Free! -Eternal Summer- – 01
OP Sequence
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OP: 「Dried Up Youthful Fame」 by OLDCODEX
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「嵐のダイブダッシュ!」 (Arashi no Daibudasshu!)
“Stormy Dive-Dash!”
Everyone’s favorite swim team is back in action!
Iwatobi Swim Club!
After last season’s anti-climatic ending with Rin and company getting Iwatobi’s swim team disqualified from the competition that they spent the entire season preparing for, I was happily surprised as the story skipped over the rest of the school year and started fresh with a new school year. What I wasn’t happy for was what felt like Kyoani pushing the reset button as Makoto made his typical trip to pick up a habitually late Haru.
Luckily after the eerily similar opening sequence, the show wasted no time getting us back into the gist of things. Throwing the idea of recapping last season to the wind, this first episode quickly setup the new challenges that everyone will need to tackle all while giving off a sense of urgency. While I can’t put my finger on it, it just feels like time and its scarcity is going to play a factor this season.
Why so Serious?
While it may be a little too early to say since we’re only one episode in, I am really hoping this second season takes itself a little more seriously and really becomes the swimming anime I know it can be. Sure there will always be a bunch of shots for those who watch the show just for the muscles but I’m praying that Kyoani does something more with this show then just pander to its huge fan following. I can get behind all the new cosplay possibilities after seeing such a corny ending sequence but I hope we get things that follow a bit closer to the opening — awesome swimming sequences that really show off just how cool swimming is.
MUSCLES, MUSCLES, and MORE MUSCLES!
This is a bit obligatory but aren’t we all happy that Gou made her fabulous reappearance by going crazy over the muscles she loves? Sure she’s a side character who probably won’t get as much screen time as she deserves but it’s nice to see her get a little of the spotlight. While I’m not sure if I approve of her wanting Rin to rip his shirt off so he could display his muscles for all to see, I’m just going to chalk that up with Gou just going with the flow of things.
Looking Ahead
Overall, a pretty decent episode. With the main cast from last season all returning, a new rival for Haru just waiting for an introduction, and Rin getting super serious about the future, I’m really hoping it all adds up to a slightly more serious Free!. While it remains to be seen whether or not we can stomach another childhood story where a long lost bro tries to rekindle the old flames of friendship (or maybe competition in this case), I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see. All I know for sure though is I really hope Rei doesn’t end up getting shafted this time around :/.
Hope you enjoyed the post! A couple of the shows I’m previewing / covering may come out a little later than usual this week since I’m currently in LA for #anime-expo. If you’re here I’d love to see you! Thanks for understanding and I’ll see you later!
ED Sequence
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ED: 「FUTURE FISH」 by STYLE FIVE (Iwatobi High School Swim Team)
Preview
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End Card
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July 3, 2014 at 6:48 amTerrorhunt
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https://38.media.tumblr.com/27bbab969265946e6c5f66cc8639226d/tumblr_n83fb6vIYq1qh6swzo1_500.gif
July 3, 2014 at 7:02 amShiden
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I’ll do you one better. :)
http://i.imgur.com/6oidO7R.gif
July 3, 2014 at 8:11 amZero Destiny
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Honestly, it’s really sad and disappointing that you guys are actually following this. Hopefully, you will stop making reviews about this show.
July 3, 2014 at 8:20 amTerrorhunt
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I’m not following the show. The gif are too awesome not to share.
July 3, 2014 at 8:33 amGermanguy
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What? You dont let the Girls have their Enjoyment?
July 3, 2014 at 8:49 amIt’s K-On! but with dudes swimminf
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Typical sexist and homophobic dudebro who’s butthurt that Kyoani’s latest anime doesn’t have cute girls doing cute things.
Cry me a river dude; it’s basically K-On! but with dudes swimming dumbass.
July 3, 2014 at 9:05 amdudeinthesun
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So it is okay to have fan-service for for male audiences but it is not for female audiences.
I don’t get you’re butthurt logic mate.
July 4, 2014 at 4:42 pmneemz
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@It’s K-On! but with dudes swimminf
Not really, K-On! never put as much emphasis on sex appeal. Not that there’s anything wrong with this being the way it is; it’s just not the best comparison.
July 4, 2014 at 4:56 pmneemz
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To add to that, what’s with this pompous attitude that anyone who dislikes Free! is automatically a sexist homophobe? What does that make people who dislike fan service shows catered to males? Those get plenty of shit as well if not more but you don’t see fans starting a riot over it every freaking time.
Nothing against Free!; just pointing out that the double standards are coming from both sides.
July 3, 2014 at 6:51 amCybersteel
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This.
