’Given’ Season 2 Release Date, Spoiler, Recap, Trailer, Cast, Where To Watch? & More
‘Given’ Season 2: ‘Given’ is one of the most popular and acclaimed BL (boys’ love) anime series out there, based on the manga by Natsuki Kizu. The anime follows the story of four high school boys who form a band and explore their feelings for each other through music.
The first season of the anime aired in 2019 and received praise for its realistic and heartfelt portrayal of queer romance, as well as its stunning animation and soundtrack. The anime also spawned a sequel movie in 2020, which focused on the relationship between Haruki and Akihiko, the older members of the band.
Fans of the series have been eagerly waiting for news on the second season of the anime, hoping to see more of their favorite characters and their musical journey. However, as of February 1, 2024, there has been no official announcement or confirmation on the renewal of the anime for season 2.
So, what is the current status of the anime and what can we expect from the possible second season? Here is everything we know so far about ‘Given’ season 2.
Will there be a ‘Given’ season 2?
The short answer is: we don’t know for sure, but we are hopeful. The long answer is: several factors could influence the decision to renew or cancel the anime for season 2, such as the popularity of the series, the availability of the source material, the production schedule of the studio, and the demand of the fans.
The popularity of the series is not a problem, as ‘Given’ has a loyal and passionate fanbase, both in Japan and internationally. The anime has received positive reviews from critics and viewers alike, scoring high ratings on various platforms, such as IMDB, MyAnimeList, and Crunchyroll. The anime has also been nominated for several awards, such as the 2023 Anime Awards and the 2023 Crunchyroll Anime Awards. The anime has also generated a lot of buzz on social media, with fans expressing their love and support for the series and its characters.
anime: given pic.twitter.com/d216fG0HBa
— hori (@kaiukyy) January 28, 2024
The availability of the source material is also not a problem, as the manga series is still ongoing, with the latest volume (volume 7) released in Japan on December 1, 2021. The manga series has two completed story arcs, which were adapted into the first season and the movie respectively. The manga series is currently in its third story arc, which focuses on the relationship between Hiiragi and Shizusumi, two new characters who join the band as vocalists. The manga series has enough content to be adapted into at least one more season of the anime, if not more.
The production schedule of the studio is a bit of a mystery, as there has been no official word from Studio Lerche, the animation studio behind ‘Given’, on their plans for the future of the series. Studio Lerche is known for producing high-quality anime, such as ‘Assassination Classroom’, ‘Monster Musume’, and ‘Kino’s Journey’. The studio has a busy lineup of projects for 2024, such as ‘The Promised Neverland’ season 3, ‘Radiant’ season 3, and ‘Classroom of the Elite’ season 2. It is possible that the studio is waiting for the right time to announce the renewal of ‘Given’, or that they are working on it secretly, or that they have decided to drop the series altogether. We can only speculate at this point until we hear something official from the studio.
The demand of the fans is high, as ‘Given’ has a devoted and vocal fandom, who are constantly asking for more of the series. Fans have been expressing their desire for season 2 on various platforms, such as Twitter, Reddit, and YouTube, using hashtags, petitions, and fan art. Fans have also been supporting the series by buying the manga, the Blu-ray, the merchandise, and the soundtrack. Fans have also been showing their appreciation for the voice actors, the staff, and the author of the series, by sending them messages, gifts, and fan letters. Fans have also been spreading the word about the series, by recommending it to their friends, family, and online communities. Fans have made it clear that they love ‘Given’ and that they want more of it.
Based on these factors, we can conclude that ‘Given’ has a good chance of getting a second season, but we cannot say for sure when or how. The best we can do is to keep supporting the series, by watching it, reading it, buying it, and talking about it, and to keep hoping that the studio and the streaming platform (Crunchyroll) will listen to the fans and give us what we want: more ‘Given’.
When will ‘Given’ season 2 be released?
Assuming that ‘Given’ gets renewed for season 2, the next question is: when will it be released? Again, we don’t have a definitive answer, but we can make some educated guesses based on the previous release dates of the series.
The first season of the anime aired from July 11, 2019, to September 19, 2019, consisting of 11 episodes. The movie premiered in Japanese theaters on August 22, 2020, and was released worldwide on Crunchyroll on February 2, 2021. The movie had a runtime of 59 minutes. The special OVA episode, which was a bonus feature of the movie’s Blu-ray, was released on December 1, 2021, and had a runtime of 25 minutes.
Based on these dates, we can see that there was a gap of about one year between the end of the first season and the premiere of the movie, and another gap of about one year between the premiere of the movie and the release of the OVA. If we follow this pattern, we can expect that there will be another gap of about one year between the release of the OVA and the premiere of the second season, which means that the earliest we can hope for season 2 is late 2024 or early 2025.
However, this is just a rough estimate, and there could be many factors that could delay or accelerate the production and release of the second season, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the availability of the staff and the voice actors, the budget and the resources of the studio, the demand and the competition of the market, and the quality and the quantity of the source material. Therefore, we should take this prediction with a grain of salt, and be prepared for any surprises or disappointments.
What will ‘Given’ season 2 be about?
Assuming that ‘Given’ gets a second season, the next question is: what will it be about? Again, we don’t have a definitive answer, but we can make some reasonable assumptions based on the manga series and the previous titles of the anime.
The first season of the anime covered the first story arc of the manga, which focused on the relationship between Ritsuka and Mafuyu, the guitarists of the band. The movie covered the second story arc of the manga, which focused on the relationship between Haruki and Akihiko, the bassist and the drummer of the band. The OVA episode was a side story that showed the band’s performance at the music festival, as well as some scenes of Ritsuka and Mafuyu’s daily life.
