Summary

Tsuruga Kanbaru has a deep affection for the MC but no love, and awaits her chance to interfere.
Senjougahara Hitagi is the MC's love interest and a "winning heroine" who is controlling and jealous.
Nadeko Sengoku is a selfish and egotistical villainess turned idol, hated and loved by fans.

The Monogatari series has plenty of interesting characters to meet, and fans have their favorites and those whom they detest. Nishio Ishin's light novel, which is the base material for the series, has its followers and detractors, so it is no surprise that some of the heroines in the series have quite a huge fan club as well.

This topic covers the best heroines in the Monogatari series, considering their popularity, character development, and how well they fit into the overall plot.

5 Tsuruga Kanbaru

The Least Popular Of The Recurrent Heroines

First Appearance: Bakemonogatari - Episode 6
Age: 17
Type: Oddity Victim (Monkey Paw)

Affected by the curse of the Monkey Paw, Tsuruga Kanbaru sought the help of Koyomi Araragi, despite being tremendously jealous of him and his relationship with Senjougahara Hitagi. Kanbaru's left arm mutated into that of a monkey, causing great distress in her, and provoking her seclusion. This heroine is quite contradictory. Although she has a deep affection for the MC, there's no love between them, despite her obvious advances.

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This is due to her obsession (and unrequited love) with her best friend Hitagi, who is the current girlfriend of the protagonist. Unlike many other heroines who appear sporadically, Kanbaru has become a frequent member of Araragi's crew, and she's always orbiting around the couple. Perhaps she's waiting for her chance to get in between the duo.

4 Senjougahara Hitagi

MC's Love Interest And Incredibly Jealous

First Appearance: Bakemonogatari - Episode 1
Age: 17
Type: Oddity Victim (Heavy Stone Crab)

Traumatized by a broken relationship with her father, Senjougahara Hitagi sought solace and respite in Araragi's aloof but kind presence. Helped by the MC to break her curse caused by the Heavy Rock Crab, Senjougahara swore eternal love to Koyomi, who is currently her boyfriend. Considered the only "winning heroine" of the series, since she got the affection of the male lead, Senjougahara is also one of the favorites of the fans.

She has some sort of a Kuudere personality, though she reserves this soft spot only for Araragi, and enjoys having romantic outings with him. Despite their good relationship, Senjougahara's controlling and jealous nature makes her distrust other heroines surrounding Koyomi's circle, especially Tsubasa Hanekawa, with whom she has a difficult relationship. Mutual distrust is the perfect way to describe how they both see each other.

3 Nadeko Sengoku

She Is Also Considered A Villain

First Appearance: Bakemonogatari - Episode 9
Age: 14
Type: Oddity Victim (Snake God)

Cursed by a couple of fellow students, Nadeko Sengoku dabbled in the occult and became the very definition of "fool around-find out." She is the best friend of Koyomi's little sister Tsukihi, and she harbors a sort of crush on the main character of the series. Though her alleged "love" is naught but a facade, like everything in this little girl's seemingly perfect life.

Behind a perfect smile lies a snake waiting to bite, or so goes the saying. Nadeko Sengoku's metamorphosis into a snake god revealed her true nature as a selfish and egotistical person, who represses her true self constantly. This eternal contradiction is what characterizes this heroine, and turns her into the perfect "idol" loved by fans, and the perfect villainess hated by everyone.

2 Tsubasa Hanekawa

Araragi's First True Friend, And A Losing Heroine

First Appearance: Bakemonogatari - Episode 1
Age: 17
Type: Oddity Victim (Bakeneko)

Tsubasa Hanekawa was the first heroine to approach Koyomi Araragi, despite his loner and creepy aspect. In a sense, she is the worst of the losing heroines, since she truly loved Araragi from the first time they met, before Senjougahara came falling from the sky (literally). Her episode related to her possession by the Bakeneko is not related to jealousy though, but abandonment and rejection from her family.

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Tsubasa ended up living with her stepfather and his new wife. Unwanted and living in a tense relationship, Hanekawa ended up committing to a life of solitude with stoicism and tried to do well at school. Despite everything, she has no earthly possessions. She sleeps in a hallway in the family house, since she doesn't have her room, and barely has any spare clothes. Perhaps her unfortunate circumstances are what makes this character so appealing among the fans of the show.

1 Tsukihi Araragi

Koyomi's Little Sister And The Favorite Of The Fans

First Appearance: Nisemonogatari - Episode 1
Age: 15
Type: Oddity (Dying Bird/Phoenix)

Raised under the same roof as Koyomi, Tsukihi Araragi is one of two sisters of the main protagonist of the series. Though she resembles a human being, she is actually an Oddity who was born from Araragi's mother after possessing her womb. Otherwise, she behaves like any normal human being. She lives, breathes, eats, grows, and of course, feels emotions as well. To the outside world, she is a doting little sister with a brother complex and a quirky personality, but to every Oddity investigator in the city, she is a target of observation.

Despite all that, she has a powerful ability that makes her practically immortal. She will have the regular lifespan of a normal human being, but she doesn't get sick, and wounds heal considerably faster than in any other human. However, by the end of her lifespan, the bird will die alongside her and will reincarnate once more. Unlike Araragi, who will remain young forever, and will live for eons before drifting away as dust, Tsukihi has all the bearings of a regular schoolgirl, including the ability to become a fan favorite among all the Monogatari heroines.

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