July 16, 2014 at 6:09 pmskysters
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Mmm mmm mmm, please handcuff me Officer Rin
July 3, 2014 at 7:05 amZhinvu
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You bet Takaii it’s great to see Gou-chan again. Hoping to also see more of Ama-chan-sensei, and maybe more details of her Marin-chan days. In terms of the story, it’s good to see Rin being more friendly since last season he was more of the bad guy, and he’s doing a pretty good job taking over as captain. I’m guessing the antagonist role this time is gonna be filled by this Sousuke character.
July 3, 2014 at 7:45 amIrenesharda
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While I like Gou, and she is a good female character, I’m female and I’m here for the guys! LOL
I loved the last season, and I can already tell I’m going to love this one as well. And while as a girl, it’s nice to see a bit of manservice instead of the tons and tons of fanservice going around, but all and all, I really look at Free! because of the relationships between all these guys, with the awesome swimming competition as an excellent backdrop. I loved last season’s ending, since even though they were disqualified, my interest was on the relationship between Rin and his former friends, rather than the competition itself. And now that they’ve patched things up, I’m looking forward to seeing what new drama will enter their lives now, as well as what they will end up planning for the future. I’m just hoping they do something different with Sousuke and he doesn’t end up being Rin 2.0.
I really loved this first episode, and this summer season has already started out on a high note!
Also, the OP and ED were good, while the songs of last season were better, the images were awesome here. I mean, merman Haru and policeman Rin? Be still, my beating heart…
July 3, 2014 at 7:49 amzztop
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Ladies, you may commence fangirling now. (⌒.−)＝★
July 3, 2014 at 7:53 amstarss
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It’s okay, ladies. You can start drooling AGAIN.
July 3, 2014 at 8:04 amveriviette
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Hurray! Glad to see that Free!’s getting covered here. :D
July 3, 2014 at 5:28 pmZannafar
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It’s not yet confirmed that it will be continued to be covered.
And Takaii already wants to do two other series.
July 3, 2014 at 8:06 amlazydaisyq
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http://randomc.net/image/Free/Free%20Eternal%20Summer%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2005.jpg
http://randomc.net/image/Free/Free%20Eternal%20Summer%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2010.jpg highlight of the show.fangirls be screaming
July 3, 2014 at 8:09 amSDFGS
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Just in comparison IMO, this seasons pilot was a lot stronger than the first season pilot (though songs are currently tied). I got to say…..MIKOSHIBA Noooo!!! I have a feeling that this fearsome new swimmer he’s talking about is his (little brother?) aka: that one guy in the op with NItori that looks like Miko’s freaking son, because I’m having my doubts that Miko actually knew who Sousuke? was.
I do agree takaii, they do need to step up the serious meter a little bit, but not with a bunch of teenage melodrama angst. This is just to prove to others that this show can be taken seriously enough on its own merits.
July 3, 2014 at 8:17 amzztop
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High Speed! LN vol 2 has just been released, and will cover Haruka’s middle school years.
http://sunyshore.tumblr.com/post/90532872132/all-high-speed-2-illustrations-in-order-of
Sosuke makes an appearance there, together with new characters Kirishima Ikuya(black hair), Shiina Asahi(red hair), and Serizawa Nao(gray hair,also Iwatobi Middle’s swim manager).
http://www.crunchyroll.com/forumtopic-804753/free-discussion-thread-season-1-2?pg=99#46731501
Hopefully the novel gets web-translated soon.
July 3, 2014 at 8:37 amCherrie
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I really enjoyed the OP and ED last year but the animation for this year’s ED is just so hilarious but fun. I love ALL their outfits =3 especially Rin’s (and Makoto’s)… it’s so stereotypical of me to love a man in a uniform =X
I’m not too much of a fangirl for this show, but it is nice to see some familiar faces =) I’m surprised by how much I remember even though I didn’t follow this show too closely last year.
July 3, 2014 at 12:16 pmScruffy
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The ed was like watching one of those male reviews! We had the hunky fireman, the cop, the spacesuit??? well apart from the spacesuit it was one!
July 3, 2014 at 8:44 amzztop
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Season 1′s ED was a Top 10 hit on Japan’s music charts, so I wonder if history will repeat itself for this new ED.
Also, Officer Rin > Magic Mike. :P
July 3, 2014 at 8:50 ambelatkuro
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http://randomc.net/image/Free/Free%20Eternal%20Summer%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2015.jpg
>mfw more kin’niku
>mfw more Gou
>mfw that ED
July 3, 2014 at 9:50 amCybersteel
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More Gou is never bad.
July 3, 2014 at 8:51 amNoZaku
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Is someone only blogging this series because they are a KyoAni drone?
July 3, 2014 at 3:02 pmHeroman010
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Either you have something against people who do not share similar interests as you do, or you are a homophobic sexist prick. Either way, you are wasting your time stating your dislike for this anime when all you can simply do is just simply ignore it.
