Not an action oriented anime for sure. If you want action you will find none here. Free! is a chill anime with a bunch of hot guys.
The story plot is lacking in strength and a well defined purpose, I wish I could have seen more character development and more intrigue. I give an 8/10 for the beautiful art and for the voice acting.
11 Reviews
We need more!
craftwolfp7 May 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Warning: Spoilers ahead
The show will make you cry, laugh, hate and love. It's one of those shows.
Why I LOVED it:
This is one of those shows where you will love to hate the villain and vice verso. The show starts with 4 cute little innocent kids before they graduate elementary school. They race together in a swimming tournament, before each taking there own path. However, the story gets dipper and dipper as we continue. Over time we learn that Rin changed the most. The cute friendly kid turned into a competitive, obsessed and lonely adult. Haruka seems to stay the same, except we learn that he really missed the club, the competitions and the teamwork. He starts showing more emotion, and we learn that he doesn't care about winning or losing, but the races with Rin, seem to have more on his mind that he is sharing.
The funny and cheerfuller characters seem to be Gou/Kou, Nagisa, Rai and Makoto. Kou seems to be the funniest one to the viewers, sense she is always helping the club *and herself* with her obsession for hot guys and their muscles. Nagisa is always obsessing over "Haru-chan" and his swimming. Rai is an athletic which uses physics and math to achieve beauty. He tries doing the same with swimming but it doesn't work to well most of the time. Makoto seems to be the one who can have a great time but can also be serious. He has a story of his own to tell, which Haruka, Rin and himself were involved in.
The music was pretty good. I honestly hated one thing about this anime. The shortness of it. I need more. I am happy that season 2 is coming and I hope it will be longer then the first.
The Plot:
Nagisa, Haruka, Makato and Rin are cute innocent kids that race in a swimming tournament before elementary school graduation. They win and cheer and then they part their ways. The next year Haruka meets Rin, who has changed sense his move to Australia. Rin challenges Haruka to a race and he loses, he decides to quit swimming. Now, three years later Haruka, Makoto and Nagisa are going to high school together. After going into the old part of the school, they encounter Rin, when he challenges Haruka once again. However, they don't race because the old pool doesn't have any water. Rin goes away.
The three of them start a new swimming club, which also included the school secretary, Rin's sister Gou and the new recruit Rai. They decide to swim at the local tournament and Rin happens to be there. Rin comes in first in the 100m free race and beats Haruka. Haruka doesn't take this too well, not letting us know why. They do a relay and they move onto the national tournament.
They have their own 'summer camp', where they survive dangerous waves, shared stories and get some good memories. Gou also gets closer to her brother on this trip. At the national tournament they have a fight , an emotional exchange and a bit of teamwork.
The show will make you cry, laugh, hate and love. It's one of those shows.
Why I LOVED it:
This is one of those shows where you will love to hate the villain and vice verso. The show starts with 4 cute little innocent kids before they graduate elementary school. They race together in a swimming tournament, before each taking there own path. However, the story gets dipper and dipper as we continue. Over time we learn that Rin changed the most. The cute friendly kid turned into a competitive, obsessed and lonely adult. Haruka seems to stay the same, except we learn that he really missed the club, the competitions and the teamwork. He starts showing more emotion, and we learn that he doesn't care about winning or losing, but the races with Rin, seem to have more on his mind that he is sharing.
The funny and cheerfuller characters seem to be Gou/Kou, Nagisa, Rai and Makoto. Kou seems to be the funniest one to the viewers, sense she is always helping the club *and herself* with her obsession for hot guys and their muscles. Nagisa is always obsessing over "Haru-chan" and his swimming. Rai is an athletic which uses physics and math to achieve beauty. He tries doing the same with swimming but it doesn't work to well most of the time. Makoto seems to be the one who can have a great time but can also be serious. He has a story of his own to tell, which Haruka, Rin and himself were involved in.
The music was pretty good. I honestly hated one thing about this anime. The shortness of it. I need more. I am happy that season 2 is coming and I hope it will be longer then the first.
