ο(=•ω＜=)ρ⌒☆ ~ alice's blog !: Given Review

hiii guys today were reviewing a new fave
Given!

there was an 11 episode series, three movies, an ova and like four little shorts and i watched all of them and honestly the movies arent that essential unless you want more on the side couples and the third/last movie is the big ending but the series can stand alone so im only going to include the description for the series

Mafuyu Satou was taking a nap in a quiet spot on the gymnasium staircase, when he has a chance encounter with fellow student Ritsuka Uenoyama, who berates him for letting his guitar's strings rust and break. Noticing Uenoyama's knowledge of the instrument, Satou pleads for him to fix it and to teach him how to play. Uenoyama eventually agrees and invites him to sit in on a jam session with his two band mates: bassist Haruki Nakayama and drummer Akihiko Kaji. Later on, Uenoyama learns that Satou's voice is strikingly beautiful, filling him with the determination to make Satou the lead singer of the band. Though reticent at first, Satou takes the offer after an emotional meeting with an old friend. With the support of his new friends, Satou must not only learn how to play guitar, but also come to terms with the mysterious circumstances that led him to be its owner.

honestly id rate this a 9.8/10 it was so good and it caught me off guard in the best way possible

the series specifically deals with grieving and internal conflicts but has super cute lovey moments which balanced it out nicely

the movies though deal with more growing up and deciding what you want for the future but still with the cute moments just with the other two side couples

the songs are also super good ive genuinely never been one for jrock but damn these are GOOODDD

if you're planning on watching tho, watch it before you listen to the songs cus most of the build up of the series and movies is that these are like the big emotional cleansing revealed at the end so if you listen to them before some of the magic might be gone

i also love the 'music can better reach the heart' concept like yes music IS a great way of expressing yourself. i like this show sm cus of how i could feel the emotion and love and passion through the screen which is also a big reason of why i love fruits basket so this was great

the cry count was only one thankfully but they say so much good stuff in this whole series like SPOILER FOR THE FIRST MOVIE BUT

little stamps i made as dividers for this

'I WANTED TO BECOME A MAN WORTHY OF YOUR LOVE!!' i seriously sat up and went 'OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO' i started cheering so much i love when guys lock in