Given Movie – Anime Movie Review & Film Summary

Akihiko is a drummer in an indie rock band called Given. It consists of four members. Mafuyu is the vocalist who recently joined the band. His boyfriend, Uenoyama, is the guitarist. Haruki, a grad student, is the bassist. Round the group is Akihiko, a second-year university student. Initially, Haruki and Akihiko were university classmates who formed the band. They recruited Uenoyama next. Afterwards, Uenoyama invited Mafuyu to join them.

The band has gained traction recently after performing in front of a live audience for the first time. They want to make a bigger splash by preparing for a significant audition. Success means the Given band can secure a performance spot in a prestigious music festival. Mafuyu is eager to write a new song for the upcoming festival. He finds his creative inspiration after being introduced to Ugetsu, a talented violinist with a moody and aloof personality.

Ugetsu used to have a romantic past with Akihiko back in their high school days. The two of them have since broken up, but they still live together in an oddly codependent relationship. It was Ugetsu who ended their relationship first, believing that a romance with Akihiko would hold him back in his musical career. However, Akihiko still has lingering feelings for his ex-boyfriend. Ugetsu can't seem to put their relationship to rest, either. They continue hanging around each other as friends with benefits, not defining clear boundaries.

Meanwhile, Haruki feels distressed due to his secret feelings for Akihiko. He believes it's an unrequited crush that his bandmate doesn't reciprocate. The self-doubt and the feelings of inadequacy have made Haruki start questioning his own role in the band. One night, Akihiko arrives at Haruki's apartment after a messy fight with Ugetsu. In his drunken stupor, Akihiko makes a forceful sexual advance on Haruki. This encounter changes the nature of their relationship forever.

As a fan of the original anime, I came into the Given movie excited about the sequel. Sadly, I may have set my expectations too high. This film left me more disappointed than fulfilled. Much of what I loved about the first series hadn't translated well into the follow-up. I hoped for another powerful story with similar emotional depth, but the movie fell flat and lacked a captivating spark. By the end, I felt bitterly dissatisfied with the Given movie.

The Given Movie is packed with constant drama, including emotional turmoil, tearful confrontations, and an undercurrent of sexual tension. Yet, most of the events feel underdeveloped. New storylines appear suddenly, only to be dropped just as quickly, while other plots go around in circles. It tries to focus on the music festival, Mufaya's new song, Akihiko's ex-boyfriend, Haruki's unrequited feelings, the love triangle, and plenty else. There are too many ideas, like condensing an entire season of storylines into a one-hour film. None of the plots get the focus or development they deserve.

The original anime balanced its serious storylines with sweet moments. In contrast, this film leans heavily into conflict. The characters do too much bickering, fighting, and crying, but not enough kissing, flirting, or romancing. I don't feel engaged with the on-and-off relationship between Akihiko and Ugetsu. I wish the story would elaborate on the flashbacks of their high school days instead of just a quick montage. Also, Ugetsu can't decide whether he wants to get back together with Akihiko. I don't understand his motivations and his moodiness gets on my nerves.

Haruki and Akihiko's romance fizzles. We get many scenes with Haruki pining after Akihiko, but there isn't a lot of actual romance between them. Even when they live together, I don't get the sense this couple is falling in love with each other. They share only one intimate encounter, which is controversial due to the predatory nature. After what Akihiko did to him, I wouldn't have blamed Haruki if he severed all ties forever. If anything, I think he forgives Akihiko almost too easily. They go back to being buddies again as if nothing happened.

Music? What music? Although the movie's plot is about the band working towards a music festival audition, this feels more like an afterthought. The characters still get together to rehearse, write songs, or whatever else, but it doesn't make a big impact. Mafuyu's live performance in the anime was the emotional climax of the series. In the movie, Mafuyu sings another song on stage, but his performance pales in comparison. This time, his music lacks the same poignancy or emotional resonance. The moment feels very ordinary, like the rest of this sequel.

Despite my numerous misgivings, the Given movie isn't entirely bad. At least the plot moves along quickly and eventfully. The vibrant visuals also look aesthetically pleasing. While the sequel is watchable, it suffers from a rushed ending. Akihiko experiences character growth near the end, but we only see a quick montage of it happening off-screen. There's no meaningful impact. The original series shows emotional depth in its storytelling, yet this movie pales in comparison. I still have goodwill toward the Given anime, so let's hope the next film will improve in quality.