The manga series is currently in its third story arc, which focuses on the relationship between Hiiragi and Shizusumi, two new characters who join the band as vocalists. Hiiragi is a childhood friend of Mafuyu, who has a crush on him and wants to sing with him. Shizusumi is a popular singer and songwriter, who has a mysterious connection to Akihiko and wants to collaborate with him. The third story arc explores the conflicts and the emotions that arise from these new dynamics, as well as the growth and development of the band and its members.
If the second season of the anime follows the manga series, we can expect that it will adapt the third story arc, and introduce us to the new characters and their stories. We can also expect that it will show us more of the existing characters and their relationships, such as Ritsuka and Mafuyu, Haruki and Akihiko, Ugetsu and Yuki, and the other supporting characters. We can also expect that it will feature more music and songs, as the band continues to pursue their dreams and express their feelings through their art.
Cast
Assuming that ‘Given’ gets a second season, the next question is: who will be in it? Again, we don’t have a definitive answer, but we can make some logical guesses based on the manga series and the previous titles of the anime.
The main cast of the anime consists of the four members of the band, as well as their love interests and friends. They are:
| Character | Voice Actor | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ritsuka Uenoyama | Yuma Uchida | Mafuyu’s former lover and childhood friend, died by suicide after a fight with Mafuyu, leaving him traumatized and depressed. |
| Mafuyu Sato | Shougo Yano | A childhood friend of Mafuyu has a crush on him and wants to sing with him. He joins the band as a vocalist in the third story arc of the manga. |
| Haruki Nakayama | Masatomo Nakazawa | A childhood friend of Mafuyu, has a crush on him and wants to sing with him. He joins the band as a vocalist in the third story arc of the manga. |
| Akihiko Kaji | Takuya Eguchi | The drummer and the second oldest member of the band, who has a complicated relationship with his ex-boyfriend and violinist Ugetsu. |
| Ugetsu Murata | Shintaro Asanuma | A prodigious violinist and Akihiko’s ex-boyfriend, who still lives with him and has unresolved feelings for him. |
| Yuki Yoshida | Yuuki Ono | The rhythm guitarist and the vocalist of the band, has a tragic past involving his former lover Yuki, who died by suicide. |
| Hiiragi Kashima | Yoshitsugu Matsuoka | A childhood friend of Mafuyu, who has a crush on him and wants to sing with him. He joins the band as a vocalist in the third story arc of the manga. |
| Shizusumi Yagi | Makoto Furukawa | A popular singer and songwriter, who has a mysterious connection to Akihiko and wants to collaborate with him. He joins the band as a vocalist in the third story arc of the manga. |
Where to watch?
Assuming that ‘Given’ gets a second season, the next question is: where to watch it? Again, we don’t have a definitive answer, but we can make some reasonable suggestions based on the previous titles of the anime.
The first season of the anime aired on Fuji TV’s Noitamina programming block in Japan, as well as on other channels such as AT-X, BS Fuji, and Kansai TV. The movie was released in Japanese theaters, as well as in select theaters in other countries, such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Singapore. The OVA episode was a bonus feature of the movie’s Blu-ray, which was released in Japan on December 1, 2021.
The first season of the anime, the movie, and the OVA episode are all available to stream worldwide on Crunchyroll, the leading platform for anime, manga, and drama. Crunchyroll is also the official licensor and distributor of the series outside Japan and has released the Blu-ray and DVD versions of the series in North America and Europe. Crunchyroll also offers subtitles in various languages, such as English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Russian, and Arabic.
If the second season of the anime follows the previous titles, we can expect that it will also air on Fuji TV’s Noitamina block in Japan, as well as on other channels and theaters. We can also expect that it will stream on Crunchyroll, as well as on other platforms that have partnerships with Crunchyroll, such as VRV, HBO Max, and Funimation. We can also expect that it will also offer subtitles in various languages, as well as dubbing options for some regions.
Why should you watch it?
Assuming that ‘Given’ gets a second season, the final question is: why should you watch it? Well, there are many reasons why you should watch ‘Given’ season 2, but here are some of the main ones:
- If you are a fan of the series, you should watch ‘Given’ season 2 because you will get to see more of your favorite characters and their stories, as well as meet new characters and their stories. You will get to witness the development and the evolution of the band and its members, as well as the challenges and opportunities that they face. You will get to experience the emotions and the drama that come with love, friendship, music, and life.
- If you are new to the series, you should watch ‘Given’ season 2 because you will get to discover one of the best BL anime series out there, that is not only about romance, but also about music, art, and healing. You will get to enjoy the realistic and heartfelt portrayal of queer relationships, that is not based on stereotypes, clichés, or fanservice, but on genuine feelings, respect, and consent. You will get to appreciate the stunning animation and the soundtrack, that complement the story and the characters perfectly.
- If you are a fan of anime in general, you should watch ‘Given’ season 2 because you will get to watch a high-quality anime, that has a captivating story, engaging characters, beautiful visuals, and amazing music. You will get to watch an anime that has been praised by critics and viewers alike, and that has been nominated for several awards. You will get to watch an anime that has a loyal and passionate fanbase, that will welcome you and share their love and support for the series.
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In conclusion, ‘Given’ season 2 is something that we all hope and wish for, but we don’t know for sure if or when it will happen. However, we can still enjoy the series by watching the first season, the movie, and the OVA episode, as well as reading the manga series and supporting the series in any way we can. ‘Given’ is a series that deserves our attention and our appreciation, as it is a series that gives us so much in return. ‘Given’ is a series that touches our hearts and our souls, through its music and its love.
