Whose perspective is the story being told from? Does it ever change?

[halfhearted]

Basically, I'm wondering how other viewers are seeing the series' narration. Often we receive close-ups of Araragi's eyes as he views specific events, and he does have his voice-overs. But, does this character influence on story direction remain even when the audience is viewing text-only frames or images that are directly connected to other characters?

For example, during Hitagi's relation of her tragic circumstances, there was no solid design given of the mother, Hitagi's younger self or the men who assaulted Hitagi. Instead, objects that might represent a mother or a child were shown along with silhouettes. Is this because Araragi has no way of knowing the appearances of the individuals involved and so his mind manufactures some replacement image for them? Or, is it supposed to show us how Hitagi views her mother and herself? Or, is this just a commentary on the situation being handed down by a third person narrator?

[Denizen]

Although i'm sure this show will have alot of hidden meaning, I don't really believe these scenes were as much "indepth" as they were just, well, postmodern, and a means of applying some variety and futher weirdness in a different animated format.

Though I like the idea that everything we have seen is shown through his eyes, and the ambience and atmosphere is all down to what he's feeling. Maybe things such as the Stationary underwear were his imagining, or scenes such as when he caught Hitagi's fall were seen through his mind's eye and therefore much more dramatic in appearance - because that's how he remembers them. It would also explain other things, such as the "crab" kanji representing the crab, because obviously he couldn't see it - through Hitagi's eyes, the crab might have been far more detailed.

Indeed, it's always hard to tell where the animators intentions lie, but it might be interesting to watch the show with Araragi's POV in mind.

[halfhearted]

Although i'm sure this show will have alot of hidden meaning, I don't really believe these scenes were as much "indepth" as they were just, well, postmodern, and a means of applying some variety and futher weirdness in a different animated format.

Actually, it was partially postmodernity which had me thinking in this manner, as subjectivism is important to the discipline. That is to say, the idea of something being seen, relayed, or translated subjectively (by necessity) is considered almost a given. Although, I'm more used to confronting the idea in works which relate to streams of consciousness in modern lit than I am with how it can be seen in the postmodern light. It felt like there was some intent towards portraying a purposeful sort of subjective relation on the part of Araragi.

More than anything it was the emphasis that's made on perspective or opinion in various situations, which had me seeing it as possibly purposeful rather than accidental creation. For example, different opinions on rounding up or down their school scores changing how equal Araragi and Hitagi were in their abilities. Meme making a point that he and Araragi can't see the crab from their point of view. The way the focus of frames moves in an organic manner. And, the fact that it has to be someone (even if it's just an outside narrator) giving their specific thoughts when the text frames show up.

Maybe things such as the Stationary underwear were his imagining, or scenes such as when he caught Hitagi's fall were seen through his mind's eye and therefore much more dramatic in appearance - because that's how he remembers them.That's what I was thinking, too. The angle of shots, how things are framed, how close-ups are shown gives off this really subjective and strangely internal feeling. The "camera" moves like an eye rather than like a manipulated object.

[Kusuriuri]

I would have to agree that most, if not all, of the story so far has been told through Araragi's view of the world.

If you go back to the first episode and the scene in which Hitagi first threatens Araragi with the knife and stapler, she is not shown on screen until Araragi himself is in a position to see her. The camera very deliberately cuts off at just behind Araragi.

The fact that we weren't shown the little loli in Oshino's room until Hitagi pointed her out, quite literally, would work towards this being Araragi's view.

The faceless mother point that halfhearted made is a very goodone but I would have also thought that it could have been, but probably isn't, due to Hitagi's view of her mother as someone she would almost rather not remember. Then again, this view doesn't stand up as Hitagi talks about her mother after she regains her "mass of feelings" and this time she isn't even there, save for her clothes.

I see Araragi as somewhat of a 3rd party to the goings on in the episodes. Sure, he drives the story onwards to a certain extent, but he isn't the central focus, even if he may be the main character.

/avoids postmodernisn talk in order to not feel dumb.....doesn't help much.

[Otori]

Basically, I'm wondering how other viewers are seeing the series' narration. Often we receive close-ups of Araragi's eyes as he views specific events, and he does have his voice-overs. But, does this character influence on story direction remain even when the audience is viewing text-only frames or images that are directly connected to other characters?

I just figured it was the post modern style you have previously referred to. Im not sure what definition you're basing off of and how this concerns art and animation but my understanding is that post modernism incorporates everything; a bricolage of sorts. This means that the studio is not limiting themselves to the usual animation and storytelling conventions usually inherent in anime.

This can be seen in the OP, or in conversations between Araragi and Hitagi. There are eye-catches of certain kanji or a phrase that is relevant to the situation at that moment. So rather than simply outright telling the viewer, they use these flashes to display the subtext of what is going on.

I was further convinced during Hitagi's past explanantion. Rather than recounting the story in a regularly animated flashback, or even with still pictures, they use impressions or hints of the situation. This makes it feel even more disjointed from the present and from Hitagi. For example, rather than just simply animating hands they placed te on top of hands or they put okaa-san on the mother-figure's head. It was a different means for conveying the story.

As for the point of view bit, I don't think there is a concrete POV we are following. It has the freedom to switch around out of necessity of the current situation, such as when the viewer is allowed to see the crab that Araragi cannot. But, I do believe there is a focus on Araragi obviously, since he does have the occasional voice-over and the close-up are on him a bit more often. Perhaps this focus is so that the viewer can have a character they can get attached to, or maybe that's how the novels were written. However, this does make the anime and story seem less scattered.

Well, that's my long two cents :P

[Denizen]

The whole POV debate also makes me wonder about scenes such as Araragi's head exploding into photographs of food, or the old-filmreel effect being used with two moving silhouettes. Is there a relevance there, or at least an interpretable one?

I like Kusuriuri's observation that characters don't truly appear unless someone points them out, and how the camera is very character-centric, almost waiting for them to allow it to highlight something. Mainly it will be interesting to watch future episodes and see if this little effect is repeated.

[Kusuriuri]

I just realised something. Remember when Hitagi was talking about being assaulted by her mothers cult? Araragi imagined/visualised that scene as a few pairs of hands reaching for her. Seeing as halfhearted has we've pretty much established that the situation was what Araragi thought it would be like, it must mean his thoughts about rape are of multiple hands reaching for you.

Now, remember the end of that very same episode? Araragi's loli sisters were reaching for him through the covers.

Araragi was raped by his sisters.....

[Otori]

The whole POV debate also makes me wonder about scenes such as Araragi's head exploding into photographs of food, or the old-filmreel effect being used with two moving silhouettes. Is there a relevance there, or at least an interpretable one?

It could just be a plain old artistic direction choice.
I'm not sure I can wrap my head around exploding food at the moment, I'll need to watch it again...

[Denizen]

Araragi was raped by his sisters.....

Oh lord.

Maybe the spiral staircase he witnessed is a clue..that he will be THE HELIX KING.

[Dogma]

It's pretty much just him.

He's pretty much the medium we use to get just about every bit of information out of the other characters, I'd say its a postmodern style but the reason this is backed up is because while during the reccolection scene he was unable to give proper visuals, in his own recollection with his sister and a bike, there was nothing but symbols in oppose to pictures which he would have.

It's very artistic as a means of storytelling but its always been from his eyes.