What comes after free road to the world?

On the surface, Free! comes off an anime that serves no other purpose other than catering to male fan-service. The lean physique of the swimmers, their well-defined torsos, and perfect swimming strokes are just the flashy cover of an otherwise toned-down slice of life sports anime.

The plot revolves around a high-school swim team, competing in various tournaments, and making you have conflicting thoughts about teen anime boys.

Swimming is a sport that is extremely tedious to animate because of the synchronized hand-feet movements and occasional breathing pauses. The transition from a normal stroke to a summersault to a stroke again is quite impressive with no delay.

If you miss swimming during this pandemic, then dive into the refreshing world of Free! Even if you don’t, just watch it for the amazing story and characters!

1. Release Order

I. TV Series

  • Season 1: Free! (2013)
  • Season 2: Free! Eternal Summer (2014)
  • Season 3: Free! Dive to the Future (2018)

II. Movies

  • High Speed! Free! Starting Days (2015)
  • Free! Movie 1: Timeless Medley – Kizuna (2017)
  • Free! Movie 1: Timeless Medley – Kizuna – Character Butai Aisatsu (2017)
  • Free! Movie 2: Timeless Medley – Yakusoku (2017)
  • Free! Movie 2: Timeless Medley – Yakusoku: Character Butai Aisatsu (2017)
  • Free! Take Your Marks (2017)
  • Free! Take Your Marks: Character Butai Aisatsu (2017)
  • Free! Movie 3: Road to the World – Yume (2019)
  • Free! Movie 4: The Final Stroke – Zenpen (2021)
  • Free! Movie 5: The Final Stroke – Kouhen (2022)

III. Specials

  • Free! FrFr – Short Movie (2013)
  • Free! Eternal Summer – Kindan no All Hard! (2015)
  • Free! Dive to the Future Episode 0 – Soushun no build up! (2018)

2. Chronological Order

  • High Speed! Free! Starting Days
  • Season 1: Free!
  • Free! FrFr – Short Movie
  • Free! Movie 1: Timeless Medley – Kizuna
  • Season 2: Free! Eternal Summer
  • Free! Eternal Summer – Kindan no All Hard!
  • Free! Movie 2: Timeless Medley – Yakusoku
  • Free! Take Your Marks
  • Free! Dive to the Future Episode 0 – Soushun no build up!
  • Season 3: Free! Dive to the Future
  • Free! Movie 3: Road to the World – Yume
  • Free! Movie 4: The Final Stroke – Zenpen
  • Free! Movie 5: The Final Stroke – Kouhen

3. How Much Time Will It Take to Complete Watching Free!?

Assuming you would take the longer route and watch the series, the movies, and the specials; it will take you 28 hours and 18 minutes to finish them all, which counts to 2 days approximately.

  • High Speed! Free! Starting Days – 110 minutes
  • Season 1: Free! – 288 minutes
  • Free! FrFr – Short Movie – 14 minutes
  • Free! Movie 1: Timeless Medley – Kizuna – Character Butai Aisatsu – 16 minutes
  • Free! Movie 1: Timeless Medley – Kizuna – 95 minutes
  • Season 2: Free! Eternal Summer – 312 minutes
  • Free! Eternal Summer – Kindan no All Hard! – 24 minutes
  • Free! Movie 2: Timeless Medley – Yakusoku: Character Butai Aisatsu – 20 minutes
  • Free! Movie 2: Timeless Medley – Yakusoku – 98 minutes
  • Free! Take Your Marks: Character Butai Aisatsu – 20 minutes
  • Free! Take Your Marks – 108 minutes
  • Free! Dive to the Future Episode 0 – Soushun no build up! – 23 minutes
  • Season 3: Free! Dive to the Future – 276 minutes
  • Free! Movie 3: Road to the World – Yume – 99 minutes
  • Free! Movie 4: The Final Stroke – Zenpen – 85 minutes
  • Free! Movie 5: The Final Stroke – Kouhen – 110 minutes

4. Conclusion

The recommended order to watch Free! is its release order.

The following movies are just summary movies, so you can skip them. Character Butai Aisatsu are character stage greeting manner specials shown before the main movie, so you can skip them as well.

  • Free! Movie 1: Timeless Medley – Kizuna
  • Free! Movie 1: Timeless Medley – Kizuna – Character Butai Aisatsu
  • Free! Movie 2: Timeless Medley – Yakusoku
  • Free! Movie 2: Timeless Medley – Yakusoku: Character Butai Aisatsu
  • Free! Movie 3: Road to the World – Yume
  • Free! Take Your Marks: Character Butai Aisatsu

「Free!」完全新作劇場版 ティザーPV

Free! Trailer

5. Quick Review

I. Story

Free! revolves around Haruka Nanase and his friends’ adventures that revolve around swimming. The story isn’t very unique since it follows the standard high school kids participating in tournaments by overcoming various obstacles. However, what sets it apart is the slice-of-life elements present throughout the show.

II. Characters

The relationships that the characters share, their friendships, and the way they interact make them seem very real and memorable. Sure, there are typical anime archetypes thrown in with over-the-top antics, but that doesn’t affect the show’s breezy theme at all.

III. Animation

Kyoto Animation is well known for its beautiful animation. Needless to say, Free! doesn’t disappoint. From smooth and perfect swimming strokes to beautiful character design, everything in Free! is eye candy!

IV. Sound

The soundtracks in Free! are quite generic but extremely catchy! The opening and ending themes will make you not want to skip them because you just can’t resist yourself from listening to them!

6. About Free!

Free! is animated by Kyoto Animation and is loosely based on the light novel, High Speed!, by Koji Oji.

The series revolves around members of a high school boy’s swimming team. The youngsters participate in a swimming tournament right before they graduate from middle school and go their separate ways.

Free! has a unique concept by using the sport of competitive swimming as their focal point. The animation, art, and sound used in the series complement the story well.

Originally Written By Epic Dope

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  • Tags Free!, Haruka Nanase, Nagisa Hazuki, Rin Matsuoka
  • Post Time 7:22 am

What is the order of the Free anime series?

anime series in the order each takes place, then you'd want to begin with the prequel film High Speed! Free!.
Free! – Iwatobi Swim Club..
Free! – Eternal Summer..
High Speed! Free! Starting Days..
Free! Take Your Marks..
Free! – Dive to the Future..
Free! The Final Stroke..

Will Free anime have a season 4?

Kyoto Studios have now confirmed that part one of a new two-part movie series titled "Free: The Final Stroke" is slated for release on September 17, 2021, with its follow-up arriving on April 22, 2022.

What's after Free dive to the future?

A compilation film encompassing the third season, titled Free! Road to the World - the Dream, debuted in July 2019. The next installment of the franchise was slated for release alongside the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, but both were postponed until 2021.

Is free the final stroke the last season?

–the Final Stroke– is being advertised as the “final chapter” of the franchise. The First Volume of the duology was released in Japan on September 17, 2021, with the second part coming out on April 22, 2022. Catch up with the splash on Crunchyroll with all the TV anime seasons of Free!