Free! 1
Hype delivered! Praise be to Based-KyoAni! Let's break it down.
I liked the OP. It's got swimming, it's got style, and it pumps you up. The childhood swim club makes for a great setup with the friendship dynamic, with Haruka being the leader. But it's also interesting that, despite what his aloofness may tell you, even he really admired Rin. That line his grandmother told him really stood out to me, what with this generation being brought up on positive reinforcement and being told anything is achievable. Haruka is trying to grow up, but I think he's trying to live by an adult mentality without really understanding what it means to be mature. You can definitely see his old self coming showing through the cracks, like when he says he isn't interested in competitive swimming, yet he accepts Rin's challenge without hesitation. Or when his eyes light up with enthusiasm when he learns that Rin's school has a pool. These things are what make him charming. But I feel like I'm talking too much about him when he's not even the best bro. Nagisa pulling Makoto into the water was great, and Makoto makes it obvious that he is the best bro, what with his good-guy attitude and his weakness for spooky things. He's just got this charisma made all the more real when he matches Haruka's wavelength and knows what he's thinking. That image of when he stood up after falling in the pool? Oh. My. Stars. And Rin's appearance was really awesome. Him emerging from the shadows with that music playing gave him this presence and I got chills. I loved it when he and Haruka were spittin' hot fire. I can't wait for them to go toe-to-toe! And dat ED. Dat ED! Can it be next week yet?
