The Musical Journey Continues
Fans of the popular “Given” anime franchise can now rejoice as “Given The Movie: To the Sea” has officially begun streaming on Crunchyroll. This highly anticipated film is the second part of a two-film sequel project, continuing the emotional and musical journey of the band Given. The movie became available on the streaming service following its theatrical run in select territories.
A Double Feature in Cinemas, Now on Demand
Prior to its streaming debut, “Given The Movie: To the Sea” was part of a special one-day-only theatrical event in the United States on June 16, 2024, alongside its predecessor, “Given The Movie: Hiiragi Mix.” This “Given The Double Album” cinematic event allowed fans to experience both films back-to-back on the big screen. “Hiiragi Mix” premiered in Japan on January 27, 2024, while “To the Sea” originally debuted in Japanese theaters on September 20, 2024.
Story and Production Details
“Given The Movie: To the Sea” delves deeper into the lives and relationships of the band members. The narrative picks up after a chance encounter reignites Ritsuka Uenoyama’s passion for music through Mafuyu Sato. As their band, Given, strives for greatness, Mafuyu grapples with his role as the vocalist. His encounter with an old friend prompts him to confront his uncertainties and potentially step back into the spotlight.
Both “Hiiragi Mix” and “To the Sea” were produced by Lerche, the animation studio behind the original “Given” TV series and the 2020 “Given the Movie.” Noriko Hashimoto directed both films, taking over from Hikaru Yamaguchi, who directed the TV series and the first movie. Yuniko Ayana returned as the scriptwriter, and Mina Osawa handled the character designs. The film’s theme song, “Super Ultra I Love You,” was performed by Centimillimental.
Availability and Franchise Overview
“Given The Movie: To the Sea” is available for streaming on Crunchyroll in various territories, including North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, and CIS, with subtitles in multiple languages such as English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, and Russian.
The “Given” franchise originated from a boys’ love manga series by Natsuki Kizu, which was serialized from 2013 to 2023. The manga first inspired a television anime adaptation in July 2019, making history as the first anime based on a boys’ love manga to air on Fuji TV’s Noitamina block. Crunchyroll has consistently streamed the series and its subsequent animated projects. This includes the original 2020 “Given the Movie,” which focused on the stories of Akihiko and Haruki, and the “Given: Uragawa no Sonzai” (Given – on the other hand) original video animation (OVA) that explored Mafuyu and Ritsuka’s relationship during the events of the first movie. Fans can find the entire “Given” anime series, the 2020 movie, and the OVA available for streaming on Crunchyroll, in both subbed and dubbed formats.
