Given (manga)

Given (Japanese: ギヴン, Hepburn: Givun; stylized in all lowercase) is a Japanese manga series created by Natsuki Kizu. It ran in the bimonthly manga magazine Chéri+ from 2013 until 2023 and has been compiled into nine tankōbon volumes by Shinshokan. The story follows four students who come together to form the amateur rock band Given, blending themes of music and emotional growth as their personal and romantic relationships evolve. At the core of the narrative is the developing relationship between electric guitarist Ritsuka Uenoyama and introverted vocalist Mafuyu Sato, while a parallel storyline delves into the deeper and more complex bond between bassist Haruki Nakayama and drummer Akihiko Kaji. Exploring themes such as love, grief, and self-discovery, Given portrays how music becomes both an outlet and a connection point for its characters. The series has been adapted across several formats, beginning with an audio drama in 2016. An 11-episode anime television adaptation aired in 2019 on Fuji TV's Noitamina block, marking a milestone as the first boys' love (BL) anime featured in that programming slot. This was followed by a theatrical anime film in 2020 that expanded on the characters' relationships, and a live-action television drama that aired in 2021, introducing the story to a wider audience. The English-language edition of the manga is licensed in North America by SuBLime, a joint imprint of Viz Media and Animate. The anime and film are distributed internationally by Crunchyroll, further boosting the franchise's global reach and fanbase.