Given: The Complete Watch Order Guide for Newcomers

🎸 Let’s Start with the Answer! Here’s the Best Way to Watch “Given”

If you’re new to the anime Given, we highly recommend watching it in release order!
That way, you’ll naturally follow the story flow and character development—and trust us, it makes the emotional impact even stronger. ✨

✅ What You’ll Learn in This Guide

• The recommended viewing order of the Given series (release order vs chronological order)
• Brief summaries and highlights of each title
• Up-to-date info on where to watch “Given” in Japan
• Helpful watching tips and notes, even for complete anime beginners

🎬 What Is the Anime “Given” All About?

Given is a beautifully crafted BL (Boys’ Love) anime that blends emotional storytelling with the power of music.
It has captivated fans worldwide with its heartfelt characters and soul-stirring soundtracks.

The story follows a group of boys brought together by the guitar, exploring love, loss, and growth through their band and personal journeys.
Even if you’ve never watched a BL anime before, Given is the perfect place to start!

✅ Recommended Viewing Order (by Release)

🕰 Chronological Viewing Order

📝 You can enjoy the series in either order, but for first-time viewers, the release order is highly recommended as it provides the most natural narrative flow.
If you’re rewatching or want to follow character development strictly by story events, the chronological order is also great! ✨

🎬 “Given” Series – Streaming Availability in Japan (Major Platforms Only)

📝 Notes

• ✅ Included = Available with subscription (no extra cost)
• 🔁 Rental = Additional fee required (typically ¥300–¥500 per title)

💡 Recommended Streaming Services in Japan

Hulu Japan – ¥1,026/month. Includes most of the series.

Amazon Prime Video – ¥600/month. Wide coverage including recent films. Free trial available.

U-NEXT – ¥2,189/month. 31-day free trial + 600 points for rentals.

dAnime Store – ¥550/month. Ideal for anime fans. Covers all “Given” content.

DMM TV – ¥550/month. Includes both TV and movie content.

⚠️ Important Notes When Watching “Given” in Japan

1. Availability May Vary by Platform
   Some platforms may change their availability status or move a title from subscription to rental (or vice versa). Always check the platform’s page before watching.
2. Rental Content Requires Extra Payment
   On platforms like Amazon Prime Video, U-NEXT, or Rakuten TV, some titles—especially the movies “Hiiragi mix” and “Umi e”—may not be included in the basic subscription and require additional payment (around ¥300–¥500 per title).
3. Region Lock Applies
   All streaming services listed are accessible only within Japan. If you’re trying to access them from overseas, you will not be able to watch unless you’re physically in Japan or using a Japan-based IP address (VPN use may violate the platform’s terms of service).
4. Language and Subtitles
   The content is typically in Japanese. Some platforms like U-NEXT and Hulu may offer Japanese subtitles, but English subtitles are generally not available on domestic services.
5. Free Trial Periods
   Many platforms offer free trial periods, such as:
   • Amazon Prime Video: 30 days
   • U-NEXT: 31 days with 600 bonus points
   • dAnime Store: 31 days
   • DMM TV: 14 days
     Make sure to cancel before the trial ends to avoid automatic charges.
6. Watch in HD or 4K
   For the best experience, ensure your internet connection supports HD streaming. Some platforms may also offer 4K versions for select movies (mainly on U-NEXT or Amazon), though this varies by device and membership plan.

✨Ultimate Highlight Guide: Why the “Given” Anime Series Is Absolutely Everything!✨

🎸 Youth × Music × Love × Emotion —
If you’ve ever felt like “my faves give my life meaning,” this series will speak straight to your heart 💘🎤🎶

🎼 ① TV Anime “Given” — A Fateful Encounter That Begins with a Broken Guitar 🎸

The Given anime kicks things off with a beautifully painful start that sets the tone for everything to come.

🎧 Mafuyu, clutching a broken guitar, sits alone on the stairs.
That quiet image becomes the turning point that changes his life—and Ritsuka’s—forever.

• 💫 Mafuyu – Silent, withdrawn, and carrying an unspoken grief. But when he sings? It’s raw, pure emotion. His voice hurts in the most beautiful way.
• 🔥 Ritsuka – Cool and passionate, yet emotionally clumsy. Watching him slowly unravel around Mafuyu’s presence is chef’s kiss perfection.
• 🥁 Haruki & Akihiko – They seem like the mature ones… until you realize they’ve got their own scars and stories to tell.

🎤 The live performance scene? Legendary.
When Mafuyu pours his soul into his voice for the first time, it hits like a tidal wave. You’ll cry. You’ll rewatch it. You’ll never forget it.

