Kizumonogatari III: Reiketsu
The final chapter of Araragi's vampire origin story concludes with intense combat.
Kizumonogatari Part 3: Reiketsu (傷物語III 冷血篇, Kizumonogatari III: Reiketsu-hen; "Cold-Blooded") is the third and final film in the Kizumonogatari anime film trilogy, produced by Shaft and directed by Akiyuki Shinbo and Tatsuya Oishi. Released in Japanese theaters on January 6, 2017, it concludes the adaptation of the 2008 light novel of the same name, which is the second entry in the Monogatari series and a prequel to Bakemonogatari. The film depicts the resolution of Koyomi Araragi's confrontation with the vampire Kiss-Shot Acerola-Orion Heart-Under-Blade, following the events of Tekketsu and Nekketsu.
Quick Facts
- Release year
- 2017
- Director
- Akiyuki Shinbo
- Studio
- Shaft
- Protagonist
- Koyomi Araragi
- Source material
- Light Novel
Lore & Background
In Reiketsu, Koyomi finally succeeds in fully restoring Kiss-Shot after defeating the three vampire hunters alone. Koyomi expects Kiss-Shot to then change him back to a human. Before that, Kiss-Shot and Koyomi spend an evening on a rooftop, where Kiss-Shot reminisces about her previous subordinate, a Samurai who chose to commit suicide because he could not bear to live as a vampire after being turned. Koyomi goes off to buy food, but when he returns, he finds Kiss-Shot eating the eviscerated corpse of Episode.
He is horrified at the realization that Kiss-Shot will now hunt humans again and that he himself will want to hunt as well. The realization leaves Koyomi despondent enough to want to die. But then Tsubasa appears and persuades Koyomi to stay alive. She also points out that Koyomi himself has the power to stop Kiss-Shot.
Tsubasa's comforting words, as well as a clumsy attempt to fondle her breasts, bring Koyomi's spirits up enough to face Kiss-Shot in a fight.
Reader's Guide
The Kizumonogatari trilogy serves as a prequel to the main television narrative, detailing the events of Araragi's first year in high school before he met Senjogahara or Hanekawa. While Bakemonogatari aired earlier, this film series chronologically precedes it all. Reiketsu acts as the climax of this origin tale, following the intense battles established in the previous two installments. Released on January 6, 2017, it concludes the confrontation with the ancient vampire Kiss-Shot.
The narrative explores the heavy cost of Araragi's survival and his temporary transformation into a vampire. Unlike the episodic nature of the TV adaptations, this film offers a continuous, high-stakes action sequence driven by dialogue-heavy combat. It bridges the gap between the novel source material and the later anime entries, providing essential context for Araragi's unique abilities and physical limitations seen throughout the rest of the franchise.
Fans often view it as the emotional anchor for understanding his self-sacrificial nature. The movie was originally planned as a single feature but split into three theatrical releases to ensure maximum visual fidelity. This third installment specifically focuses on the resolution of the blood contract, cementing Araragi's role as a monster hunter who walks the line between human and supernatural.
More in Arcs & Media Timeline
Elsewhere in Monogatari Series
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