- 🏊♂️ [2025 Edition] The Ultimate Watch Order Guide for the Free! Anime Series – Perfect for Beginners!
- 🎽 What Is Free! All About?
- 🏊♂️ Free! Complete Anime Watch Order (2025 Edition)
- 🎥 Where to Watch Free! (Streaming Platforms as of April 2025)
- 🇯🇵 Watching Japanese Streaming Services from Abroad? Here’s What You Need to Know!
- 🌍 Free! International Streaming Platform Comparison (As of 2025)
- 💙 Free! Anime Series Highlights & Oshi-Katsu Guide (2025 Edition)
- 🏁 Final Thoughts – Swim Through Every Emotion with Free!
- ✅ Before You Go…
🏊♂️ [2025 Edition] The Ultimate Watch Order Guide for the Free! Anime Series – Perfect for Beginners!
🚀 Quick Answer: The Best Watch Order Is…
Start with the movie High☆Speed!, then watch Season 1 → Season 2 → OVA → Compilation & Transition Films → Season 3 → Final Movies.
The chronological order matches the release order, so you can enjoy it smoothly without confusion!
📖 What You’ll Find in This Guide:
✅ The ideal watch order: Where to start and why
✅ Highlights of each season & fan-favorite moments
✅ Streaming info: Where to watch in 2025
🎽 What Is Free! All About?
Hey there, fellow anime fan (and honorary swim club manager)! 😊
You might be wondering:
“I’ve heard about Free!, but the order seems confusing…”
“There are movies and OVAs too?! Where do I even begin?”
Worry not — this guide is your friendly floatation device to help you dive into the Free! universe with confidence!
Created by Kyoto Animation, Free! is a high-energy, emotionally driven sports anime centered around a group of competitive swimmers as they grow from middle schoolers to international champions.
At its heart, Free! is a powerful coming-of-age story filled with friendship, self-discovery, and the pursuit of dreams — all set to the rhythm of crashing waves and dramatic races. 🌊
💙 Whether you’re here for the story, the stunning animation, or your favorite “best boy,” there’s something to love in every season!
💖 Ready to Dive Deeper? Check Out the Official Anime Website for Visuals, Cast, and Staff Info →▶ Official Website Here
Up next, I’ll walk you through the perfect viewing order to get the most emotional impact and narrative clarity — plus a few tips for enjoying the ride even more. Ready to dive in? Let’s go! 🏁💦
🏊♂️ Free! Complete Anime Watch Order (2025 Edition)
✨ With Movie & OVA Included – A Beginner-Friendly, Story-Based Guide
🚀 Recommended Watch Order (Chronological = Best Experience)
| Watch Order | Title | Year | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ① | High☆Speed! – Free! Starting Days | 2015 | Movie (Prequel) |
| ② | Free! (Season 1) | 2013 | TV Anime |
| ③ | Free! – Eternal Summer (Season 2) | 2014 | TV Anime |
| ④ | OVA “Forbidden All-Hard!” | 2015 | OVA (Bonus Ep from S2) |
| ⑤ | Free! -Timeless Medley-: Bonds | 2017 | Movie (Recap + New scenes) |
| ⑥ | Free! -Timeless Medley-: Promise | 2017 | Movie (Recap + New scenes) |
| ⑦ | Free! -Take Your Marks- | 2017 | Movie (Omnibus Special) |
| ⑧ | Free! -Dive to the Future- (Season 3) | 2018 | TV Anime |
| ⑨ | OVA “Build-Up of Early Spring!” | 2018 | OVA (Episode 0 of S3) |
| ⑩ | Free! -Road to the World: The Dream- | 2019 | Movie (Recap + New scenes) |
| ⑪ | Free! -The Final Stroke- Part 1 | 2021 | Movie (Final Chapter) |
| ⑫ | Free! -The Final Stroke- Part 2 | 2022 | Movie (Grand Finale) |
🌟 Why This Order? (And Why It Matters!)
This isn’t just a release-date list — it’s the true narrative experience.
Watching in this order allows you to follow Haruka and his teammates from their middle school days (in High☆Speed!) all the way to their final race on the world stage (in The Final Stroke).
Here’s why it works so well:
- Emotional progression matters: You’ll feel the characters grow from awkward teens to ambitious champions. That arc hits harder if you see it unfold naturally.
- Some movies are more than just recaps:
- Timeless Medley and Road to the World include crucial new scenes that connect seasons.
- Take Your Marks fills in the emotional space between graduation and college life — a must-watch for oshi-katsu fans!
- OVA episodes like “Forbidden All-Hard!” and “Early Spring” are bonus gems that enrich the world. Not mandatory, but very rewarding!
💡 Optional Skips? My Honest Take:
- If you’re short on time, you can skip the recap movies (⑤ & ⑥ & ⑩), but you’ll miss key bridging scenes and emotional depth — especially the post-credit scenes in Timeless Medley that lead into Season 3.
- I strongly recommend watching Take Your Marks — it’s not action-packed, but it’s full of warm, “between the seasons” character stories that fans love.
❤️ Final Tip for Maximum Enjoyment
Watch High☆Speed! first. It’s a movie, yes, but it lays the emotional groundwork for everything.
