During a live broadcast held for the eighth anniversary of the Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club , Kyoto Animation studios revealed the production of a new animated film for the franchise, titled Free! The Final Stroke . In fact, the film will be a two-part cinematic project , with the first scheduled for September 17, 2021 and the second scheduled for April 22, 2022. The project description noted that this is the end of the franchise in general.
The franchise is based on a series of light novels written by Kouji Ouji , which received an honorable mention at the second Kyoto Animation Awards , held in 2011, and which were published in July 2013. The first twelve-episode season premiered in July 2013, followed by a thirteen episode second season in July 2014 and a twelve episode third season in July 2018.
All seasons have been produced by Kyoto Animation studios , however, the first two were directed by Hiroko Utsumi , while the third by Eisaku Kawanami . The next film in the franchise was scheduled to be released in 2020, in parallel with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. However, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed both events.
Synopsis of Free!
Haruka Nanase loves water and is passionate about swimming. In elementary school, he competed and won a relay race with his three friends Rin Matsuoka, Nagisa Hazuki, and Makoto Tachibana. After claiming victory in the tournament, the four friends went their separate ways. Years later, they meet again as high school students; However, Rin couldn't care less about going back to the way things used to be. Not only does he attend a different school, but the only important thing to him is proving that he is a better swimmer than Haruka.
After the bitter reunion, Haruka, Nagisa, and Makoto decide to form the Iwatobi High School Swimming Club, but they will need a fourth member if they hope to participate in the next tournament. Enter Rei Ryuugazaki, a former member of the track team whom Nagisa recruits. As the time to compete draws near, the four of them develop a close bond as they train intensely to emerge victorious and settle things between Haruka and Rin once and for all.
Source: Comic Natalie
(c) Uncle Koji / Kyoto Animation / Iwatobi Town Supporters Association 2019
