Free!

Plot

The story is set in Iwatobi, Japan, and follows high school student Haruka Nanase, a gifted swimmer. After encountering his childhood rival Rin Matsuoka from Samezuka Academy, Haruka and his friends revive Iwatobi High School's swim team. The team includes his childhood friends Makoto Tachibana and Nagisa Hazuki, along with Rei Ryugazaki. As the team trains for tournaments, Haruka and Rin's rivalry intensifies due to Rin's setbacks, though a medley relay during the prefectural tournament reminds Rin of their friendship.

In Free! Eternal Summer, Haruka faces uncertainty about his future after graduation, while Rin's friend Sosuke Yamazaki transfers to Samezuka with a hidden shoulder injury. Haruka becomes overwhelmed by pressure from scouts and withdraws socially after learning Makoto plans to attend university in Tokyo. With friends' help and a trip to Sydney, he decides to continue swimming at the college level.

In Free! Dive to the Future, Haruka attends Hidaka University and reconnects with junior high friends, including Ikuya Kirishima, who resents their former team's dissolution. Haruka trains in other strokes to make amends and competes in an Individual Medley with Ikuya, committing to global competition. In Free!

The Final Stroke, Haruka, Rin, Ikuya, and others make the Japan National Swim Team and compete globally. The second volume shows them winning gold medals in a medley race and becoming national champions.

Characters

Haruka Nanase specializes in freestyle and has a captivating swimming style. He is quiet and struggles to express feelings, living alone after his grandmother's death. He initially quit competitive swimming after a falling out with Rin but regained his passion upon Rin's return. In Eternal Summer, he decides to swim competitively at a higher level.

In Dive to the Future, he competes in the All-Japan Invitational and commits to global success. In Final Stroke, he becomes a world-class swimmer. Makoto Tachibana specializes in backstroke and is Haruka's best friend. He is outgoing and understands Haruka well, but develops thalassophobia after a childhood trauma.

In Eternal Summer, he becomes a part-time swim coach and pursues it professionally. In Dive to the Future, he trains professional swimmers including Haruka and Rin. In Final Stroke, he becomes a professional trainer. Nagisa Hazuki specializes in breaststroke and is cheerful and outspoken.

He admires Haruka's swimming and enrolls at Iwatobi High School to swim with him, initiating the team's reorganization. In Dive to the Future, he remains a key member of the swim club after Haruka and Makoto graduate. In Final Stroke, he graduates high school and enters Naribusawa University, mentoring Kaede. Rei Ryugazaki is also a team member.

Media

Animation Do released a splash image for a new project in April 2012, followed by a television commercial in March 2013 that went viral. Kyoto Animation announced the series on April 26, 2013. The 12-episode first season aired in Japan from July 4 to September 26, 2013, on Tokyo MX, and was streamed on Niconico and simulcast by Crunchyroll. It was released on six BD and DVD volumes between September 2013 and February 2014.

A 13-episode second season, Free! Eternal Summer, aired from July 2 to September 24, 2014. Funimation licensed it for North America. Discotek Media released the first season on DVD with English subtitles; an English dub later appeared on Crunchyroll and on Blu-ray/DVD from Crunchyroll and Funimation on May 9, 2017.

A 12-episode third season, Free! Dive to the Future, aired from July 11 to September 26, 2018, with Eisaku Kawanami directing. An animated film, High Speed! Free!

Starting Days, was released on December 5, 2015, directed by Yasuhiro Takemoto. A film trilogy in 2017 included compilations of seasons one and two and new vignettes in Free! Take Your Marks. A compilation film for season three, Free!

Road to the World - the Dream, debuted in July 2019. The final film duology, Free! The Final Stroke, was released in two parts: Part 1 in September 2021 and Part 2 in April 2022.