Free! Starting Days
Synopsis — from MyAnimeList
Haruka Nanase and Makoto Tachibana have started middle school and must adjust to the changes that come along with growing up. While Makoto fits in with his classmates and remains positive about swimming, Haruka struggles to befriend others or join his school's swim club, as his previous issues with swimming trouble him. Distancing himself from his lively classmates and the swimming club, he has difficulty deciding which club to join instead. The rest of his classmates, including Makoto, are also hesitant as to which clubs to participate in. After an argument leads them to join the swimming club anyway, the boys strive to hone their skills, harmonize their swimming styles, and refine their conflicting feelings toward swimming and each other. As determination and talent run high, Haruka and Makoto—along with their classmates—discover themselves and improve their talents during their starting days.
Audience Consensus
The audience largely appreciates 'High☆Speed!: Free! Starting Days' for its stunning animation, character development, and emotional depth, particularly regarding the Haruka-Makoto relationship. While some viewers find the story repetitive and the ending abrupt, the overall sentiment is positive, especially among fans of the franchise who value its core themes of friendship and overcoming personal struggles.
Strengths
- Outstanding and detailed art style, especially backgrounds and water animation.
- Strong character development for both new and familiar characters, making them relatable and emotionally invested.
- Excellent portrayal and development of the central friendship between Haruka and Makoto.
- High-quality animation and fluid character movements.
- Engaging and emotional story that effectively explores themes of friendship, self-acceptance, and overcoming challenges.
- Stellar soundtrack and music that complements the emotional tone of the film.
Weaknesses
- The story can feel repetitive, following a predictable 'new beginning, hardship, resolution' formula seen in previous installments.
- Some plot points feel awkward or shoehorned in.
- The ending felt abrupt to some viewers.
- Voice acting for younger characters sometimes sounded unrealistic due to deep tones.
- Some viewers felt the movie didn't add much new context to the overall franchise.
- The pacing starts slow and can be boring at times.