💖 Can’t pick just one fave? That’s okay—they’re all too precious to choose from. Trust us.

🎬 ② Movie “Given” — Love, Pain, and the Messy Gray in Between

The baton passes to the adults in this emotional follow-up, focusing on Haruki, Akihiko, and Ugetsu—and it HURTS, in the best way.

• 🥺 Haruki – The most emotionally constipated sweetheart. He loves deeply but silently, and you’ll ache watching him try to hold it together.
• 🎼 Akihiko – Talented, charismatic, but lost. Torn between the past and present, his struggle is painfully relatable.
• 🎨 Ugetsu – A musical genius and Akihiko’s ex. Still tangled up in emotions, still not ready to let go. Their tension? Unbearable in the best way.

💔 Their story is raw, messy, and beautifully human.
And yes—Ritsuka and Mafuyu’s relationship also blossoms here in a way that’ll leave you sobbing quietly into your hoodie.

✨This is Given for the grown-ups. Quietly devastating. Soul-healing. 100% unforgettable.

🎁 ③ OAD “Uragawa no Sonzai” — The Story Behind the Stage

This special episode offers the missing pieces from the movie timeline—showing what Ritsuka and Mafuyu were truly feeling behind the scenes.

• 💬 Their moments are quiet, subtle, and full of unsaid emotion.
• 🎧 Mafuyu’s internal process of confronting his feelings is… devastatingly gentle.

🕊️ It’s only 20 minutes, but the emotional density? Off the charts.
📌 For fans of the main pair, it’s an absolute must-watch—you’ll never see the movie the same way again.

🎸 ④ Movie “Hiiragi mix” — A New Band, a New Ship, a New Set of Feels 🆕

This spin-off shifts focus to Mafuyu’s childhood friend Hiiragi and his bandmate Gen, giving us a fresh dynamic that’s equally heart-wrenching and lovable.

• 🌊 Hiiragi – Bright and bubbly on the surface, but internally terrified of being left behind. You’ll want to protect him at all costs.
• 🔥 Gen – Hot-headed, blunt, but lowkey the most soft-hearted of them all. His awkward care for Hiiragi is ridiculously endearing.

🎤 Their band “syh” brings a totally different energy, but the emotional core? Still pure Given magic.
🔥 Prepare to catch a new bias—you’ve been warned!

🌊 ⑤ Movie “Umi e” — A Quiet, Beautiful Answer to All That Came Before

This is the final chapter in the Given saga, bringing closure to Hiiragi and Gen’s story and tying it all together.

• 🌙 Hiiragi finally puts words to everything he’s been holding back.
• 💥 Gen, ever the clumsy sweetheart, finally gets his feelings across—and it breaks you in the best way.
• 🎼 Their band’s performance becomes the moment where everything clicks. The love, the longing, the healing—it’s all there in the music.

👑 This is where Given comes full circle.
The kind of ending that makes you whisper, “I’m so glad I stayed with them until the end.”

🫶 Every Given entry is about more than just music—it’s about what we can’t always say with words, but can scream with a song.
Let yourself fall in love. Cry. Laugh. Choose a fave. And then choose another. (Because they’re all valid, okay?!)

📝 Summary: Best Way to Watch Given

If you’re ready to dive into the emotional world of Given, here’s a quick recap of the best way to watch the series in 2025:

✅ Recommended Viewing Order (by Release)

1. TV Anime “Given” (2019)
   → The beginning of everything: Mafuyu and Ritsuka’s fateful encounter and the band’s formation.
2. Movie “Given” (2020)
   → Focuses on Haruki, Akihiko, and Ugetsu’s love triangle, plus some major developments for Mafuyu and Ritsuka.
3. OAD “Uragawa no Sonzai” (2021)
   → A must-see bonus episode showing the emotional “behind-the-scenes” of the main story.
4. Movie “Hiiragi mix” (2024)
   → A spin-off centered on Mafuyu’s childhood friend Hiiragi and new character Gen.
5. Movie “Umi e” (2024)
   → The heartfelt finale of the series, bringing everything full circle.

🎬 Where to Watch (in Japan)

You can stream Given on major Japanese platforms like:

• Amazon Prime Video
• U-NEXT
• dAnime Store
• DMM TV
• Hulu Japan
  (Some movies may require separate rental fees.)

💡Whether you’re here for the music, the drama, or the heartbreakingly beautiful characters—Given is a series that stays with you long after the credits roll.

✨ So grab your headphones, find your favorite platform, and let the music begin! 🎧💖

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• 👑 Unleash your inner demon lord with The Misfit of Demon King Academy
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