given

"given" follows the story of Ritsuka Uenoyama, a high school student who has lost his passion for playing the guitar. One day, he meets a shy classmate, Mafuyu Sato, who is carrying a Gibson ES-330 with broken strings. Ritsuka reluctantly agrees to fix the guitar and eventually teach Mafuyu how to play. He soon discovers Mafuyu's incredibly beautiful and haunting singing voice, which reignites his own passion for music.

Ritsuka invites Mafuyu to join his band, which includes the older university students Haruki Nakayama (bassist) and Akihiko Kaji (drummer). As Mafuyu slowly opens up, the band members learn that the guitar he carries belonged to his childhood friend and boyfriend, Yuki Yoshida, who died by suicide. The series delicately explores Mafuyu's journey of processing his profound grief and trauma through the therapeutic power of music and the support of his new bandmates. The story is a thoughtful exploration of love, loss, and the formation of new bonds, culminating in an emotional first live performance where Mafuyu is finally able to pour his repressed feelings into a song.

The core meaning of "given" revolves around the profound and multifaceted process of healing from trauma and grief. It posits that while the past can never be erased, moving forward and finding new love and passion is possible. The series uses music not just as a backdrop, but as the primary vehicle for emotional expression and catharsis. It suggests that art can give voice to feelings that are too difficult to articulate, allowing for connection and understanding. Ultimately, "given" is a message of hope, demonstrating that through supportive relationships and a creative outlet, one can confront immense pain, find closure, and allow their heart to open up once more.

While the primary interpretation of "given" is a story of healing and new love, some viewers focus on the complex ethics of Ritsuka and Mafuyu's relationship. This perspective questions whether Mafuyu, still deep in the grieving process, is truly in a healthy state to begin a new romance. It explores the idea that Ritsuka, while well-intentioned, might be a 'rebound' or a transitional figure in Mafuyu's life, helping him heal but not necessarily being his definitive partner. Another interpretation focuses less on the romance and more on the series as an allegory for artistic creation. In this view, Yuki represents a past inspiration that has died, and Mafuyu's journey is about the artist's struggle to find a new muse (Ritsuka) and a new voice to transform past pain into meaningful art, with the band itself symbolizing the collaborative nature of the creative process.

"given" was met with critical acclaim upon its release in 2019, praised for its sensitive and realistic portrayal of grief, healing, and LGBTQ+ romance. Its broadcast on the mainstream Noitamina block was a significant step for the Boys' Love (BL) genre, bringing a thoughtfully crafted queer love story to a wider audience. The series has been lauded for moving beyond genre tropes to tell a deeply human story that resonates with viewers regardless of their background, focusing on universal themes of loss and the restorative power of music and connection. The show's emotional centerpiece, Mafuyu's song in episode 9, was particularly praised and became an iconic moment for fans. As part of the broader global rise in anime's popularity, "given" has contributed to the increasing visibility of nuanced and emotionally intelligent storytelling in animation, demonstrating the medium's capacity for profound character drama. Its success helped pave the way for more LGBTQ+ representation in anime and solidified its place as a beloved, modern classic within its genre.

"given" was overwhelmingly well-received by audiences, who praised it for its emotional depth, realistic characters, and heartfelt storytelling. It is often cited as one of the best anime of 2019 and a standout in the BL genre. The main points of praise were the sensitive handling of heavy themes like suicide and grief, and the authentic development of the romance between Mafuyu and Ritsuka. Episode 9, featuring the live performance of "Fuyu no Hanashi," is almost universally hailed as a masterpiece of emotional storytelling in anime, leaving many viewers profoundly moved. Criticism of the series is minimal but sometimes points to the animation quality being inconsistent or somewhat basic in scenes outside of the musical performances. Some viewers also felt the supporting characters, particularly Haruki and Akihiko, were underdeveloped in the 11-episode run, a point that was later addressed in the sequel movie. Overall, the audience verdict is that "given" is a poignant, beautifully crafted series that offers a mature and touching exploration of love, loss, and the healing power of music.