July 4, 2014 at 11:36 amLyfe
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More like because this is a good, and enjoyable series. This episode was good too.
July 4, 2014 at 7:31 pmLyfe
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2 downvotes for saying I like the show? Weird.
I guess 2 insecure trolls got upset lol.
July 3, 2014 at 8:58 amYoungGun
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I am so glad Free! is back and thanks to Takaii for reviewing. That officer Rin gyrating gif from the ED is totally mesmerising :D
July 3, 2014 at 2:27 pmCrunchie
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I love how the ED is in The Rocks, Sydney~
July 3, 2014 at 2:29 pmberrish17
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Ahhhhhhh Free! is back!!! Thanks for the review and screenshots!
OMG Sosuke’s voice is Hosoya-san….LOVE IT <3
As always, Kyoto Animation never fails the beauty of artwork!!!
Pretty hilarious on the club introduction when they appealed their muscles.lol (especially the reaction of the students)
So excited for next episode <3
July 3, 2014 at 3:30 pmSDFGS
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fan girls this, fan girls that, there are guys that actually watch this show (and not all of them gay).
July 4, 2014 at 8:34 amMincemaker
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I watch this green-eyed, envious of their abs and biceps.
July 3, 2014 at 5:14 pmKF
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I like the anime but somehow I felt that Kyoani had sacrificed some semblance of dignity with this episode…
July 3, 2014 at 7:54 pmRakeene
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KyoAni high quality muscles & water… sweet.
July 3, 2014 at 9:45 pmSkinsthunderbomb
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I wish the captain didn’t have to leave ;_;
July 3, 2014 at 10:19 pmzztop
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I think no one joined the Swim Club because all the muscles made them insecure in exposing their own bodies. :P
July 4, 2014 at 12:19 amsosbrigade1991
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It never fails to amuse me that the biggest amount of wank over this show comes from the dudes who get off on harem shows and little sister porn. Seriously, get over yourself.
July 4, 2014 at 2:11 amKanade
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Honestly speaking, despite being a girl thi sshow is boring. I only watch it for muscles, since I’m a freak like Gou. More like, watching the series for Makoto, Matsuoka, and Mikoshiba xD But no script in the first season, and I doubt there wil lbe a decent plotline in the second season. Fanservice only. Oh, and the soundtrack’s not bad.
July 4, 2014 at 2:53 amonion warrior
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I FREAKING LOVE THE ED ON THIS ONE.
Makoto and fireman’s jumpsuit, really puts me on fire XDDDD
More Kou pleaseee! and Ama-chan too!
July 4, 2014 at 8:05 amMurasaki
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Hosoyan and Mamo being on the same show again is giving me Chihayafuru feels.
MAKOTO. BABY GOT BACK. :DDDD Uniformed Rin has fulfilled half of my fantasies for the season, da-yum!
July 4, 2014 at 9:25 ampole
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Great Post Cool !
July 4, 2014 at 10:23 pmrandom viewer
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Will I be expecting another review post for the 2nd episode next water time, Takaii? Because this made my day. ;} Oh and I can’t get enough of Free’s OST.
July 5, 2014 at 6:56 amdrifters
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It’s kinda funny how some people are so homophobic about shows such as this, yet they are fine with shows like wrestling, which feature oiled guys in trunks, groping each other.
July 6, 2014 at 12:51 amMAJKA
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You will make it appear simple together with your display even so to find this matter to become genuinely something that I do think We would hardly ever recognize. It sort of feels far too complex and extremely huge for me. We’re searching ahead of time with your up coming article, I most certainly will try and find the hang on of computer!
July 9, 2014 at 5:55 pmCassandra
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I’m not sure Sosuke will be Haru’s rival just saw the episode but don’t get those vibes. I’ll be fun to see what actually does happen with him being introduced. I get the feeling he’ll cause Rin more problems than anything else.
The ED, oh gosh, it got even more hilarious than last year’s ED. So cute. Thanks for covering.
July 10, 2014 at 10:44 pmDan
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What’s the rap called the one in the middle of ep 2
July 19, 2014 at 6:20 pmAshen-phoenix
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Gah! I’d love, love, love it if RC could cover Free!’s season 2. I’ve only seen 2 episodes but I’m enjoying how things are shaping up.
July 24, 2014 at 7:38 amMiaminights
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Swiming animation is looking good. The skycam like follow of Rin and Haruka is dope (Was that effect in s01? Cant recall). Love the water animation, HAruka basically gripping water in the first race against Rin. Brilliant.
That ED. LAWL
July 24, 2014 at 7:42 amMiaminights
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Oh and yes more Gou AND Ama-chan (But mainly for her clunky phrases to inspire the team!…..).