DESCRIPTION

CAST

ANIME DramaGiven
MANGA DramaGiven
OVA DramaGiven: Uragawa no Sonzai
MOVIE DramaGiven: Hiiragi mix

REVIEWS

• 

  Jamiebreeze

  40/100
  What once was a good show, ended up losing whatever charm it had. Nevermind the CGI, the feelings are gone.

  -This review will contain spoilers.
  -Trigger warning for sexual assault talk!!!

  ---

  Back when Given first aired, it was praised for its healthy representation of a gay couple. In a genre that is saturated (at least in anime) by shows like Junjou Romantica, Super Lovers, Love Stage, and similar stuff, it is no surprise that Given was a success and that it had a good reception by the community. It was a show in the Boy's Love genre where there was not only a central plot, but where the characters had motivations of their own, and also personalities. While the production of the anime was average at best, it was still an enjoyable and emotional ride. After the TV anime ended, and the movie was announced, I am sure many people expected the quality to stay and for the main message of the show to deliver once again. It is a shame that it did neither. I knew going into this that I was not going to be a fan. As someone who used to be an avid reader of the manga at one point, I knew the arc the movie was going to focus on was not what I liked. Most of my issues were how the relationship between Akihiko and Haruki was treated, and also about how a show that was praised for a good representation of a relationship between two people ended up becoming yet another bad trope in Shounen ai anime. Whatever the first season of the anime tried to build, the movie just spat on.

  The pacing of the whole movie feels fast, yet slow. Many transitions feel out of place and overall it is just very hard to follow up with what's happening. The production takes many shortcuts. Many. Plenty of shots are way too close and don't help establish the position of the characters in the scene, which makes the direction of the movie seem stilted and it lacks the personality that the first season had. This is very easy to spot in the first five minutes of the movie. We begin with Ugetsu's (Akihiko's on and off boyfriend) concerto and while I did expect the anime to add in CGI, it was still a huge disappointment. I don't mind the CGI model, whatever, but the main point of that scene was to let us in on the music world of Ugetsu. Let us see just what music he plays and what effect it has on people. The anime makes this a completely boring scene by failing to add to the atmosphere. It felt like a watered-down version of what happened in the manga, and this says a lot since the manga is not only in black and white but has no music or sound effects. It is also easy to notice that the violin playing sounds no different than if you looked up a violin piece on Youtube. In the first season, the sound when the band was playing at the concert venue, clearly sounded as if you were there hearing a band. Attention to detail is important and the movie doesn't seem to have it. Since the concerto scene has no impact, it is very hard to take Mafuyu seriously when he says that Ugetsu's music made feelings resonate within him. To make things even worse, many of the scenes where characters are playing music, are drawn from the chest up, meaning you won't see them actually play the guitar or whatever instrument they have. This probably meant to save time and/or money, but it is worth mentioning that it decreases the quality of the movie, since the first season had a jam session where every character was seen playing their instrument of choice.

  It is time to address my biggest problem with the show and it is Akihiko and Haruki's relationship and the way it was handled. While the anime watered down some parts and/or removed some content (which I'm grateful for cuz the scene on the couch was heartbreaking and just pissed me off), it is important to know that the couple the movie focuses on is not, and will probably never be, on the same level as Mafuyu and Ritsuka's relationship back in season 1. Akihiko is honest to god a jerk in the beginning, and despite what the show tries to say, I can't ever see this man in a good light nor care about whatever good deed he does in the future. He has many problems, and while this does make him seem human, I just find him completely dislikable. Taking advantage of someone who you know has a soft spot for you and/or is in love with you, is an asshole move. Excuse my profanity but that is just the best way to describe it. Akihiko has no issue taking out his frustrations on Haruki. He hides a lot of things about himself but also expects others to tell him everything about them and what they are thinking. This is hypocritical behavior. He clearly has known for some time that Haruki had a crush on him, yet he didn't stop to think about his feelings and just used him when he needed to. It is funny how he tells Haruki that he is running away when it is clearly Akihiko who is running away and he even says so himself at some point. It is not Haruki's fault that Akihiko has problems with Ugetsu, yet he still ends up being dragged into their mess. Akihiko knows Haruki is in love with him, yet that didn't stop him from sexually assaulting him even though he asked him to stop and was crying. While the anime made this scene seem less horrendous than it was in the manga, it is still terrible. Even when Haruki says it was "consensual", I beg to differ since he only let him do what he wanted after he saw Akihiko was crying. After this, Akihiko apologizes and Haruki says he hopes he leaves by morning. To nobody's surprise, Akihiko seems to lack self-awareness and doesn't leave the apartment. Riveting. Even after what he did, he still has the nerve to ask Haruki to please help him since he has nowhere to stay. Haruki ended up cutting his hair after what happened, and it seemed as if there was an indication that he may give up on Akihiko and look for something else, but that is false hope since, spoiler, they will end up together just like you knew they would. I love how Akihiko literally assaulting Haruki, in Haruki's own apartment, is just glossed over as some dumb plot device.