The Plot:
Nagisa, Haruka, Makato and Rin are cute innocent kids that race in a swimming tournament before elementary school graduation. They win and cheer and then they part their ways. The next year Haruka meets Rin, who has changed sense his move to Australia. Rin challenges Haruka to a race and he loses, he decides to quit swimming. Now, three years later Haruka, Makoto and Nagisa are going to high school together. After going into the old part of the school, they encounter Rin, when he challenges Haruka once again. However, they don't race because the old pool doesn't have any water. Rin goes away.
The three of them start a new swimming club, which also included the school secretary, Rin's sister Gou and the new recruit Rai. They decide to swim at the local tournament and Rin happens to be there. Rin comes in first in the 100m free race and beats Haruka. Haruka doesn't take this too well, not letting us know why. They do a relay and they move onto the national tournament.
They have their own 'summer camp', where they survive dangerous waves, shared stories and get some good memories. Gou also gets closer to her brother on this trip. At the national tournament they have a fight , an emotional exchange and a bit of teamwork.
Wow 10/10
Renjisbrow28 May 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This is a really great program you have to watch it if you haven't. It's about a person called haru who is obsessed with water anyways every day a day a giant green man called makoto breaks into his house and yanks him out the tub. There is this one teacher who forces the children to clean the pool even though that is like really unsanitary and makes me worry for the 5 year old (Nagisa) this was my only complaint. I spent one whole night thinking that know one would notice if rei drowned since his hair is the Same colour as the pool (blue) this can be a little scary for younger audiences. Rin is very threatening with his sharp teeth that resemble a shark so if you don't like sharks it could give you ptsd if you have been involved in a shark attack (unclear why looks like a shark I think his dad was jaws). There is this one girl gou or kou we just don't know and whenever she is in the frame you may think she is rin and Nagisa is a little bit threatening towards her. My favourite character happens to be the pizza man/ coach since he never forgets to bring his shirt to the school (don't take this the wrong way he is not a creep he is their coach). The water in free is extremely beautiful deep and elegant but not easy on the eyes since it is very shiny and bright and sparkling and spacious. This is a not a joke thanks bye
Really excellent anime about best friends swimming together
Irishchatter15 September 2018
I do admit, the animation was fantastic. Yes I did admire the lads looks and all but its not always about that. The fact the English dub cast did such an amazing job at voicing the characters and the fact, the characters are pure likeable! As well as that, everyone gets on well even if they have their own quarrels or act dumb (which has its hilarious moments). I ship Haruka & Rin btw lol.
Great anime ❤❤❤
Great anime ❤❤❤
Best Anime Ever
elikimbrell28 June 2018
If U haven't seen this. I highly recommend this. (Even though some parts can be silly) I can already tell many fan girls love this. I wish It would of aired longer. But any other case. Don't want to spoil it! But watch it if u can! 10/10
A Great Anime About Friendship
jasminn_tan4 August 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Besides the amazing visuals, I really enjoyed the stories that were told in this anime. Haruka isn't the most outstanding protagonist because he's stoic, shy and introverted but he's the type of character that unknowingly inspires his friends to improve themselves and he really does care about his friends. After watching all 3 seasons I have grown attached to the characters and seeing all of them reunite and mature into who they really are is heartwarming. I love how this anime emphasises on the importance of friendship, and not just about winning, which is kind of similar to Haikyuu. I have to say that S3 is my favourite so far because Haruka and Rin have reconciled and they also managed to meet up with old teammates and encounter more extraordinary people who push them to work harder at their sport.
Free review
maddiebuggie24 May 2020
I was able to finish the first season and watch some of the second season pretty fast. But after that I had stopped watching the show Becuse it was getting boring and repetitive. I was planning on coming back to the show but as time went on it seem very unlikely. So one day I just went to tried to pick up where I left but one ep in I realized that I was over the season since it was really bored and there wasn't a enough drama so I moved on from the show. As of right now I have no plan on finishing the anime. This series need more going on this just swimming and friendship. I recommend this show if you like swimming and don't mind that it not very action packed or drama full. Becuse it only a super chill show about swimming nothing else beside that happens in the show. But it good for all ages no matter if your young or old.
