Given
Summary: Tightly clutching his Gibson guitar, Mafuyu Satou steps out of his dark apartment to begin another day of his high school life. While taking a nap in a quiet spot on the gymnasium staircase, he has a chance encounter with fellow student Ritsuka Uenoyama, who berates him for letting his guitar's strings rust and break. Noticing Uenoyama's knowledge of the instrument, Satou pleads for him to fix it and to teach him how to play. Uenoyama eventually agrees and invites him to sit in on a jam session with his two band mates: bassist Haruki Nakayama and drummer Akihiko Kaji.
Satou's voice is strikingly beautiful, filling Uenoyama with the determination to make Satou the lead singer of the band. Though reticent at first, Satou takes the offer after an emotional meeting with an old friend. With the support of his new friends, Satou must not only learn how to play guitar, but also come to terms with the mysterious circumstances that led him to be its owner.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Description
Tightly clutching his Gibson guitar, Mafuyu Satou steps out of his dark apartment to begin another day of his high school life. While taking a nap in a quiet spot on the gymnasium staircase, he has a chance encounter with fellow student Ritsuka Uenoyama, who berates him for letting his guitar's strings rust and break. Noticing Uenoyama's knowledge of the instrument, Satou pleads for him to fix it and to teach him how to play. Uenoyama eventually agrees and invites him to sit in on a jam session with his two band mates: bassist Haruki Nakayama and drummer Akihiko Kaji.
Satou's voice is strikingly beautiful, filling Uenoyama with the determination to make Satou the lead singer of the band. Though reticent at first, Satou takes the offer after an emotional meeting with an old friend. With the support of his new friends, Satou must not only learn how to play guitar, but also come to terms with the mysterious circumstances that led him to be its owner.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Available At
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Given Trailers
Given Pictures
Given Review
Given â Tightly clutching his Gibson guitar, Mafuyu Satou steps out of his dark apartment to begin another day of his high school life. This overview is intentionally spoiler-free and focuses on tone and intent rather than plot specifics.
Thematically, It sits firmly within Boys Love, Drama conventions as a TV work and has garnered attention (MAL score: 8.29). This work explores character dynamics, tonal shifts, and the interplay between narrative ambition and execution. The story's pacing and tonal choices are crafted to complement the central ideas, often emphasizing atmosphere and emotional truth over explicit exposition. The show's ability to evoke a consistent mood â whether melancholic, exuberant, or contemplative â is a recurring strength, and the scenes are constructed so viewers can infer stakes without needing explicit spoilers.
Characterization is a core pillar here. Protagonists and supporting figures are written with distinct motivations and narrative roles; even when archetypal, the series invests in small behavioral details that make choices feel earned. Character arcs are handled with an eye for gradualism: development often arrives through incremental beats rather than abrupt, expository shifts. The interactions between characters create texture, and relationships are used to illuminate both personal flaws and larger thematic concerns.
On the visual front, production values play a significant role. The animation quality varies by sequence but frequently showcases thoughtful direction and composition. Background art, framing, and color palettes are used deliberately to support tone â quieter scenes favor muted palettes while action or heightened emotional beats employ brighter, more kinetic visuals. Direction choices, such as camera movement and shot selection, often elevate scenes beyond their raw script, creating moments that linger in the viewer's mind.
The soundscape â score, incidental music, and sound design â complements the visual language. Music cues are placed to maximize emotional resonance without manipulating the audience with melodrama; this restraint often leads to more authentic emotional payoff. Sound design punctuates key moments, and when the series leans on silence, those quieter moments are given weight by measured audio choices.
Pacing and structure are handled with craft. Episodes are arranged to build tension and release methodically, and the narrative rarely rushes through important emotional beats. That said, the deliberate pacing may feel slow to viewers who prefer faster plot turnover; the reward is greater nuance and an accumulation of meaning across the series. Accessibility is generally good â one can appreciate surface-level pleasures, while repeat or attentive viewing reveals additional layers.
No title is without flaws. Occasional unevenness in subplots or variable animation across episodes can be distracting. Some tonal shifts might feel abrupt if you expect uniformity; others will argue that those shifts are purposeful. These are worth noting, but they seldom undercut the larger achievements of the work.
In sum, Given offers a rich experience for viewers who value character-driven storytelling, considered visual design, and a soundtrack that supports rather than overwhelms. For fans of Boys Love, Drama, this is an especially rewarding watch. It's recommended for those who appreciate layered narratives and artistry in animation, and best approached with patience and attention to nuance.
Characters & Voice Actors
Kaji, Akihiko
Main
Eguchi, Takuya
Japanese
Kaji, Akihiko
Main
Scott, Jonah
English
Kaji, Akihiko
Main
Sablik, Nico
German
Kaji, Akihiko
Main
Selim, Erick
Spanish
Kaji, Akihiko
Main
Lisita, Mckeidy
Portuguese (BR)
Nakayama, Haruki
Main
Nakazawa, Masatomo
Japanese
Nakayama, Haruki
Main
Chang, Yung-I
English
Nakayama, Haruki
Main
Fritzsche, Rainer
German
Nakayama, Haruki
Main
OlguĂn, Javier
Spanish
Nakayama, Haruki
Main
Sauer, André
Portuguese (BR)
Satou, Mafuyu
Main
Yano, Shougo
Japanese
Satou, Mafuyu
Main
Shouji, Umeka
Japanese
Satou, Mafuyu
Main
McInnis, Brandon
English
Satou, Mafuyu
Main
Garrett, Steph
English
Satou, Mafuyu
Main
Artajo, Nicolas
German
Satou, Mafuyu
Main
Salguero Ruiz, Roberto
Spanish
Satou, Mafuyu
Main
Gama, Lucas
Portuguese (BR)
Satou, Mafuyu
Main
Mendonça, Thais
Portuguese (BR)
Uenoyama, Ritsuka
Main
Uchida, Yuuma
Japanese
Uenoyama, Ritsuka
Main
Grelle, Jessie James
English
Staff
Higa, Yuuji
Producer
Matsumoto, Miho
Producer
Mori, Akitoshi
Producer
Yamaguchi, Hikaru
Director
Kikuta, Hiromi
Sound Director
Hashimoto, Noriko
Episode Director, Storyboard
Kimura, Shinichirou
Episode Director, Storyboard
Kinome, Yuu
Episode Director, Storyboard
Matano, Hiromichi
Episode Director
Suzuki, Iku
Storyboard
Centimillimental
Theme Song Arrangement, Theme Song Composition, Theme Song Lyrics, Theme Song Performance
Yano, Shougo
Theme Song Performance, Inserted Song Performance
Amisaki, Ryouko
Animation Director, 2nd Key Animation, Key Animation
Ayana, Yuniko
Series Composition
FalcĂŁo, Jonas
ADR Director
Hawkinson, Peter
Recording Engineer
Hirayama, Kanna
Key Animation
Honda, Kouhei
Art Director
Kizu, Natsuki
Original Creator
Kubo, Tadashi
Key Animation