  At one point in the movie, Haruki is feeling bad since both Ritsuka and Mafuyu seem to be playing music fine, and Akihiko offers him some words of encouragement and this helps him feel better. I am sorry but this man assaulted you a day ago, and you're not only taking advice from him but feeling happy about it? this is not how things work. Haruki has self-esteem issues, and to me it is heartbreaking to see someone who clearly deserves better, end up with someone who I would rate lower than garbage. Like the book, The Perks of Being a Wallflower says, "We accept the love we think we deserve." . The rest of the movie continues showing Haruki and Akihiko growing "closer" and I say this in quotes because it just doesn't work for me. I need more than still shots gliding across the screen while some dialogue plays. Nearing the end of the movie, it is heavily implied that Akihiko fell in love with Haruki. Even in season 1, there wasn't much context to believe this. It only seemed like Akihiko liked teasing him and to me, it never felt like he was falling in love with him but whatever. The only thing I am going to mention about Ugetsu is that the movie tried painting him like a villain, and at the same time it made him lose whatever personality he had in the manga. I didn't enjoy the way his character was handled, and it seemed like he was the bad guy of the story, even though both he and Akihiko were to blame for how their relationship became and ended.

  To end this review, which is kind of my hate letter to what Given became, the part where Akihiko and Ugetsu break up is not done properly, causing it to once again lose whatever emotion was supposed to be there. The show feels hollow and I find it incredibly sad since the first season did a great job in that department. Plenty of scenes between Mafuyu and Ritsuka were removed and this again makes the song they sing in the movie suffer. It is not a bad song by any means, but at least for me it had no emotional value and it is not better nor on the same level as the song they sang in the first concert. The theme song that plays in the end, however, has way more emotion and seemed to fit better the relationship between Akihiko and Ugetsu, as well as the one Mafuyu had with Yuki. It is disappointing to see a show that was something special go this bad. Not only did it feel like the studio didn't put the same love into it, but most of the issues in the movie were going to be the same since the story is following the manga. It is not a terrible movie, but it is not a good movie either. It is merely an hour long so it doesn't feel like wasted time, but it left me feeling empty and besides the ending theme, I didn't enjoy the majority of its run. If you do like the couple of Akihiko and Haruki maybe you will enjoy this or were even looking forward to the movie but at least in what refers to me, I once again remembered why I dislike Akihiko Kaji.

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• 

  AnimeDweeb

  60/100
  A Less Poignant Encore.

  Enjoying this movie was always going to be a "given."

  

  The TV anime was a breath of fresh air, coupling passion for music with a nuanced take on masculinity and love. It felt like an artist's breakout single, and one that I happily bumped to in my hypothetical car. Given Movie then, was like the follow-up hit. It retains a lot of what I enjoyed in the original, and I loved my time with this new song. But while it hits mostly all the right notes, it never seems to top the charts the same way its predecessor did. There's that little thought at the back of my head, yearning to go back to that first tune again. Here's a quick rundown of the stuff I've noticed. I will be making references to the TV anime, which I highly recommend you check out. There'll also be super mild spoilers for the movie, so skip ahead to my Tl;Dr if you'd prefer to go in blind.

  ---

  Given is all about finding closure,

  

  and one could make a strong case that the anime achieved just that after its 11-episode run in 2019. However, a few pretty big threads were left up in the air. On one corner we have Haruki, torn over his attraction towards Akihiko and his commitment to the band. On the other end of Akihiko's ring stands the mysterious Ugetsu, who is drawn towards Mafuyu's raw talent. I did have some reservations going into the movie, given (I know I like to make puns a lot but this is genuinely how I write DON'T LEAVE) that the main arc closed off on a conclusive note. Plus, I got the impression that Ugetsu was being played up as this ostensibly-bad person who would have a negative impact on our budding soyboy songwriter. It seemed like rather tropey territory for the show to dip its feet into, and I was worried that making Ugetsu out to be a villain goes against what was an otherwise earnest expression of love and liberation.

