The series follows a group of four students in an amateur rock band and the dual romantic relationships that form among them: between electric guitarist Ritsuka Uenoyama and vocalist Mafuyu Satō, and between bassist Haruki Nakayama and drummer Akihiko Kaji.
An English-language translation of the manga is licensed in North America by the Viz Media-Animate joint publishing initiative SuBLime, while the anime and film are syndicated outside of Asia by the streaming service Crunchyroll.
High school student Ritsuka Uenoyama is the guitarist for a band composed of himself, bassist Haruki Nakayama, and drummer Akihiko Kaji.
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 (Yukimura and Kei, 2013)[15] and Links (2014).
[36] The series' primary production staff includes Hikaru Yamaguchi as director, Yuniko Ayana as scriptwriter, Mina Osawa as character designer, and Michiru [ja] as score composer.
"A Winter Story") — are composed and performed by Centimillimental, with additional vocals from Mafuyu voice actor Shōgo Yano on "Marutsuke" and "Fuyu no hanashi".
[3] Given : Existence on the Other Hand (ギヴン うらがわの存在, Given: Uragawa no Sonzai), an original animation DVD (OAD), was released on December 1, 2021, bundled with the manga's seventh volume.
[54] The production staff and voice cast of the anime adaptation returned for the film, including Hikaru Yamaguchi as director and Yuniko Ayana as screenwriter.
[59] Streaming service Crunchyroll announced in October 2020 that it had acquired international distribution rights outside of Asia for the film,[60] which it released on February 2, 2021.
[66] A stage play adaptation of Given was announced on April 3, 2020, with Fumiya Matsuzaki as director and Given anime screenplay writer Yuniko Ayana returning as scriptwriter.
[67] Originally slated to be staged at theaters in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka from August 15 to September 6, 2020,[67] it was initially cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic[68] before being rescheduled to November 2021.
[69] A 2nd stage play adaptation Butai Given: Umi e was set to run in May 2025, but it was cancelled due to the bankruptcy and closure of theater company Trifle Entertainment in January 2025.
[39] The series is directed by Kōichirō Miki [ja] and stars Jin Suzuki as Ritsuka Uenoyama, Sanari as Mafuyu Satō, Kai Inowaki as Akihiko Kaji, and Shuntarō Yanagi as Haruki Nakayama.
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.
"[94] 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.
[95] In its opening weekend, the film adaptation of Given ranked first in Kogyotsushinsha's tracking of mini-theater ticket sales[96] and remained in first for five consecutive weeks.