Free! is a Japanese anime television series produced by Kyoto Animation and Animation Do. The series is loosely based on the light novel, , written by Kōji Ōji, which received an honorable mention in the second Kyoto Animation Award contest in 2011 and was published in July 2013. The first season titled, Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club for international distribution, aired in Japan in 2013; and the second season titled, Free! - Eternal Summer, aired in 2014. A third season of the anime series titled, Free! - Dive to the Future, aired in 2018. Hiroko Utsumi directed the first two seasons, while season three was directed by Eisaku Kawanami.
Prior to season three, several films depict events preceding, including and following the events of seasons one and two. The first feature film, High Speed! Free! Starting Days, was released in December 2015 and depicts events from volume two of the series' prequel light novel, High Speed! A film trilogy was released in 2017 with the first two films being compilations of seasons one and two of the anime series titled, Free! Timeless Medley - the Bond and Free! Timeless Medley - the Promise. The third film in the trilogy titled, Free! Take Your Marks, features four new vignettes. A compilation film encompassing the third season titled, Free! Road to the World - the Dream, debuted in July 2019.
The next installment of the franchise was slated for release alongside the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, but both were postponed until 2021. A final film duology titled, Free! The Final Stroke, debuted in Japanese theaters in two parts: Part 1 in September 2021 and Part 2 in April 2022.
Plot Free is set in the town of Iwatobi, Japan, which is based on Iwami, Tottori. The story is centered on high school student Haruka Nanase, a gifted swimmer. After encountering his childhood rival, Rin Matsuoka from Samezuka Academy, he and his friends revitalize Iwatobi High School's swim team. In addition to his childhood friends, Makoto Tachibana and Nagisa Hazuki, Rei Ryugazaki is recruited onto the team. While the team trains for tournaments, Haruka and Rin's rivalry continues to sour from Rin facing setbacks in improvement, though his desire to swim competitively escalates. However, during the prefectural tournament, Iwatobi's swim team reminds Rin of their friendship through a medley relay. Despite being disqualified, the boys' relationships with one another improve.
In Free! Eternal Summer, Haruka, now in his final year in high school, has not decided on what to do after graduating. Meanwhile, Rin's childhood friend, Sosuke Yamazaki, transfers to Samezuka Academy. Rin hopes to swim competitively with Sosuke but, unbeknownst to him, Sosuke has injured his shoulder from overuse. During the regionals, Haruka becomes overwhelmed from the pressure of performing in front of scouts and becomes lost on what to do for the future. He further learns that his best friend, Makoto Tachibana, is leaving Iwatobi to attend university in Tokyo. Haruka withdraws from all social contact. However, with help from his friends and a trip to Sydney, Australia, where he visits the International Aquatic Centre, he decides to continue his swimming career and compete on the college level.
In Free! Dive to the Future, Haruka attends Hidaka University and reconnects with his friends from junior high school, with the exception of Ikuya Kirishima, who is still bitter about their former team breaking up without explanation. In order to make amends with Ikuya, Haruka begins training in other strokes besides freestyle and eventually competes in an Individual Medley alongside him. Although they mend their friendship, Haruka is faced with the reality that he will be competing against swimmers at his level and higher. Despite this, he commits to continuing his swimming career and to competing on the global level.
In Free! The Final Stroke (the first volume), Haruka, Rin, Ikuya and others make the Japan National Swim Team and compete at the global level in qualifying events and at the Fukuoka Tournament. In Free! The Final Stroke (the second volume), Haruka, Rin, Ikuya and Sosuke compete in a medley race, win gold medals, and become national champions.
Characters
Iwatobi High School
(Child) Haruka specializes in freestyle. His swimming style captivates others, and he idolizes water. He is a strong, quiet person who displays limited facial expressions and has a hard time communicating his feelings. Due to his feminine name, he asks to be called . Haruka lives with his grandmother until she dies, while his parents live and work in Hokkaido, then alone. He initially quits competitive swimming after a falling out with Rin, but he regains his passion upon Rin's return to Japan and rediscovering the joy of teamwork with his friends. In Eternal Summer, Haruka faces uncertainty about making future plans, but with support from his friends, he realizes he wants to swim competitively at a higher level. In Dive to the Future, he continues developing as a competitive swimmer at Hidaka University, competing in the All-Japan Invitational and committing to success in global competition. In Final Stroke, Haruka realizes his dream of becoming a world-class swimmer and competes in his first global competition, after which he continues to compete at the global level.
(Child) Makoto specializes in backstroke. He is Haruka's classmate and best friend since childhood. Unlike Haruka, he is outgoing and often speaks up for him, understanding his behaviors and knowing him extremely well. He is also sensitive and scares easily. He develops thalassophobia due to a traumatic childhood incident in which an old fisherman, whom Makoto idolized, drowns in a typhoon. In Eternal Summer, he becomes a part-time swim coach at Iwatobi SC Returns and decides to pursue the role professionally. In Dive to the Future, Makoto revises his goal of teaching children how to swim to training professional swimmers, including Haruka and Rin. In Final Stroke, Makoto commits to becoming a professional trainer and begins working with a number of the swimmers introduced in the series' prior media.
