Initial Impressions: Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club

I don’t think I’ve ever heard a dubstep break in anime before.

But maybe I’m not watching the right anime.

“But never mind that,” I say as I sit here eating french fries that taste like dog food, “You’d probably like to know whether Free!- Iwatobi Swim Club is the right anime for you!”

I won’t lie; there is a clear abundance (but not overabundance, never overabundance) of amusing/tame fan service (aka tush shots, men in tight swim trunks but not speedos, bromancing). But if you’re a trooper and have willingly paid witness to the bouncing T&A on display almost everywhere elsewhere, and the overt sexualization of loli-girls, then stick around, this looks like it’s going to be some fresh, breezy, man-meat fun. In fact the skinny dipping, topless boys, and pool water make it easy to pretend I actually have a social life this summer!

Plot wise, the premiere certainly hasn’t dished too many details on what exactly the future focus of the series will be, minus the obvious focus on the bromance/rivalry. We have a main character, Haruka Nanase (Shimazaki Nobunaga) who is really into water, which makes him something of an ace swimmer, minus the fact he refuses to do anything but freestyle swimming. Maybe this is because he only eats fish, and the bioaccumulation of mercury in his system has impaired his ability to do anything but lounge and splash around in the water. Also, he may not be ready to bump uglies with his much more competitive counter part Rin (played by Miyano Mamoru).

Personally, I do see potential in the emphasis put on the words of the boys’ homeroom teacher (played by Yukino Satsuki) paraphrased into something like “carpe diem” which may prompt some kind of buildingsroman journey into self discovery, growing up, and following your heart. This would also allow for a moment of drama and emotional character growth before angsty pool sex in the fandom’s fan fiction.

On the other hand, I was initially afraid the actual animation wouldn’t live up to the crisp hype offered up in the trailer, but I’m glad to say all interactions are beautifully animated; I have never seen anyone animate boys stripping off their clothes with such fluidity. The visible sparkle in Nanase’s eyes every time he’s offered a chance to swim in a pool! is both pretty and endearing in a male tsundere way. Movements both in and out of the water are swift and weighty; the water itself is animated to the esteem by which the main character Nanase holds it - crystalline, refreshing, and with three dimensional flow. Like Jello! Mnnn Jello. Scene transitions were also enjoyably done with some witticism and irony, always necessary for a good slice of life story. All the main characters are all incredibly good looking so far too - as per genre prescription, toeing a line between seriously athletic and femme (some of them closer to the latter end of the spectrum), reminding us all why it’s run away with the K-pop fandom.

That said, I certainly felt the show moved a little too fast (homeboy had his pants peeled like three times in 20 minutes), and a little too pointlessly (unless you count the School 2013-esque bromance/rivalry) for a first episode, but I also won’t hold a slice of life story about sexy dudes doing sexy things to the standard of an exciting cliff hanger a-la the Code Geass premiere. The pace of the show also switches up a little too quickly between whimsical and trying to be cool and hardcore, especially in the scenes where Nanase and Rin decide to duke it out almost naked. In the water.

(Insert dubstep break and hiphop number that is 1000x cooler than the ending credits.)

Ladies and gentlemen, I bet you five bucks this show will be up to it’s neck in ships that sail themselves.

For further contemplation:

• Why is Rin such an assface?

• How come the boys don’t have nipples? Anime girls usually have like really big nipples. Like so much nipple you can see it through their skimpy little tees. Where be my man nipples? Is this a censorship issue? Do I smell the stench of gender discrimination and double standards? KNIFE TO THE PATRIARCHY-!

• What exactly is it that turned Nanase from an open aquafetishist to a disillusioned cynic?

• Why does Rin have such oddly sharp teeth? Certainly at first I found myself thinking of how attractive his character design was; stringy red hair, swimmers build, no nipples, obvious man crush on his rival/ex-best friend… and then those teeth. It’s an anomaly. Jaws is all I can see. Somebody took the aquatic concept too far.

• Reference to naked apron fetishism? I CAUGHT THAT.

This has been TheHouseOnMars from over at Mass Hysteria! I like writing, art, relatively bad Korean dramas, and anime that makes me cry. This is my first ever anime blogging experience. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!

N.B.: Much thanks to Ivan for the caps! He is a magical alpaca, caps included in the package.

OP "Rage On" by OLDCODEX

Episode 1 Screencaps: "Reunion At the Starting Block!"

ED "SPLASH FREE" by Miyano Mamoru, Nobunaga Shimazaki, Tatsuhisa Suzuki, Tsubasa Yonaga, and Daisuke Hirakawa