Given Launches Manga Extra, Set 10 Years Later
BL manga Given has returned with an extra manga series, set 10 years after the conclusion of the main story.
The music manga series given has returned with an extra series called given 10th mix.
Mangaka Natsuki Kizu has continued the story of given, the band comprised of Ritsuka Uenoyama, Mafuyu Satō, Haruki Nakayama, and Akihiko Kaji, but the beloved characters have grown. 10 years have passed and given dives into what the characters are now up to. A new cover art showcases the given band members along with Hiiragi and Shizusumi. Mafuyu is the only one who has his face turned to the camera with a lazy peace sign up while everyone else has his face turned away. The mangaka also drew a new illustration where Hiiragi has posted a photo of his friends on his Instagram account.
Written and illustrated by Natsuki Kizu, Given began serialization in the bimonthly magazine Chéri+ in April 2013. The BL manga concluded on March 30, 2023 with eight volumes. Kizu recently announced an extra to Given, beginning in January 2024.
The manga follows high schooler Mafuyu Satō, a shy but exceptionally talented singer, who is recruited into fellow classmate Ritsuka Uenoyama’s band along with bassist Haruki Nakayama and drummer Akihiko Kaji. Mafuyu has to navigate his relationship with Ritsuka and his relationship with music while dealing with the grief of losing his boyfriend and best friend Yūki Yoshida.
An anime adaptation, produced by Studio Lerche (Assassination Classroom and Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun), aired for 11 episodes from July to September 2019. Shōgo Yano and Yuma Uchida voiced Mafuyu and Ritsuka, respectively while Masatomo Nakazawa and Takuya Eguchi voiced Haruki and Akihiko. After Season 1, Given released an animated film, focusing on the second arc of the manga, called Given. The film features the turbulent relationship between Akihiko and his ex-boyfriend Ugetsu, a violin prodigy. The film, directed by Hikaru Yamaguchi, released in August 2020. Shintarō Asanuma voiced Ugetsu.
A two-part sequel finale film was announced with the first part focused on Hiiragi and Shizusumi called Hiiragi mix. A short four-minute bonus video will be shown following the ending credits of given: Hiiragi mix, with a new short premiering every week for four weeks.
Given is available to watch on Crunchyroll. Hiiragi mix released in Japan on Jan. 27, 2024.
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