AnimeSuki Forum - Character Discussion

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Character Discussion - Oshino Shinobu

The purpose of this thread is to provide a place to discuss all things Shinobu Oshino related.
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I wrote a Shinobu post on my recently started blog, here is the post itself:

Spoiler:

If you have watched this week's episode then you would know that it re-introduces the character of Oshino Shinobu into the series. This episode is possibly one of the most important if not THE most important episode of the series as a whole. As you might have noticed already from my banner, Shinobu is my favorite character so this episode plays a great importance to me as well.

For all you anime-only watchers you probably remember her as that blonde loli that appears once in a while during the first season. Since she didn't say anything or did anything of great importance (other than saving Araragi's life at the end of the season) you probably shrugged her off as a background character. Now I don't blame you for thinking that since she really was pretty useless during that period. With that in mind, you are probably thinking about how is such a character important to the series? Well let's just say that we'll be seeing A LOT of her in the future.

For those of you who have read Kizumonogatari over at Baka-Tsuki, you'll know what sort of relationship Araragi has with her. He saved her from death when she got cold feet and then she wanted to die for him so that he could become a human again. Araragi won't allow her to do that so they ended up in a relationship where they have to live for the sake of the other. I have seen quite a few people who is confused about what Araragi meant when he said he won't forgive her and she won't forgive him. Personally, I feel that it's more of a metaphor for their relationship since there really isn't much to forgive nor do either of them actually expect the other to apologize or something. We see that Shinobu tries to convince Araragi to kill her in the bath scene but the truth is there is nothing Shinobu wants more than to spend all of eternity with Araragi. In terms of just Nise it's actually quite confusing as to how Shinobu actually feels about Araragi but that gets cleared up pretty nicely in future events.

After episode 4 aired I saw a lot of comments about how it was distasteful for a high-schooler to be bathing with a seemingly 8 year old girl. All I can say is that those people kind of missed what the author was trying to get at here. The bond between Araragi and Shinobu is supposed to be very close and the intimacy of the bath is supposed to show that. It's as if the scene is trying to say that there is nothing those two will hide from each other.

BTW for anyone hoping to see her sporting the hat she wore in Bakemonogatari, don't bother. She decided that it was too lame so she's never going to wear it anymore. However, there is actually another reason. Initially she wore that hat so that Araragi wouldn't be able to pat her head anymore which was sign of obedience in vampire culture. Now that she isn't wearing it anymore and have started to speak to him again, it means she no longer holds a grudge against him for not killing her.

Hell these two are literally the same species...I would say their relationship is stronger than anything else in the setting

Shinobu only wanted to die because she was bored of living. Considering how she takes interest in a lot of things now, I think that problem has been solved.

It was quite awhile ago that I first said that I thought Shinobu was one of the two pillars of this series (Hitagi being the other one). It is very exciting to see this starting to come to fruition. Shinobu is a fascinating character who is very sympathetic in her connection to Koyomi. However, it is true that what she means for Araragi himself is the end of all his personal connections, and his humanity. I think that it is this conflict which Shinobu introduces (against Hitagi) which bring the meaning to this story. Bakemonogatari and Kizumonogatari really are both, in the end, only prologues in the larger scheme of things. Once Nisemonogatari makes this clear and the audience starts to catch on to the true scope and conflict of this series, I look forward to even greater continuing adaptations and commercial success from this series for SHAFT and Nishio.

Much appreciated, Ominon, these bits of info from the novels really enhance my enjoyment of the show.

Quote:

Originally Posted by omimon (Post 3980082)

I wrote a Shinobu post on my recently started blog, here is the post itself:

Spoiler:

Adding on to that: You can also say that they are alter ego's of one another in a way. Shinobu is the closest character in the series to Araragi and understands him the best. Their link is so powerful, that they share emotions, pain, thoughts, and etc. About Vampires, Shinobu stated in Kizumongatari that the main cause of death for vampires was suicide, simply put they were bored of their long dull lives so they ended it. Shinobu was the oldest and strongest vampire in the series as Kiss-Shot.

P.S. Shinobu's my favorite character too. I couldn't be more obvious with my sigy and avatar, lol.

well i can tell you one thing..

A vampire who gets happy being rewarded with donuts is definitely a first. :P
In the first season of the anime.. when oshino told araragi shinobu was PMSy cuz he ate the last donut, i thought he was kidding.
After watching the second season... i can see that wasnt a joke at all.

i seriously cracked up when she tells araragi to give her a tribute with a mountain of donuts... and her old way of speaking is epic.

Most definitely also one of my favorate loli vampires... probably tied with eva from negima.

When she started talking I burst out laughing and never looked back. :p

Omimon are we going to see shinobu in her grown up version in nisemonogatari?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sagi (Post 4034783)

Omimon are we going to see shinobu in her grown up version in nisemonogatari?

Spoiler for answer:

Interesting that she has short hair at the 10 year old appearance.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hiro Hayase (Post 4030816)

Hm, I am pretty sure Tsubasa understands (more precisely analyzes) both Koyomi and Shinobu better than each other and themselves :rolleyes:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archon_Wing (Post 4034728)

When she started talking I burst out laughing and never looked back. :p

One of the problems of watching Nise- before Kizu- :confused:

Don't really see it as a problem. It was a pleasant surprise and she is probably my favorite of this franchise atm.

at first, I hate her... in Bake, she didn't get much action time...
In Nise, she's starting to be my favorite character because she become more honest in episode 4 and her relationship with Araragi is much closer than other girls

finally, after reading a doujinshi, I know that Monogatari series' ending is actually Araragi and Shinobu pairing... because Araragi will never be able to bring himself to kill Shinobu, that's why both of them will spend their lifetime together
I can't see that Shinobu actually feels guilty but Araragi always convince her that it is his choice

can't wait to see Kizu got animated.... Shinobu ending is the best!!!

Is there any possible way to deny that she is the fated girl for Koyomi? They're gonna end together no matter what :|

Not that that's a bad thing considering how awesome Shinobu is.

Not really, it's just circumstances, let me elaborate...

The fated girl for Koyomi is Hitagi, because she pushed accidentally all the right buttons, and now (as of Nise- struggles to keep up).

The ideal girl is Tsubasa, because she embodies everything Koyomi wants, but is too perfect in his eyes for him.

The accessible girls are pretty much the rest of the female cast, but are too flawed even compared to Koyomi.

Now where Kissshot fits, she can fluidly switch to all of the above roles, plus she is bound to be with Koyomi forever (as of Kizu's resolution). But that does not mean that she is the best fit, it's just that she can assume the role that Koyomi wants his girl to play, and that's miles away from being THE ONE for him... she can just fake it... should I borrow from Nise's theme :p

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malkuth (Post 4060517)

Your denial. I love it.

Jokes aside though, how deeply does Koyomi get romantically involved with Shinobu? What's their opinion of each other as a man and a woman, basically?

I do wonder where Shinobu fits, since Koyomi seems to hide less from her than the other females. He doesn't tell Hitagi much about Mayoi. He had to put up a front with Tsubasa and pretend he was tough with his sisters. Suruga and Nadeko are even less informed.

With Shinobu, it seems that he doesn't really hide anything from her.