What is it: Free! – Timeless Medley
Free! – Timeless Medley is a compilation film series based on the popular anime Free!, which revolves around a group of young swimmers and their personal and athletic journeys. Released in 2017, Free! – Timeless Medley is divided into two parts: “Kizuna” (Bonds) and “Yakusoku” (Promise). These films retell events from the anime’s first two seasons, Free! – Iwatobi Swim Club and Free! – Eternal Summer, with some additional scenes and a new narrative perspective. The Free! series is known for its high-quality animation, captivating characters, and deep emotional themes such as friendship, rivalry, and self-discovery. Free! – Timeless Medley offers fans a chance to relive these iconic moments in a new light, while also attracting new viewers to the franchise’s universe.
The first part, Free! – Timeless Medley: Kizuna, focuses primarily on the bonds of friendship between the members of the Iwatobi swimming club. Haruka Nanase, the protagonist, is a talented swimmer who finds joy in the water. His friends Makoto Tachibana, Nagisa Hazuki, and Rei Ryugazaki are equally dedicated to the sport, and together they face challenges both in and out of the pool. Kizuna explores the group dynamics and how each character deals with their own insecurities and ambitions. The narrative is enriched with never-before-seen scenes that further deepen the characters' development, providing a more complete and emotionally resonant experience for fans.
The second part, Free! – Timeless Medley: Yakusoku, focuses on the characters' promises and dreams, particularly the relationship between Haruka and Rin Matsuoka, a rival swimmer and childhood friend. Rin, who initially distanced herself from Haruka due to a misunderstanding, eventually finds her way back into the group, bringing with her a new perspective on what it means to compete and grow. Yakusoku explores themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the importance of following your dreams, even when the path is difficult. The new scenes added to this part of the film help clarify motivations and deepen the characters' emotional complexity, making the story even more engaging.
Beyond its emotional and narrative aspects, Free! – Timeless Medley is also notable for its impressive animation quality. Kyoto Animation, known for its attention to detail and fluid animation, elevates the visual experience with incredibly realistic and choreographed swimming scenes. The soundtrack, composed by Tatsuya Kato, perfectly complements the scenes, heightening the emotions and creating an immersive atmosphere. The combination of high-quality animation, engaging music, and a captivating story makes Free! – Timeless Medley a work that resonates with both longtime fans and new viewers.
Another interesting aspect of Free! – Timeless Medley is how it serves as an accessible entry point for new fans who may not be familiar with the original series. By retelling the events of the first seasons with a fresh perspective and additional scenes, the films offer a comprehensive look at the Free! universe, allowing new viewers to connect with the characters and story without needing to watch the entire series. This also benefits longtime fans, who can appreciate the additional nuances and details that enrich the original narrative. Free! – Timeless Medley, therefore, functions as both a celebration of the series and an accessible introduction for new fans.
In short, Free! – Timeless Medley is a film series that retells and expands on the story of the Free! anime, focusing on the themes of friendship, rivalry, and self-discovery. Divided into two parts, Kizuna and Yakusoku, the films offer a fresh perspective on the events of the first two seasons, with additional scenes and a deeper narrative. Kyoto Animation's high-quality animation, combined with Tatsuya Kato's immersive soundtrack, creates a visually and emotionally rich experience. Free! – Timeless Medley is a work that resonates with both longtime fans and new viewers, serving as a celebration of the series and an accessible introduction to the Free! universe.
