Rediscover the excitement of High☆Speed! What is the appeal of "Free! Starting Days"?

The appeal and evaluation of "High☆Speed! -Free! Starting Days-"

"High☆Speed! -Free! Starting Days-" is a theatrical animation released on December 5, 2015, and is based on a light novel by Oji Koji. This work is a youth story with a swimming theme, depicting the growth and friendship of the main characters. Below, we will introduce detailed information and reviews of this work, as well as recommended points.

Overview

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

Light novel

■ Release date

December 5, 2015 - January 1, 0000

■Distribution company

Shochiku

■Frequencies

110 minutes

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Ojikoji

■ Director

Yasuhiro Takemoto

■ Production

・Animation production: Kyoto Animation

■Works

©2015 Oji Koji, Kyoto Animation, High Speed ​​Production Committee

story

"High☆Speed! -Free! Starting Days-" is the story of the main character Nanase Haru and his friends. Haru has loved swimming since he was a child, and was especially passionate about freestyle swimming. However, when he entered junior high school, the swimming club was disbanded. However, Haru did not give up on swimming, and decided to start a new swimming club with his friends. This story depicts Haru and his friends overcoming difficulties and moving forward towards their dreams.

character

There are many fascinating characters in this work. The main characters are introduced below.

• Nanase Haru : The main character. A freestyle swimmer, he has a strong passion for swimming. He has a calm and cool personality, but he also cares for his teammates.
• Makoto Tachibana : Haruka's childhood friend and a backstroke swimmer. She has a bright and kind personality and supports Haruka.
• Matsuoka Rin : Haruka's rival, a butterfly swimmer. She hates to lose and always tries to surpass Haruka.
• Nagisa Hazuki : Haruka's friend and a breaststroke swimmer. She has a lively and cheerful personality and is the mood maker of the team.

Animation and Music

"High☆Speed! -Free! Starting Days-" features high-quality animation by Kyoto Animation. The depiction of the swimming scenes is particularly beautiful, with the movement of the water and the expressions of the swimmers reproduced realistically. Music is also an important element in livening up the atmosphere of the work. The theme song, "Dried Up Youthful Fame," is performed by OLDCODEX and sings of the passionate feelings of youth.

Evaluation and Impressions

This work has been highly praised as a coming-of-age anime. In particular, the portrayal of character growth and friendship is moving, and it has been well received by many viewers. In addition, the story, which is told through the sport of swimming, has many visually appealing elements and is well worth watching. Director Yasuhiro Takemoto carefully portrays the emotions of the characters, deeply moving viewers.

This work is also a prequel to the "Free!" series, and is important for understanding the background of the entire series. It is a must-see for fans of the "Free!" series.

Recommended points

Below are some reasons why we recommend "High☆Speed! -Free! Starting Days-".

• Youth story : The touching story of the protagonists' growth and friendship is appealing. It is especially recommended for those who like youth anime.
• Beautiful animation : Kyoto Animation's high-quality animation realistically reproduces the beauty of the swimming scenes and the characters' facial expressions.
• Music : The theme song and background music set the atmosphere of the work and elicit emotions from the viewer.
• For fans of the Free! series : As a prequel to the Free! series, this is an important work in understanding the background of the entire series. A must-watch for fans of the series.

Related Titles

"High☆Speed! -Free! Starting Days-" is a work that was produced as part of the "Free!" series. Related works are introduced below.

• "Free!" : A TV anime series that aired in 2013. It depicts Nanase Haruka and her friends as high school students and their activities in the swimming club.
• "Free! -Eternal Summer-" : A sequel to "Free!", which aired in 2014. It depicts confrontations with new rivals and character growth.
• "Free! -Dive to the Future-" : The latest series of "Free!" aired in 2018. It depicts the new challenges faced by Haruka and his friends as they become university students.

summary

"High☆Speed! -Free! Starting Days-" is a moving work that depicts youth and friendship. The beautiful animation and music, as well as the story woven by the charming characters, will deeply touch the viewer. This work is recommended not only for fans of the "Free!" series, but also for those who like youth anime. Through this work, you can feel the charm of the sport of swimming and the brilliance of youth as you chase your dreams with your friends.