Interest
KyoAni's Free! Swimming Anime Already Has Its Own Dōjinshi Event
posted on by Egan Loo
Kyoto Animation's upcoming boys' swimming team anime Free! has not even aired yet, but it has already inspired an event exclusively devoted to its dōjinshi. Studio You announced on Friday that it will host the Free! Only Event "Ren-ai Jiyū-gata! Junbi Undō" (Love Freestyle! Prep Exercises) at the Tokyo Ryūtsū Center on July 28, in the same month that the anime will premiere.
The event is accepting applications for 100 seller spaces (3,500 yen or about US$34 each), as well as consignment sales for 20 circles (2,600 yen or US$25, shipping not included). As in other Studio You dōjinshi events, sellers have to use their own discretion on labeling works as R-18 and checking potential buyers' ages. Each attendee will buy a pamphlet to gain admission to the event, and cosplayers and photographers (no video allowed) each pay an additional 500 yen (US$5).
The story revolves around Haruka Nanase, a boy who has always loved to be immersed in water, and to swim in it. After years of separation, his childhood friend Rin challenges him to a swimming match, showing Haruka his overwhelming power. Not wanting it to end like this, Haruka gathers together Makoto and Nagisa once again, and also brings a new member named Rei Ryugazaki to create the Iwatobi High School Swimming Club. Haruka, Makoto Nagisa, Rei, and Rin come together for a story of swimming, youth, and friendship.
The Free! television anime is based on Kōji Ōji's High Speed!, an honorable mention recipient in the 2nd Kyoto Animation Award in 2011. Much of the same production staff created the "Suiei-hen" (Swimming) anime commercial that was unveiled in April. Animation DO had teased "a project in the works" with an image of Haruka swimming last year.
[Via Yaraon!]
Images © Kōji Ōji, Kyoto Animation/Iwasobi High School Swimming Club
