Free !: The Final Stroke cancels its next promo video due to OLDCODEX hiatus

On the official site for the film project Free !: The Final Stroke it was announced that since the musical group OLDCODEX announced the suspension of its activities, the release of the CD with the musical theme of the first film, scheduled for next September 15 in Japan, it has been canceled. Additionally, since the musical theme cannot be used, the revelation of the promotional video of the project, scheduled for next August 19, has been canceled.

The production committee for the Free! explained that the decision to stop the song's release came after multiple discussions between the production committee and the label's staff in charge of OLDCODEX . The anime staff made the promo video with the theme music, and it would have been difficult to change the song at this point before Thursday. Instead, the staff will announce other new details about the film on Friday. On the other hand, the first film of the project will be released in Japanese theaters on September 17, 2021, while the second is scheduled for April 22, 2022. Since its announcement, the description of the project indicated that it is the end of the franchise in general.

Tatsuhisa Suzuki , the lead singer of OLDCODEX and the voice of Makoto Tachibana from the Free! Franchise . , announced on August 4 that he is temporarily withdrawing from activities in the entertainment industry due to poor health. OLDCODEX announced the same day a suspension of activities. Five minutes before the OLDCODEX announcement, singer LiSA , who is Suzuki's wife, also announced a hiatus " from some of her activities " due to mental and physical fatigue. LiSA and Suzuki announced their marriage in January 2020. Weekly Bunshun magazine reported on July 30 an alleged extramarital affair between Suzuki and a co-worker.

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: Free! The Final Stroke films' website via Ota-Suke