The story is pretty simple: former swimming teammates get together again in high school and start a new club. The character typologies are pretty stereotypical at first glance: we have the quiet guy, the nurturing one, the glasses character, and the sweet Honey-senpai-like figure who sometimes ends up being the most reasonable one. On the other side, we have Rin Matsuoka, a childhood friend and now-rival of the newly-formed Iwatobi Club. It all seems pretty basic until you get into the show and realize how well the character development has been elaborated, considering this is a sports anime.
Besides the usual comedy and drama, these characters have issues that are very relatable to anyone who has ever felt pressure from their friends, parents, teachers etc. This anime made me feel nostalgic about high school and the friends I gained there.
The art is absolutely breathtaking, I never would have thought that it would be done with such beautiful care and precision. The same goes for the music, including the opening and ending sequences which have become sort of a meme in their own right.
Overall, I enjoyed Free! much, much more than I originally thought I would, and if anyone thinks that sports animes are not their cup of tea, maybe they should start with this one.
