Free! Unaired original short movie FrFr! ~Evaluation and impressions~

The appeal and details of "Free! Unaired original short movie FrFr! ~Free! short movie~"

"Free! Unaired Original Short Movie FrFr!~Free! short movie~" is an OVA released on September 11, 2013 by Pony Canyon. This short movie is included in the packaged version of the TV anime "Free!" and is a special piece of content that fans can't miss. Although it's only one episode and only 10 minutes long, it condenses the charm of the original work.

Overview of the work

"Free!" is an anime based on the light novel "High☆Speed!" by Kouji Ohji and produced by Kyoto Animation and Animation Do. It is directed by Hiroko Utsumi, with series composition by Masahiro Yokotani, character design by Taishi Nishiya, and music by Tatsuya Kato. It is produced by the Iwatobi High School Swimming Club and the copyright belongs to Kouji Ohji and Kyoto Animation.

Story and subtitle

"FrFr!" consists of two episodes. The first is "Makoto's Worries!" and the second is "Members Wanted!". These episodes depict the daily lives of the main characters, as well as their growth and friendships. "Makoto's Worries!" in particular depicts the inner conflict of Tachibana Makoto, highlighting his kind and fearful side. Meanwhile, in "Members Wanted!", there are many scenes in which the individual personalities of each character stand out in the process of recruiting new members for the swimming club.

Character Introduction

The appeal of "Free!" lies in its unique characters. The main characters are introduced below.

Iwatobi High School

Haruka Nanase
Specialty: Freelance (crawl)
Height: 175cm
Weight: 63kg
Birthday: June 30th Star sign: Cancer Haruka is a high school sophomore who loves to swim and has his own unique feelings about water. His quiet, yet powerful swimming style has captivated many people. He has a strong preference for free swimming.

Makoto Tachibana
Specialty: Backstroke
Height: 183cm
Weight: 73kg
Birthday: November 17th Star sign: Scorpio Makoto is Haruka's childhood friend and best friend. He is a high school sophomore. He understands Haruka well and often speaks for him. He is kind and considerate, but he also has a timid and cowardly side.

Nagisa Hazuki
Specialty: Brae (breaststroke)
Height: 165cm
Weight: 55kg
Birthday: August 1st Star sign: Leo Nagisa is a high school freshman, one year younger than Haruka. She is strong-willed and straightforward, and never wavers in her words or actions. She admired Haruka's swimming and wanted to swim with him again, so she enrolled in Haruka's high school.

Rei Ryugazaki
Height: 177cm
Weight: 65kg
Birthday: December 14th Star sign: Sagittarius Rei is a high school freshman in Nagisa's class. He was originally a member of the track and field club, but due to some circumstances, he joined the swimming club. He is an intelligent and theoretician with a high level of aesthetic sense, and for some reason, he is often at the mercy of Nagisa.

Gou Matsuoka
She is Rin's younger sister, Nagisa's classmate, and a first-year student at Iwatobi High School. She has a straightforward personality and is a person of action, and is always worried about her older brother, Rin.

Miho Amakata
She is Haruka and Makoto's homeroom teacher and a classical Japanese teacher. She is said to have been an office lady in Tokyo, but the details are unknown. She talks about famous quotes from great people of the past and has a personality that makes it hard for her to say no when someone relies on her.

Samezuka Academy

Rin Matsuoka
Specialty: Freestyle (crawl) and Butterfly
Height: 177cm
Weight: 68kg
Birthday: February 2nd Star sign: Aquarius Rin is a high school sophomore who is a rival of Haruka. She studied abroad to study swimming, but after returning to Japan, her personality changed drastically, confusing her former teammates.

Mikoshiba Seijuro <br> A third-year student at Samezuka Academy, he is the captain of the swimming club. He is 187cm tall. Although he is quick to fall in love, he is a tough and spirited young man, and possesses the skills to live up to his dignity as club president.

Aiichiro Nitori
She is a first-year student at Samezuka Academy and a member of the swimming club. She is 168cm tall. She has a straightforward and honest personality, and is Rin's roommate. She knew Rin when she was in elementary school and admires her.

Former swimming club coach

Goro Sasabe
He is a former coach at the swimming club that Haruka and her friends attended. He currently works part-time at a pizza restaurant. He has a free-spirited personality and gets very excited when he gets excited.

Cast and crew

The cast of "FrFr!" is the same as the TV series, with Shimazaki Nobunaga as Nanase Haruka, Suzuki Tatsuhisa as Tachibana Makoto, Miyano Mamoru as Matsuoka Rin, Taonaga Tsubasa as Hazuki Nagisa, Hirakawa Daisuke as Ryugasaki Rei, Watanabe Akino as Matsuoka Gou, Yukino Satsuki as Amakata Miho, Tsuda Kenjiro as Mikoshiba Seijuro, Miyata Yukiki as Nitori Aiichiro, and Ienaka Hiroshi as Sasabe Goro.

The staff is the same as the TV series, including director Utsumi Hiroko, series composition by Yokotani Masahiro, character design by Nishiya Taishi, art director Unokuchi Joji, color design by Yoneda Yuka, prop design by Akitake Saiichi, cinematographer Takao Kazuya, sound director Tsuruoka Yota, music by Kato Tatsuya, music production by Lantis, animation by Kyoto Animation and Animation Do, and production by Iwatobi High School Swim Club.

Appeal and evaluation of the work

"FrFr!" retains the charm of the TV series while maximizing the charm of the characters in a short time. In particular, fans will find new discoveries in the expressions and actions of the characters as they deal with Makoto's worries and the process of recruiting club members. In addition, the humor and warm story that are unique to OVAs will bring smiles and emotions to viewers.

This work is recommended not only for fans of the TV series, but also for those who are experiencing "Free!" for the first time. The characters' personalities, friendships, and stories of growth will surely resonate with and move many people. In addition, the beautiful swimming scenes and character designs are also highlights, so you can enjoy the visual enjoyment.

Related works and recommendations

"FrFr!" is a work produced as part of the "Free!" series, and can be enjoyed together with the TV series and other OVA works. In particular, the TV series "Free!" and "Free! -Eternal Summer-", as well as the movie "High☆Speed! -Free! Starting Days-" are must-sees to gain a deeper understanding of the characters' backgrounds and growth.

The "Free!" series is also highly regarded not only as a sports anime with a swimming theme, but also as a youth drama. It depicts many universal themes such as friendship, hard work, and the attitude of moving forward toward your dreams, making it a work that can be recommended to a wide range of people. It is a work that should especially be watched by those who like youth and sports anime.

In addition, the "Free!" series also has a rich selection of character songs and soundtracks, making it enjoyable from a musical perspective. In particular, the music by Tatsuya Kato is an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the work.

summary

"Free! Unaired Original Short Movie FrFr! ~Free! short movie~" is a special work that condenses the charm of the TV series. The story of the characters' personalities, friendships, and growth will bring smiles and emotions to viewers. The humor and warm story that is unique to OVAs is also one of the highlights, and it is recommended not only for fans but also for those who are experiencing "Free!" for the first time. Please enjoy the world of "Free!" through this work.