convinced you to give Kizmonogatari a try. I also hope you enjoy my recommendations and share your opinions with me on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, I've liked them. The theme song is Dreams By Rewait. Do like, share, and subscribe to the podcast and keep supporting your local comfort scene.

Speaker: Join me next time on another awesome adventure. Fare thee well.