Oh, Nostalgia
RewritingHistoryWithoutYou11 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Oh, why did I ever pick this anime up? Why did I ever make myself suffer? Why did I let myself shed tears? Why did I ever make myself watch this?
These questions are the questions I ask myself every day after crying that Free! 1) probably won't be getting a season 4 soon and 2) is now taking place in college and Haru's new team CANNOT compete against his old HS team.
The moment I saw that Rei & Nagisa montage in season 3, I knew I had fallen HARD for this show. Like ouch - no longer will there be any Haru & Makoto & Rei & Nagisa. Makoto quit swimming, Haru's swimming with his team, and now Rei and Nagisa are left with the excuse of Iwatobi members (haha, yes, I am not fan of the new SC). But hey, that goes to show how well they developed their friendship!
This anime is NOT just fanservice. This anime is WAY more than fan service. It's about swimming, broken bonds, repaired friendship, and of course, true to every sports anime - the power of teamwork! It started out as "Free", changed into "For the Team", and lastly "For the Future". For the future indeed!
It's a heartwarming anime with funny side characters and an engaging plot.
Only complaint was that the MC was sorta repetitive and whinny. (But hey, the side characters and plot for season 1 & 2 more than cover it up.)
"Because I knew that you would start crying." Dang it, Sosuke, now I'M crying.
These questions are the questions I ask myself every day after crying that Free! 1) probably won't be getting a season 4 soon and 2) is now taking place in college and Haru's new team CANNOT compete against his old HS team.
The moment I saw that Rei & Nagisa montage in season 3, I knew I had fallen HARD for this show. Like ouch - no longer will there be any Haru & Makoto & Rei & Nagisa. Makoto quit swimming, Haru's swimming with his team, and now Rei and Nagisa are left with the excuse of Iwatobi members (haha, yes, I am not fan of the new SC). But hey, that goes to show how well they developed their friendship!
This anime is NOT just fanservice. This anime is WAY more than fan service. It's about swimming, broken bonds, repaired friendship, and of course, true to every sports anime - the power of teamwork! It started out as "Free", changed into "For the Team", and lastly "For the Future". For the future indeed!
It's a heartwarming anime with funny side characters and an engaging plot.
Only complaint was that the MC was sorta repetitive and whinny. (But hey, the side characters and plot for season 1 & 2 more than cover it up.)
"Because I knew that you would start crying." Dang it, Sosuke, now I'M crying.
Love This, Excellent and Emotional
extraplay-618382 January 2024
Really excellent anime about best friends swimming together, why does it not have an IMDb rating of 8. I also wanted to see them going to the Olympics - why did it finish so soon.
However I have just come to realise that Crunchyroll has all the videos of it, so I am going unto Funimation.
This animation is fantastic. Yes I did admire the lads looks and all but its not always about that. The fact the English dub cast did such an amazing job at voicing the characters and the fact, the characters are pure likeable! As well as that, everyone gets on well even if they have their own quarrels or act dumb (which has its hilarious moments).
However I have just come to realise that Crunchyroll has all the videos of it, so I am going unto Funimation.
This animation is fantastic. Yes I did admire the lads looks and all but its not always about that. The fact the English dub cast did such an amazing job at voicing the characters and the fact, the characters are pure likeable! As well as that, everyone gets on well even if they have their own quarrels or act dumb (which has its hilarious moments).
Best anime sport and friendship!
thepparux5 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Free! Is the best animation sport about swimming. People who don't know about swimming at all and are afraid may not understand the story too. I can say that you do not need to be afraid because I never swam before but understood and learned slowly through the story. The plot will teach you about tricks and competition a little bit and you will surely understand. This anime is chill and realistic, not action or fantasy, but it expresses the problem of real-life experiences very well. Across its three seasons (with a fourth season in the works), it beautifully portrays a range of emotions: determination, discouragement, expectation, disappointment, happiness, regret, happiness, emptiness, and the journey of friendship and dreams. Each scene is created with smooth animation, precise camera angles, seamless scene transitions, and impactful sound effects, effectively capturing the characters' moods. The art style is unique, beautiful, and visually appealing, with characters that are both handsome and cute. I fell in love with my type of character incredibly.
