Given (manga)
Given is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Natsuki Kizu. It has been serialized in the bimonthly manga magazine Cheri+ since 2013, and has been collected into five tankōbon volumes by Shinshokan. The series follows a group of four students in an amateur rock band, and the dual romantic relationships that form among them: between vocalist Mafuyu Satō and electric guitarist Ritsuka Uenoyama, and between bassist Haruki Nakayama and drummer Akihiko Kaji.
The series was adapted into an audio drama in 2016 and an 11-episode anime television series by Lerche in 2019; a film sequel to the anime series produced by Blue Lynx will be released in 2020. The anime television series aired on Fuji TV's Noitamina programming block, and was the first yaoi series to air on Noitamina. An English-language translation of the manga is licensed in North America by the Viz Media-Animate joint publishing initiative SuBLime, while the anime is syndicated outside of Asia by Crunchyroll, which simulcast the series during its original broadcast run.
Plot
Given is roughly divided into two major story arcs. The first arc, which focuses primarily on the relationship between Mafuyu and Ritsuka, follows the formation of the band and the lead-up to their first live performance. The second arc, which focuses primarily on the relationship between Akihiko and Haruki, follows the band as they prepare for their first music festival.Mafuyu and Ritsuka
High schooler Ritsuka Uenoyama is the guitarist for a band composed of himself, bassist Haruki Nakayama, and drummer Akihiko Kaji. He becomes a reluctant guitar teacher to Mafuyu Satō, a shy classmate, after repairing the broken strings on Mafuyu's Gibson ES-330. Ritsuka quickly realizes that Mafuyu is an exceptionally talented singer, and invites him to join the band.Ritsuka learns that Mafuyu's guitar was previously owned by Yūki Yoshida, Mafuyu's childhood friend and boyfriend who died from suicide. The band begins composing music in advance of a live performance, but Mafuyu is unable to write lyrics for the song. The day of the performance, Mafuyu has a breakthrough and sings a powerful song about his feelings of loss over Yūki. The song prompts Ritsuka and Mafuyu to act on their growing romantic feelings for each other; they kiss backstage, and begin dating. The band names itself "Given", in tribute to the guitar given to Mafuyu by Yūki's mother after his passing.
Akihiko and Haruki
Given begins to develop a following after posting a video of their live performance online. The band decides to enter into a major amateur music festival, and begin preparing new material. Their efforts are complicated by Haruki's secret romantic feelings for Akihiko, and Akihiko's continued involvement with his ex-boyfriend Ugetsu Murata. Tensions mount until Akihiko is kicked out of the apartment he shares with Ugetsu and later assaults Haruki, though Haruki forces Akihiko to end the encounter before they have sex.Lacking a place to live, Akihiko moves in with Haruki; their cohabitation grows to become pleasant, but rife with lingering romantic and interpersonal tension. The day of their qualifying concert, Akihiko ends his relationship with Ugetsu. Mafuyu leads the band in performing a new song he has written, but Given is not selected for the festival. Time passes, and Akihiko moves out of Haruki's apartment and commits seriously to music study. He pledges to Haruki that he will be a better man; they confess their love for each other, and begin dating.
Characters
Main characters
; Mafuyu Satō; Ritsuka Uenoyama
; Haruki Nakayama
; Akihiko Kaji
Supporting characters
; Yūki Yoshida; Ugetsu Murata
; Yayoi Uenoyama
; Shōgo Itaya
; Ryū Ueki
; Hiiragi Kashima
; Yagi Shizusumi
; Kōji Yatake
; Tsubaki
Media
Manga
Given has been serialized in the bimonthly magazine Cheri+ since April 2013. In Japan, the series has been collected into five bound volumes published by Shinshokan. An English-language translation is published by Viz Media under their SuBLime imprint, with the first volume released in February 2020.Given is the first multi-volume work produced by manga artist Natsuki Kizu, following her two previous single-volume series Yukimura-sensei to Kei-kun and Links.
Audio drama
An audio drama CD adapting scenes from the first volume of Given was included with the February 2016 issue of Cheri+. That same month, Crown Works began to release a series of audiobook drama CDs that adapt each volume of the manga.| Title | Release date |
| Given | February 25, 2016 May 17, 2019 |
| Given 2 | January 25, 2017 |
| Given 2 Live Edition | January 25, 2017 |
| Given 3 | January 26, 2018 |
| Given 4 | November 22, 2018 |
| Given 5 | February 25, 2020 |
Anime
An anime television series adaptation produced by Lerche was announced during a Fuji TV press conference on March 14, 2019. The series aired from July 11 to September 19, 2019 on Noitamina, the network's late-night anime programming block, making Given the first yaoi series to air on Noitamina. The series is syndicated by Crunchyroll, which simulcast the series worldwide outside of Asia.The series' primary production staff includes Hikaru Yamaguchi as director, as scriptwriter, Mina Osawa as character designer, and Michiru as score composer. The series' four original songs — opening theme "Kizuato", closing theme "Marutsuke", and original songs "Session" and "Fuyu no hanashi" — are composed and performed by Centimillimental, with additional vocals from Mafuyu voice actor Shōgo Yano on "Marutsuke" and "Fuyu no hanashi". The anime features a new voice cast, re-casting the roles from the Crown Works audio drama.
List of episodes
The majority of the episode titles in Given are references to British alternative rock songs, Ritsuka's favorite genre of music; episode nine is titled after the original song performed in the episode.| No. | Episode Title | Original airdate |
Media release
released Given across four volumes, in DVD and Blu-ray media formats.Film
A Given original film was announced on September 19, 2019. It was originally scheduled for release on May 16, 2020. Development of the film was transferred from Noitamina to Blue Lynx, Fuji TV's yaoi anime label launched in 2019. The production staff and voice cast of the anime adaptation will return for the film, including Hikaru Yamaguchi as director and Yuniko Ayana as screenwriter. The film will be a direct continuation of the anime series and will adapt the second arc of the manga, which focuses on the relationship between Haruki and Akihiko. On April 13, 2020, it was announced that the film has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the film scheduled to be released on August 22, 2020.Other media
A stage play adaptation of Given was announced on April 3, 2020, to be staged at theaters in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka from August 15 to September 6. The play will be directed by Fumiya Matsuzaki, with Given anime screenplay writer Yuniko Ayana returning as scriptwriter.Reception
Manga
The second volume of Given reached #39 on Oricon, selling 17,484 copies in its second week for a total of 30,308 copies as of February 2016. The third volume reached #37 on Oricon, and sold 24,345 copies in its first week. The series ranked #7 in the boys' love category on the digital book service BookLive! in the first half of 2019.Anime
The anime adaptation of Given was positively received by critics. In a review of episodes one and two for Anime News Network, Steve Jones called the series "one of the season's most emotionally resonant offerings," praising its soundtrack and Yamaguchi's direction. The series' writing, which Jones noted was "undercooked, but not egregiously so" in his initial review, was noted by Jones as improving in subsequent episodes. Specific praise was given to the relationship between Mafuyu and Ritsuka, with Jones calling it "one of the most compelling anime romances of the year."In a review for Crunchyroll, Adam Wescott called Given "the best show you aren't watching right now," giving specific praise to its sound and lighting design.