Given is a beautiful series that humanizes its characters through music, tragedy, and love and isn’t afraid to bring death into the equation.
As we follow the story of two people, Uenoyama and Mafuyu, their precarious relationship is expanded upon well beyond their own sphere of influence. No one is left untouched, be it their past or the people involved with them in some way or another.
When Given first introduced Yuki, Mafuyu’s childhood friend and ex-boyfriend, the series had already taken a dark turn. Through this character, Mafuyu’s attachment to his guitar was explained, as well as the reason for his desire to learn music.
Yuki died in Given from an apparent suicide half a year before the series started. He was Mafuyu’s childhood friend and boyfriend, and after getting into a fight with him, Yuki overdrank and hung himself in his room.
When Mafuyu visited Yuki, he found the latter’s body hanging from the ceiling thatch and empty bottles of alcohol lying around.
After Yuki’s funeral, his guitar was given to Mafuyu, thus starting his obsession with repairing the broken string and learning music.
Yuki’s death and the circumstances leading to it are further shown in the manga, which honestly only hastens the tears.
As it turns out, Yuki had formed a band with his friends, Hiiragi and Shizusumi, and wanted to write a song for Mafuyu. However, due to him spending a lot of time working on it, Mafuyu felt ignored, which further strained their relationship.
During one winter evening, a fight broke out between them where Mafuyu asked Yuki whether he would die for him in response to the latter saying, “I’d do anything for you.”
While the suicide might have many different reasons behind it alongside the fight and apparent break-up, it was basically Yuki’s way of telling Mafuyu that yes, he would die for him.
About Given
The Given anime is an adaptation of the manga of the same name by Natsuki Kizu.
Ritsuka Uenomiya was losing his love for guitar and everything he liked. However, his impromptu meeting with Mafuyu Sato changed it all.
Mafuyu’s song pierced his heart and made him want to find his love all over again. Both of them have unresolved pasts, so how will they help each other overcome it?
Source: Official Website
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