Given The Movie: To the Sea, the latest installment in the beloved Given anime franchise, is now available for streaming on Crunchyroll, concluding a two-part cinematic journey for fans worldwide. This highly anticipated film deepens the narrative threads established in the preceding TV series and movies, focusing on the emotional and musical evolution of the band Given and its members.
The Continuing Melody: A Deep Dive into To the Sea
Given The Movie: To the Sea, known in Japan as Eiga Given: Umi e, serves as the second part of a two-film project, directly following Given The Movie: Hiiragi Mix. Both films act as sequels to the popular 2019 Given TV anime series and the 2020 Given the Movie. The entire anime adaptation draws from Natsuki Kizu’s original Boys’ Love (BL) manga series, which captivated readers from 2013 until its conclusion in 2023.
The core of Given revolves around the intertwined lives and musical aspirations of band members Mafuyu Sato, Ritsuka Uenoyama, Haruki Nakayama, and Akihiko Kaji. To the Sea specifically zeroes in on Mafuyu Sato’s personal and artistic journey. After his singing rekindled Ritsuka Uenoyama’s passion for music, the band Given found itself on the cusp of significant success. However, the film explores Mafuyu’s internal conflict as he questions his role as the lead vocalist. A pivotal moment arises when he declines an invitation to a crucial Shibuya concert, subsequently encountering an old friend. This chance meeting serves as a potential catalyst, pushing Mafuyu to confront his doubts and perhaps reclaim his voice on stage.
Narrative Progression within the Given Universe
The Given franchise has meticulously built a world where music acts as a powerful vehicle for emotional expression and personal growth. The chronological viewing order for the series and films, for those looking to immerse themselves fully, typically begins with the Given TV series, followed by the 2020 Given the Movie (which centers on Akihiko and Haruki’s story), the OVA special Given: Uragawa no Sonzai, Given The Movie: Hiiragi Mix, and finally, Given The Movie: To the Sea. Each installment intricately weaves new developments into the characters’ relationships and their collective musical career, exploring themes of love, loss, friendship, and the profound impact of art.
Production Excellence: Behind the Scenes
The animation for Given The Movie: To the Sea, along with its predecessor Hiiragi Mix, was handled by Studio Lerche, which has been a consistent force behind the Given anime projects, including the original TV series and the 2020 film. Noriko Hashimoto took the directorial reins for both Hiiragi Mix and To the Sea, building upon the groundwork laid by Hikaru Yamaguchi, who directed the initial TV series and first movie.
The films feature a dedicated production team, with Yuniko Ayana credited as the scriptwriter and Mina Osawa as the character designer. A significant element of the Given experience is its evocative soundtrack, and To the Sea features the theme song “Ketsugen” performed by Centimillimental, a musician who has consistently contributed to the franchise’s musical identity. The main voice cast, including Shogo Yano as Mafuyu Sato, Yuma Uchida as Ritsuka Uenoyama, Masatomo Nakazawa as Haruki Nakayama, and Takuya Eguchi as Akihiko Kaji, reprised their roles, ensuring continuity and depth for their beloved characters.
Global Release and Streaming Availability
Given The Movie: To the Sea first premiered in Japanese theaters on September 20, 2024. For international audiences, Crunchyroll spearheaded a special one-day-only theatrical release in the U.S. on June 16, 2025. This event, titled “Given The Double Album: Hiiragi mix & To the Sea,” allowed fans to experience both new films on the big screen.
Crucially for fans worldwide, To the Sea officially began streaming on Crunchyroll a week after its U.S. theatrical debut, with availability confirmed as of June 27, 2025. This makes the film accessible across numerous territories, including North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, and CIS. The streaming release includes a wide array of subtitle options, catering to a global audience with English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Castilian Spanish, and Russian choices. Given The Movie: Hiiragi Mix has been available on Crunchyroll since December 2024.
The availability of Given The Movie: To the Sea on Crunchyroll marks a significant moment for the franchise’s dedicated fanbase, allowing them to witness the culmination of Mafuyu and the band’s latest musical and personal challenges from the comfort of their homes.
