Given
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Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to Given
Given is a Japanese anime series adapted from a Boys' Love (BL) manga, centering on a rock band named 'Given' and the intertwining romantic relationships and personal growth of its members. The narrative primarily follows high school student Ritsuka Uenoyama, who finds himself drawn to the quiet and melancholic Mafuyu Satou, a new transfer student with a profound singing voice and a tragic past. The series explores themes of grief, healing through music, and the complexities of young adult relationships within a band setting, also delving into the lives and romantic dynamics of the band's older members. While largely focusing on emotional development and musical expression, the series also addresses mature themes that may be more suitable for older teenagers and young adults.
Things to Consider
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
Given is fundamentally a Boys' Love (BL) series, prominently featuring male-male romantic relationships as central to its plot and character development. The anime explores the complexities of these relationships, including their emotional and physical aspects, throughout the series and its subsequent film adaptations. The content focuses on the development of these same-sex pairings.
The primary romantic storyline revolves around the high school students Mafuyu Satou and Ritsuka Uenoyama, whose relationship develops from musical collaboration into romantic affection, including several kissing scenes. A secondary, equally central romance involves the older band members, bassist Haruki Nakayama and drummer Akihiko Kaji, whose turbulent relationship is explored in depth, particularly in the 'Given Movie'.
Violence
While not featuring overt physical combat, Given contains significant thematic violence in the form of suicide and attempted sexual assault. These elements are critical plot drivers, particularly in relation to character backstories and emotional trauma, and can be intensely distressing for viewers.
Romance and Sexual Content
The series contains frequent romantic interactions between its male couples, including kissing and implied intimacy. While explicit sexual acts are generally avoided in the TV series, the movie adaptation features a scene interpreted by many viewers as attempted sexual assault, and there are brief, non-graphic depictions of characters in bed.
Scary & Intense Content
Given contains emotionally intense and potentially frightening content, primarily stemming from its exploration of grief, loss, and the depiction of a sexual assault. These mature themes contribute to a heavier emotional atmosphere at various points.
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Additional Context
Best For Ages
Given is recommended for viewers aged 16 and older due to its depiction of mature themes including LGBTQ+ romantic relationships, implied sexual content, a central plot point involving suicide and grief, and a scene of attempted sexual assault in its movie adaptation. While the TV series generally maintains a mature but not overly explicit tone, the content escalates in later installments, requiring a higher level of emotional maturity for appropriate processing.
Good to Know
Parents should be aware that while the TV series focuses heavily on the emotional journey of its characters and is generally well-regarded for its sensitive handling of grief and LGBTQ+ themes, the 'Given Movie' introduces more mature and potentially disturbing content, specifically the attempted sexual assault scene. Viewers sensitive to themes of suicide, sexual assault, or intense emotional distress should exercise caution. The series originates from a 'Josei' manga magazine, which typically targets adult women (18+), further indicating its mature thematic scope.
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