(Child) Nagisa specializes in breaststroke. He is cheerful, spirited and outspoken. He has admired Haruka's swimming since elementary school and enrolls at Iwatobi High School hoping to swim with him again. When he learns that the school's former team no longer exists, he initiates its reorganization. In Dive to the Future, he continues to be a vital member of the Iwatobi High School Swimming Club after Haruka and Makoto graduate. In Final Stroke, Nagisa graduates high school and enters Naribusawa University, becoming Kaede's kouhai and mentoring him.
(Child) Rei specializes in the butterfly. He is logical and intelligent, but easily manipulated by his classmate, Nagisa. He is attracted to all things beautiful and will do everything in his power to avoid things he claims "unattractive." He used to be on the track team as a pole vaulter, but could not perform well because he constantly over-analyzed his jumps. He initially refuses to join the swim club because he finds swimming inelegant, but he eventually joins after seeing Haruka's swimming. In Dive to the Future, he is the captain of the Iwatobi school team after Makoto graduates. In Final Stroke, Rei graduates high school and enters Shimogami University.
Romio is a first-year student at Iwatobi High School and free-style swimmer who joins the Iwatobi High School Swim Club after Haruka and Makoto leave for university. Born in the US, he lives in Tokyo before coming to Iwatobi. During middle school, he experiences a false start resulting in major anxiety but, with the help of his high school teammates, is able to overcome his fears and continues to develop as a competitive swimmer. In Final Stroke, Romio is seen as a continuing member of the Iwatobi High School Swim Club.
Shizuru is a first-year student at Iwatobi High School and a new member of the Iwatobi High School Swim Club following the departure of Haruka and Makoto. He is an excellent swimmer, but generally of a dour disposition who suffers from motion sickness. In Final Stroke, Shizuru is seen as a continuing member of the Iwatobi High School Swim Club.
Samezuka Academy
(Child) Rin specializes in butterfly and freestyle. After transferring to Iwatobi Elementary School, he ends up in the same local swim club as Haruka, Makoto and Nagisa, eventually leading them to victory in a medley relay. Rin then goes to Australia to study and train, returning to Japan and enrolling at Samezuka Academy as a second-year, but only joining their swim team after a reunion race against Haruka, who he now views as his rival. In Eternal Summer, Rin becomes Samezuka's swim team captain. In Dive to the Future, Rin trains in Australia but returns to Japan to compete in the All-Japan Invitational. In Final Stroke, Rin realizes his dream of becoming a world-class swimmer and competes in his first global competition, after which he continues to compete at the global level.
(Child) Sosuke is Rin's childhood friend who specializes in butterfly. In Eternal Summer, he tells Rin that he has transferred to Samezuka Academy in order to swim his last year of high school in his hometown. The truth is that over-training in his first year of high school has severely injured his shoulder, ruining his chances of entering the professional world. Sosuke dislikes Haruka but tolerates his ability to motivate Rin. In Dive to the Future, Sosuke's shoulder surgery is seen to be successful. In Final Stroke, Sosuke continues rehabilitation and re-enters competitive swimming.
Aiichiro is a member of the Samezuka Academy swim team. He swims long distance freestyle, but also breaststroke in the second season. With coaching from Sosuke, Aiichiro's swimming improves to the point that Rin allows him to compete in relay. He is eventually appointed as Samezuka's new captain. In Final Stroke, he graduates from high school and enters Shimogami University.
Seijuro is a former captain of the Samezuka Academy swim team. He is an enthusiastic person and a skilled swimmer. He shows strong interest in Gou Matsuoka. In Dive to the Future, he attends Hidaka University and is a third-year swim team member. He is seen again as a character in Final Stroke.
Momotaro is Seijuro's younger brother and a student at Samezuka Academy. Initially he does not join the swim team, but does so later on at Rin's insistence. Like his brother, he is an enthusiastic person with an interest in Gou. He is a skilled backstroke swimmer with the given nickname, "The Sea of Japan's Sea Otter." In Final Stroke, he is seen to be the captain of the Samezuka Academy swim team.
Iwatobi Junior High School/Tokyo
Along with Haruka and Makoto, Asahi is a member of Iwatobi Junior High School's swim team, specializing in butterfly. After his first year, he moves to Kyushu and becomes the captain of Kazami High School's swim team. In Dive to the Future, he comes to Tokyo as a freshman at Hidaka University, where he joins their swim team with Haruka.
Ikuya is a member of the Iwatobi Junior High School's swim team with Haruka, Makoto and Asahi, specializing in breaststroke. He also possesses an elegant crawl, similar in speed and style to Haruka's. After his junior high team breaks up, he follows his older brother, Natsuya, to America where he attends high school, focusing on developing all four swim strokes in order to become an Individual Medley competitor. In Dive to the Future, he attends Shimogami University, where he joins their swim team. Though his personal struggles affect his swimming and his friendships, they are later resolved with help from Haruka. In Final Stroke, Ikuya realizes his dream of becoming a world-class swimmer and competes in his first global competition.