The plot of the first two seasons is an introduction to the Iwatobi swim club following them from junior high school to senior high school. From their love of Swimming with friends, it becomes a dream of winning global competitions as a team. They decide to practice following the program and improve their skill together. The third season explores their university years, where they face expert competition and undergo rigorous training, facing physical and psychological challenges. For dreams to come true, forces them to overtrain until forget to have fun and become lonely. I was going to cry, I was really into this season, deeply resonated with me and evoked strong emotions.
All the stories absolutely gave me a better understanding of sports of effort. One of my favorite quotes is: "All I want is to feel the water. With my skin, my eyes, my soul... To never doubt what it makes me feel. Believe in myself. Don't resist the water. Welcome it. We accept one another." spoken by the main character Nanase Haruka who is super shy, and introverted but inspires his friends to continue swimming and improve their skills. He also attached me yearning to dive into the water and fee like water was holding me. Moreover, a lot of good scripts made me interested in swimming, and wanted to go swimming immediately, wanted to be in a vibe and have fun together with them. I thought that this anime was good to motivate someone who has given up on swimming for a comeback swim.
However, the first part of the plot was a little boring and lacked action, but it set the stage for the rich character development and realism that follow. I could see a different perspective on real life and was proud of the development of each character, as I grew up with them. I suggest that you should set aside plenty of free time to watch it. Once you start, you won't be able to stop, just like me.
The plot of the first two seasons is an introduction to the Iwatobi swim club following them from junior high school to senior high school. From their love of Swimming with friends, it becomes a dream of winning global competitions as a team. They decide to practice following the program and improve their skill together. The third season explores their university years, where they face expert competition and undergo rigorous training, facing physical and psychological challenges. For dreams to come true, forces them to overtrain until forget to have fun and become lonely. I was going to cry, I was really into this season, deeply resonated with me and evoked strong emotions.
All the stories absolutely gave me a better understanding of sports of effort. One of my favorite quotes is: "All I want is to feel the water. With my skin, my eyes, my soul... To never doubt what it makes me feel. Believe in myself. Don't resist the water. Welcome it. We accept one another." spoken by the main character Nanase Haruka who is super shy, and introverted but inspires his friends to continue swimming and improve their skills. He also attached me yearning to dive into the water and fee like water was holding me. Moreover, a lot of good scripts made me interested in swimming, and wanted to go swimming immediately, wanted to be in a vibe and have fun together with them. I thought that this anime was good to motivate someone who has given up on swimming for a comeback swim.
However, the first part of the plot was a little boring and lacked action, but it set the stage for the rich character development and realism that follow. I could see a different perspective on real life and was proud of the development of each character, as I grew up with them. I suggest that you should set aside plenty of free time to watch it. Once you start, you won't be able to stop, just like me.
One of the best Sports anime about swimming
ultimatebookmaniac22 November 2022
I really didn't expect to like an anime about swimming that much but it's really good. It's about friendship & Team spirit with exciting sports actions like races and stuff. There's also drama and comedy in it. Haru & Rin's rivalry is pretty amazing too. They used to be friends when they were young but something happened that turned them into rivals.
Here's the synopsis for this series.
"Competitive swimmer Haruka Nanase adapts to new conditions in and out of the water when he begins college, trains for new swimming competitions, and tries to repair a broken friendship with his middle school buddy, Ikuya Kirishima."
I highly recommend this series.
Here's the synopsis for this series.
"Competitive swimmer Haruka Nanase adapts to new conditions in and out of the water when he begins college, trains for new swimming competitions, and tries to repair a broken friendship with his middle school buddy, Ikuya Kirishima."
I highly recommend this series.
See also
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