  Thankfully, this new entry sticks to the series' strengths, but a little too closely than I would have hoped.

  

  In order to bring closure once more, Given Movie gives Akihiko, Ugetsu, and Haruki their due time in the spotlight. Akihiko gets space to confront his messy past and waning connection with music. He'd always seemed like a rather capable character with skeletons in the closet, and that dark side rears its ugly head in the movie. His nasty habits involving excessive booze and sex spring as a result of his connection with music, which is explored in tandem with Ugetsu's growth. Both their lives are defined by their passions for music and each other. I'm glad the show decided to make Ugetsu a human character, and not the Machiavellian psychopath who outright manipulates those around him. The two share an indecisive, toxic relationship, resorting to unglamorized acts of attrition. This admittedly melodramatic lovers' detente doesn't feel too contrived, and fits well with the series' grounded tone. Haruki also gets a good amount of development, exploring his insecurities surrounding band life and bond with Akihiko. These threads are all done according to the series' MO, with our main characters working through their emotions before finding the courage to let it all out in an earnest J-Rock aria. However, lining Given Movie up against the TV anime isn't a favorable comparison, as the few new additions don't work as well with what has come prior.

  We've heard this song before.

  

  A lot of Given (TV) revolves around the idea that music represents the emotions and words that elude us in day-to-day life. Given Movie is a less-graceful rehash, doing a fair amount of thematic gymnastics so that the script can bring Mafuyu back for an encore of the brilliant ninth episode. While I'm OK with the reemergence of this motif and Mafuyu's somewhat forced involvement, recreating this beat-for-beat (and concert-for-concert) does stretch the believability of this message and leads to diminishing returns. Much like the movie for Bunny Girl Senpai, story structure too is relatively unchanged from its TV counterpart. However, with just under an hour of runtime, this means the script resorts to cramming a great number of flashbacks within the first 30 minutes. This short duration does necessitate a fittingly downplayed conclusion, at the expense of some darker subject matter. Akihiko's behavior, while compelling thanks to a massive performance by Takuya Eguchi, seems solely tied to the fact that he can't be with Ugetsu. While I can accept Ugetsu as the impetus for all his bad habits, Akihiko ditching these problems off-screen seems a tad convenient to me. His adulterous streak comically comes off as merely "revenge sex," and all that excessive drinking recedes thanks to the Power of Love. I just feel that in a show deeply rooted in grounded relationships (and band culture,) these issues shouldn't be treated as a means to push plot but as legitimate problems on their own right. Speaking of plot drivers, it's time to address the elephant in the studio. You might be wondering why I've barely brought up Mafuyu and Uenoyama, the main protagonists of the TV season. Mafuyu himself does serve as the link between the audience and Ugetsu, while being a large part of why the plot works in the first place. However, the star couple barely get a showing this movie. This isn't really a proper issue, but I do wish we could have seen their development in areas outside of music.
  OST is solid, but doesn't carry the same distinct range of the TV soundtrack, which blew me away with its versatility. I have similar takes on the visuals, which didn't impress as much with shot composition compared to the anime. The dreaded CGI makes cameos in certain scenes, but its usage is sparse and subtle. Those janky animations can't detract from Lerche's gorgeous lighting and good backgrounds, which are enhanced with a few moments of strong direction towards the very end.

  ---

  Tl;Dr:

  

  In terms of theatrical sequels, this film passes the Steins;Gate: Fuka Ryouiki no Déjà vu test. Both movies are capable installments, but don't quite live up to or challenge their respective predecessors. Given Movie returns to its formula, pursuing story teased back in the TV series. This time we get to know the other half of the band, at the expense of reuniting with the main pair. This song rarely misses a beat, but only because we've heard this tune before. But there's no harm in returning to what made the series special, and the film most certainly did that for me, despite a few concessions in runtime and depth. Not a must-see sequel, but certainly rewarding in its own way. Seasons change, but Given seems here to stay. 6/10~

  STRAY RAMBLINGS (SPOILERS)

  • Y'know, Haruki had his "no-dating" policy because he knew that the band would likely tear apart. If something like that happens in the canon, I hope each of the band members duke it out and vent their frustrations towards each other, a la Fleetwood Mac. Now that would be a cool reinvention of the song motif.
  • Or maybe I'm conflating my hopes for the series with my daily prayers for a Fleetwood Mac biopic. Hollywood, take notes, this is an untapped gold mine.
  • Haruki lost his hairdo. Only part I'm annoyed by is that now he can't model anymore. It's tough making money as a band member, and the braids were raking in the dough. Sadge.
  • BEST GIRL: Literally no one. Don't believe there's a single female main/supporting character to nominate.
  • BEST BOI: he eat banan.

