Given Anime Watch Order: Series, Movie & OAD Timeline Guide

Quick Take & Highlights Knowing what order to watch given anime is essential to experiencing Natsuki Kizu's acclaimed rock-and-roll drama to its fullest emotional resonance. Unlike standard standalone adaptations, Given distributes its narrative evenly across an 11-episode television series, a 2020 theatrical sequel, an intimate parallel OAD episode, and a two-part 2024 film conclusion (Hiiragi mix and To the Sea).

The Definitive Given Anime Watch Order

To follow the musical and romantic evolution of Mafuyu Sato, Ritsuka Uenoyama, Haruki Nakayama, and Akihiko Kaji in proper narrative sequence, follow this chronological viewing roadmap:

Canonical Progression: Given Season 1 (TV 11 Eps) ➔ Given (2020 Movie) ➔ Given: Uragawa no Sonzai (2021 OAD) ➔ Given Movie: Hiiragi mix (2024 Movie Part 1) ➔ Given Movie: To the Sea (2024 Movie Part 2)

Phase 1: The First Riff & Mafuyu's Awakening

1. Given (TV Anime, 11 Episodes, 2019) Produced by Studio Lerche and broadcast on Fuji TV's prestigious noitaminA block, the original television series adapts Chapters 1 through 15 of Natsuki Kizu's manga. The story begins on a school staircase where burnt-out teenage guitarist Ritsuka Uenoyama meets Mafuyu Sato, a quiet boy clutching a Gibson ES-330 with broken strings.

After reluctantly repairing the instrument and teaching Mafuyu fundamental chord structures, Ritsuka invites him to jam with bassist Haruki Nakayama and drummer Akihiko Kaji in their instrumental band, the Seasons. Mafuyu's ethereal vocal timbre and the tragic history of his childhood friend Yuki Yoshida culminate in Episode 9's unforgettable performance of "Fuyu no Hanashi" (A Winter Story), produced by Centimillimental.

Phase 2: The Adult Triangle & The 2020 Feature Film

2. Given: The Movie (Theatrical Feature, 2020) While Season 1 focused predominantly on the tender, emerging bond between high schoolers Mafuyu and Ritsuka, the 2020 theatrical feature shifts focus to the older band members: graduate student Haruki and music prodigy Akihiko.

Adapting Volumes 3 and 4, the movie navigates Akihiko's toxic cohabitation with genius violinist Ugetsu Murata, Haruki's unrequited longing, and the band's preparation for the Countdown Festival competition. The climax features the soul-stirring original track "Yoru ga Akeru" (Dawn Breaks), delivering a poignant resolution to artistic codependency.

3. Given: Uragawa no Sonzai / On the Other Hand (OAD Episode, 2021) Bundled with Volume 7 of the limited edition manga, this 22-minute OAD runs parallel to the events of the 2020 movie. It depicts what Mafuyu and Ritsuka were doing during the summer months while Haruki and Akihiko were navigating their personal turmoil, offering sweet, domestic character interactions that ground their relationship.

Phase 3: The Climax – Hiiragi mix & To the Sea

4. Given: The Movie – Hiiragi mix (2024 Film Part 1) Adapting the final arcs of Kizu's manga, the 2024 two-part theatrical project centers on Hiiragi Kashima and Shizusumi Yagi, Mafuyu's childhood companions who have formed their own rising rock group, syh. When Hiiragi recruits Ritsuka as a temporary support guitarist to finish an uncompleted song written by the late Yuki, creative tensions ignite between all four boys.

5. Given: The Movie – To the Sea (2024 Film Part 2) The grand finale of the Given anime saga, To the Sea, ties together Yuki's unfinished musical legacy, Mafuyu's lingering stage fright, and Ritsuka's declaration of devotion. The concluding stadium performance delivers an unforgettable catharsis, cementing Given as one of the most honest musical coming-of-age stories ever animated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to watch the 2020 Given movie before Hiiragi mix? Yes, absolutely. The 2020 movie is not a recap; it is a direct canonical continuation of Season 1 that resolves the central character arcs of Akihiko, Haruki, and Ugetsu. Skipping it will cause major confusion in subsequent releases.

Who provides the singing voice for Mafuyu Sato? Mafuyu's speaking and singing voice is performed by voice actor Shogo Yano, with music and songwriting composed entirely by solo artist Centimillimental (Atsushi).