Free!

Free! is a Japanese anime television series that originally aired in 2013, featuring the voice of Nobunaga Shimazaki as Haruka Nanase. The story revolves around a group of high school boys with a shared passion for competitive swimming. After their middle school swim team disbands, Haruka reunites with his friends Rin Matsuoka and Makoto Tachibana, rekindling old rivalries and friendship while striving to compete at the highest levels. The series combines sports action with themes of friendship, personal growth, and the pursuit of dreams, set against beautifully animated swimming sequences and emotional storytelling. Free! has garnered a passionate fanbase for its character-driven narrative and delicate portrayal of adolescent experiences.

Free! received generally positive reviews from audiences and critics alike, praised particularly for its animation quality and character development. On IMDb, it holds a respectable rating of 7.3/10, indicating solid viewer approval. Many reviewers appreciate the fluidity and detail of the swimming scenes, which are both exhilarating and beautifully rendered. Anime News Network highlighted the series’ ability to combine sports excitement with heartfelt friendships, stating that "Free! captures the intensity of competition while exploring the complexities of youth." However, some critics note that the show relies heavily on fan service, which might detract from the narrative for some viewers. Rotten Tomatoes has not provided an aggregated critic score for Free!, but user reviews on various platforms often mention the series' unique appeal to fans of shonen sports anime and those looking for character-driven stories. Metacritic does not have a rating for the show, reflecting its more niche presence outside mainstream western media. Overall, Free! is praised for being visually impressive and emotionally resonant, appealing strongly to fans of character-centric anime and sports dramas.