  `Monke.`

  ---

  

  And that's the set! Thanks for giving this a read. Be sure to put on some Centimillimental sometime, the real life Given slaps. If you happen to like my verbose rants, feel free to check out my other reviews for seasons past and present, peace~

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• 

  monoh

  75/100
  Despite its major flaw, the Given movie does a fantastic job at accurately portraying relationship dynamics and emotion

  Before I even start, let me preface that I did not read the manga, and so some of the issues I had with this movie might have been nonexistent or solved in the manga. This is strictly a review of the movie. I'd also like to give a trigger warning for rape/sexual assault.

  Firstly, I adored the first season of Given (and that isn't to say I didn't enjoy this movie). The story is brilliant and emotional in all of the best ways, however this movie has changed the way I view Akihiko as a character. My explanation as to why will obviously be a spoiler.

  This is my discussion of "that" scene:
  As worse as it could have been, it was incredibly hard to watch, and I couldn't help but think about how disgustingly normalized rape/n.c. sex is in boy love anime/manga, and I particularly have an issue with how it was handled in this movie. And yes, it was sexual assault, and if you need an explanation as to why it was, I recommend you pay close attention to the dialogue and body language. I'd rather not go into detail. Anyone who has watched the season one of Given undoubtedly knows that Haruki is a very vulnerable character, especially in his interactions with Akihiko. He is easily flustered, and his emotions for Akihiko often times leave him broken-hearted as he watches his band mate sleep with and interact with others. Considering Haruki literally says "I would do anything for you," Haruki's emotional investment in Akihiko serves as an explanation to his reactions to the event. By putting ourselves into Haruki's shoes, we can feel his inner conflict: the anger he has towards Akihiko for using him and abusing him in this way, contrasting with the adoration and respect that Haruki has for him. Because of this, it isn't at all Haruki's reaction to the assault that I have an issue with. I believe it is an accurate portrayal of how victims often react—please take this statement with a grain of salt, because I have not personally experienced sexual assault to the degree of this scene, and cannot speak on the behalf of real victims. If we put aside the fact that sexual assault was not a necessary element of the plot for viewers to be able to determine that Akihiko is not a good person, the way it was handled is still problematic. As I have heard from manga readers, Akihiko's development is much more lengthy and better handled in the manga, however in the movie the viewer simply is not given enough time to be able to digest what has just happen for a happy conclusion to be shoved down our throats. I understand that there was a time skip (several months), however this kind of character development is not something that can just happen off screen, and seeing Akihiko dedicate more time to his passions was frankly not enough to convince me that he was a better person, especially in regards as to how he was going to treat Haruki in the future. The movie is about an hour long, and so I don't see any reason as to why this portion of the movie couldn't have been extended. Going from sexual assault to a confession of love is not something you can do in the span of twenty to thirty minutes, and seeing Akihiko express and understanding of consent once briefly before said confession was, again, not enough to convince me that he had changed as a person. I feel that forgiving Akihiko is a bit harder to discuss because in any real scenario, it would be no one's place to determine whether Akihiko is eligible for forgiveness. However, I don't believe that it is a topic that will go undiscussed, and so I will present that, from my own perspective, if I were in the shoes of Haruki, seeing Akihiko actually become a better person and learning about the necessity of consent, I don't forgiveness would be something entirely out of reach, especially considering the depth emotinal attachment I (Haruki) would have for Akihiko. This is another reason why I believe the character development of Akihiko should have been a much longer portion of the movie, if not entirely abandoned for the sake of the adaptation.

  Setting all of this aside, I still generally enjoyed the movie, and seeing more of Ugetsu was much appreciated. Similarly to the first season, the emotions in Given are incredibly realistic and easy to sympathize/empathize with. It does a very good job of putting you in the shoes of the characters. I also appreciated that we got to see more of Akihiko and Haruki, because while I really enjoy Mafuyu's and Uenoyama's dynamic, I don't think it's a stretch to say that their arc is pretty much complete and the ending of season one didn't leave us necessarily needing more. Of course, I would enjoy a second season, but I was already satisfied by the ending of season one. Additoinally, getting to see Ugetsu's perspective was incredibly refreshing and interesting, and something I didn't know I needed. Despite the major issue with this movie, I think it did a good job of keeping in theme with season one, and it truly just felt like an extension of the first season.

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