There is no denying it. “Free!” is one of the most important anime series in the medium’s history. “Free!” is one of the most long-lasting and successful sports anime of all time and has maintained a high degree of popularity since the swimming-centric series began in 2013. That long journey, though, appears to be coming to an end. Kyoto Animation, the series’ animation studio, has announced two new films in the franchise, both of which are set to be the saga’s final installments.
If you’ve been keeping an eye on the “Free!” headlines, you’re surely aware that the first of these films, “Free! Final Stroke part 1,” was released in September 2021. There’s only one more film in the franchise dedicated to competitive swimming before it wraps up. Kyoto Animation hasn’t revealed much about the plot of this film, while the same cannot be said about the release date or cast. With that in mind, here’s what we know about “Free! The Final Stroke part 2.”
What is the release date for Free! The Final Stroke part 2?
For quite some time, the world has been aware of “Free! The Final Stroke.” In April 2021, Kyoto Animation announced the two-part film project, as well as exact release dates. Unlike much other anime, the release date of “The Final Stroke part 2” was not kept a secret. The April 22, 2022 release date has always been set.
While it’s thrilling that the last installment in the “Free!” series is on the way, it’s diminished by the fact that April 22 is only the Japanese theatrical release date. Furthermore, the fact that part 1 of the “Final Stroke” was released on September 17 without any rapid localization efforts virtually guarantees that Western fans of “Free!” will have to wait to see how this groundbreaking sports anime concludes.
Kyoto Animation hasn’t revealed when “The Final Stroke” will make its way across the Pacific to the rest of the world. However, it is expected to happen within a year after the films’ release. But, anime fans are notoriously impatient when it comes to these things, so it wouldn’t be shocking if the films are released online long before they could be officially released in the West.
What characters will be in Free! The Final Stroke part 2?
Despite the fact that it isn’t much known about the plot of “The Final Stroke,” fans may anticipate seeing all of the “Free!” franchise’s regular characters. Of course, the protagonist Haruka Nanase is the most essential of these characters. Haruka has been a central figure in “Free!” since the beginning, chasing his dream of becoming a professional swimmer.
Fortunately, he is never alone in his journey and is always accompanied by others. Rin Matsuoka, his biggest rival, is one of them. The importance of rivals in sports anime cannot be understated, but the individuals Haruka isn’t trying to defeat all of the time are just as vital. Characters like Nagisa Hazuki, Makoto Tachibana, and Rei Ryugazaki all played a role in Haruka’s high school team before he graduated, and they will almost certainly feature in “The Final Stroke part 2.”
What is the plot of Free! The Final Stroke part 2?
Unfortunately, the plot of “The Final Stroke part 2” is the biggest mystery of the film. “Let’s go to the stage of glory!” reads the movie’s tagline, implying that Haruka and his friends are on their way to something huge. What that thing is, though, is a well-guarded secret.
Because the film was supposed to premiere around the original 2020 Olympics but was postponed due to an arson attack on the studio, the “stage of glory” mentioned in the slogan might very well be the Olympics. If that’s the case, it’ll be a defining moment for the characters of “Free!” However, this is only a guess.
Whatever “The Final Stroke” is about, it will undoubtedly include Haruka’s final steps toward becoming a world-class swimmer. Haruka has been chasing that ambition for eight years, and it would be a pity if the saga ended without him receiving the respect he deserves as an athlete.