description Free! Starting Days Overview
Haruka Nanase and Makoto Tachibana have started middle school and must adjust to the changes that come along with growing up. While Makoto fits in with his classmates and remains positive about swimming, Haruka struggles to befriend others or join his school's swim club, as his previous issues with swimming trouble him. Distancing himself from his lively classmates and the swimming club, he has difficulty deciding which club to join instead. The rest of his classmates, including Makoto, are also hesitant as to which clubs to participate in.
After an argument leads them to join the swimming club anyway, the boys strive to hone their skills, harmonize their swimming styles, and refine their co...
help Free! Starting Days FAQ
Is Free! Starting Days a movie or a TV series, and where does it fit in the timeline?
Free! Starting Days is a 2015 theatrical anime film that serves as a prequel, depicting Haruka Nanase and Makoto Tachibana during their middle school years. It bridges the gap between the characters' elementary school days shown in flashbacks and their high school story in the Free! TV anime. The film is part of the broader Free! franchise produced by Kyoto Animation and Animation Do.
Do I need to watch the Free! TV series before Starting Days?
Starting Days can be watched on its own, but it is best appreciated after seeing the first season of Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club, as it provides emotional context for Haruka's characterization. The film expands on backstory elements that the TV series only briefly showed in flashbacks. Watching the TV series first also helps you understand why Haruka's middle school struggles matter to the larger narrative.
What is the main conflict in Free! Starting Days?
The film focuses on Haruka's difficulty adjusting to middle school, where he struggles to connect with new teammates and reconcile his complicated feelings about competitive swimming. Makoto, by contrast, adapts more easily and tries to encourage Haruka to rejoin the swim club. The story explores why Haruka temporarily distances himself from the medley relay before rediscovering his passion for swimming with others.
Who directed and produced Free! Starting Days?
The film was produced by Kyoto Animation (KyoAni) and Animation Do, the same studios behind the Free! television series and other films in the franchise. It was directed by Yasuhiro Takemoto, a respected director at Kyoto Animation known for his work on The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya and Hyouka. Takemoto also directed other entries in the Free! film series.
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