High Speed! Free! Starting Days
A prequel film exploring the junior high origins of Free! characters.
High Speed! Free! Starting Days is a 2015 Japanese animated film from Kyoto Animation and Animation Do. It loosely adapts the first volume of Koji Oji’s High Speed! light novels, which originally inspired the Free! anime series. The story follows Haruka Nanase during his junior high years, as he and his friends join the swim team and discover the importance of teamwork.
The plot begins with Haruka starting his first year at Iwatobi Middle School. After learning that Haruka and his childhood friend Makoto Tachibana were once members of the Iwatobi Swim Club, Asahi Shiina pushes them to rejoin, despite Haruka’s reluctance. Kisumi Shigino suggests basketball instead, but swim team captain Natsuya Kirishima visits their class and persuades Haruka, Makoto, Asahi, and his younger brother Ikuya to join. At the first practice, Haruka ties Natsuya in a race to secure the right to swim only freestyle. Asahi loses confidence, while Ikuya, frustrated by Natsuya’s admiration of Haruka, starts imitating Haruka to regain his brother’s attention. Vice captain Nao Serizawa asks Makoto whether he truly enjoys swimming or just follows Haruka, causing confusion and distance between the friends. The team’s individual struggles hurt their performance, especially in the medley. After Haruka’s mother leaves for a week, he stays alone. During a joint practice with Sano Middle School, Sosuke Yamazaki challenges Haruka to a race, having heard about him from rival Rin Matsuoka. Iwatobi loses the team medley, and Sosuke gives Haruka a letter from Rin. As the team reflects on the loss, Haruka confronts Makoto about his odd behavior, leading Makoto to realize he loves both swimming and Haruka, restoring their bond. Ikuya later threatens to quit, confessing loneliness and feeling abandoned by Natsuya. After the group affirms their friendship, Ikuya reconciles with his brother. They visit Nao, who is undergoing surgery for a detached retina; he advises them on their individual and collective strengths, giving them hope. On the way home, Haruka faints, so Makoto, Asahi, and Ikuya stay at his house until his mother returns. At the prefectural tournament, the four place first in the team medley. Sosuke then tells Haruka that Rin’s letter, though addressed to him, was likely meant for Haruka.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Yasuhiro Takemoto
- Writer
- Masahiro Yokotani / Maiko Nishioka
- Based On
- High Speed! · Koji Oji
- Starring
- Nobunaga Shimazaki · Tatsuhisa Suzuki · Toshiyuki Toyonaga · Kouki Uchiyama · Mamoru Miyano · Yoshimasa Hosoya · Kenji Nojima · Satoshi Hino · Chihiro Suzuki
- Music
- Tatsuya Kato
- Cinematography
- Kazuya Takao
- Studio
- Kyoto Animation · Animation Do
- Distributor
- Shochiku
- Released
- 5 December 2015
- Runtime
- 110 minutes
- Country
- Japan
- Language
- Japanese
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The film follows Haruka Nanase as he begins his first year at Iwatobi Middle School. After discovering that Haruka and his childhood friend Makoto Tachibana had once been part of the Iwatobi Swim Club, Asahi Shiina urges them to join the swim team despite Haruka's lack of interest. Natsuya Kirishima, the captain of the swim team, visits their class and successfully convinces Haruka, Makoto, Asahi, and his younger brother Ikuya to join. At the first swim practice, Haruka ties Natsuya in a race for the right to swim only freestyle. Asahi loses confidence in swimming, and Ikuya becomes frustrated over Natsuya's admiration of Haruka's skill. Nao Serizawa, the vice captain, asks Makoto if he enjoys swimming or is only in the club to be with Haruka, causing distance between the best friends. During a joint practice with Sano Middle School, Sosuke Yamazaki challenges Haruka to a match race, having heard about him from Rin Matsuoka. Iwatobi loses the team medley, and Sosuke gives Haruka Rin's letter detailing Rin's setbacks in Australia. After confronting Makoto, the two restore their bond. Ikuya threatens to quit but confides his loneliness, and the four friends affirm their friendship. They visit Nao, who is getting surgery for a detached retina, and he offers advice on their strengths. Haruka faints, and his friends stay at his house until his mother returns. At the prefectural tournament, the team places first in the team medley. Sosuke tells Haruka that Rin's letter was probably meant for him, and Haruka becomes determined to become a better swimmer with his team.
Reader's Guide
High Speed! Free! Starting Days serves as a prequel to the Free! television series, providing backstory for key characters such as Haruka Nanase, Makoto Tachibana, and Rin Matsuoka. The film explores themes of teamwork, individual struggle, and friendship, as the junior high students learn to work together as a swim team. It was released to moderate success, ranking #5 on its opening weekend and earning ¥691 million at the box office. The film was nominated for Best Picture in the Newtype Anime Awards and ranked #3 in Animation of the Year by fans for the 2017 Tokyo Anime Award. Its home release debuted at #1 on both Oricon's DVD and Blu-ray charts. Funimation licensed the film for North American release in 2018 along with Free! Timeless Medley and Free! Take Your Marks. The film's significance lies in expanding the Free! universe and deepening the emotional arcs of its characters, particularly Haruka's journey toward understanding the value of swimming with a team.
Did You Know?
- The film is loosely based on the second volume of the High Speed! light novels by Koji Oji.
- The film's theme song 'Aching Horns' was performed by Oldcodex and debuted at #10 on Oricon.
- The film opened at #5 in 120 theaters nationwide, selling 60,729 tickets in the first two days.
- The limited edition Blu-ray release sold 14,642 copies in its first week.
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