News
KyoAni Streams Makoto Promo for 'Free!' Swimming Anime
posted on by Egan Loo
Kyoto Animation streamed the Makoto Tachibana version of the second promotional video for its July television anime Free! on Saturday. The video showcases Makoto, the inseparable best friend of the main character Haruka Nanase. He understands Haruka's good points, and is often forced to speak as his spokesman. He is very kind and considerate, but is also very easily scared and weak-hearted.
The anime's official website also posted a voice sample of Makoto by Tatsuhisa Suzuki and a Twitter icon. In the voice sample, Haruka introduces himself as a second-year Iwatobi High School student whose specialty is the backstroke.
The story revolves around Haruka (Nobunaga Shimazaki), a boy who has always loved to be immersed in water, and to swim in it. After years of separation, his childhood friend Rin (Mamoru Miyano) challenges him to a swimming match, showing Haruka his overwhelming power. Not wanting it to end like this, Haruka gathers together Makoto and Nagisa (Tsubasa Yonaga) once again, and also brings a new member named Rei Ryugazaki (Daisuke Hirakawa) 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.
Images © Kōji Ōji, Kyoto Animation/Iwasobi High School Swimming Club