You’ll meet the “younger” Haruka and Makoto, and by the time you reach their final race in The Final Stroke, your heart will absolutely feel the weight of their journey. 🥹
🎥 Where to Watch Free! (Streaming Platforms as of April 2025)
| Platform | Monthly Fee (Tax Incl.) | Free Trial | Availability | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U-NEXT | ¥2,189 | 31 days | All seasons and movies available | Includes all titles including movies. |
| DMM TV | ¥550 | 14 days | All except Final Stroke Part 2 | 6,000+ anime titles available. |
| d Anime Store | ¥550 | 31 days (first time) | TV series and movies available | Anime-only focused platform. |
| Amazon Prime Video | ¥600 | 30 days | TV series and movies available | Some titles may be rental-only. |
| TSUTAYA DISCAS | ¥2,200 | 30 days | All titles available on DVD rental | DVD delivery rental service. |
| FOD Premium | ¥976 | None | Partial availability | Limited selection only. |
✅ Recommended Viewing Options
- Want to watch the full series including movies?
→ U-NEXT is the best choice. It includes all titles (TV and movies) with a generous 31-day free trial. - On a budget?
→ Try DMM TV or d Anime Store, both offering many anime titles for only ¥550/month. DMM TV also includes a 14-day free trial. - Prefer physical media or want everything via DVD?
→ TSUTAYA DISCAS provides full access to the series via DVD rental.
⚠️ Note: Streaming availability and pricing may change, so please check the official sites for the latest info.
During the free trial period, you can cancel anytime without being charged!
🎽 Enjoy diving into the world of Free! with the streaming option that fits you best!
🇯🇵 Watching Japanese Streaming Services from Abroad? Here’s What You Need to Know!
- Most services are geo-locked to Japan.
→ You’ll need a Japanese IP address (VPN) to access most Japanese platforms like dAnime Store, U-NEXT, ABEMA, etc. - No English subtitles (usually).
→ Japanese services mainly cater to native speakers—subtitles are usually in Japanese only. - Payment requires Japanese methods.
→ Some platforms require a Japanese credit card, address, or phone number to sign up. - Amazon Prime Video JP is region-specific.
→ Even if you have Amazon Prime in your country, you’ll need a Japanese Prime account to watch JP-only titles. - Streaming schedules follow Japan Time (JST).
→ New episodes drop based on JST, so time differences may apply.
📝 Bonus Tip:
Some global services (like Netflix or Disney+) also offer Japanese-only exclusives, but availability and subtitles vary by region. Always check your local library!
🌍 Free! International Streaming Platform Comparison (As of 2025)
| Platform | Available Regions | Seasons/Movies | Subtitles | Dubbed | Release Timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netflix | Japan, parts of Europe, others | ⚠️ Partial | Varies by region (Eng/Spanish/etc.) | ✅ Yes | After full season airs |
| Amazon Prime Video | USA, UK, Japan, others | ⚠️ Partial | Multilingual | ⚠️ Some | After full season airs |
| Hulu | USA only | ⚠️ Partial | English only | ⚠️ Some | After full season airs |
| HiDive | North America, selected regions | ⚠️ Partial | English, Spanish, Portuguese | ✅ Yes | After full season airs |
📌 Notes
- Crunchyroll is the most reliable platform globally for watching Free! with both subs and dubs.
- Netflix and Amazon have limited availability that changes by country, so it’s best to check your local catalog.
- VPN Use: Using a VPN may allow access to other regions’ libraries, but it may violate platform terms.
- Language Options: Crunchyroll provides the widest subtitle language support. Dubbed versions are more common on Crunchyroll and HiDive.
💙 Free! Anime Series Highlights & Oshi-Katsu Guide (2025 Edition)
| Title | Key Highlights | Oshi-Katsu Points | How to Enjoy It Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🎬 High☆Speed! – Starting Days | A refreshing look at their middle school days. Beautifully captures the early bonds between friends. | Young Haru & Makoto are adorable! Also a great intro to Ikuya and Asahi 💕 | Start here! Knowing their roots makes every future moment feel deeper. |
| 📺 Free! (Season 1) | A heartfelt reunion in high school; rediscovering the joy of swimming. | The “FrFr” dynamics are strong! Nagisa & Rei joining brings full team vibes 🫶 | Haru and Rin’s emotional past = core of the series. |
| 📺 Eternal Summer (Season 2) | A mature take on future dreams and real-life choices. | Makoto’s inner struggle & Rin’s overseas journey are so relatable! 📣 | Watch for both high-stakes races & emotional growth. Bring tissues! |
| 📀 OVA: “Forbidden All-Hard!” | Swimsuits, hot springs, and full-on fan service fun! | A paradise for cute and silly moments with your faves 👙✨ | Great for a light-hearted oshi-katsu break. |
| 🎥 Timeless Medley: Bonds / Promise | Recap movies with new, emotional scenes. Focuses on “team” and “growth.” | Perfect for reliving key moments with bonus content ❤️ | Great for catching up or rewatching with extra feels. Don’t skip post-credit scenes! |
| 🎥 Take Your Marks | A sweet, slice-of-life epilogue post-graduation. | Their hopes, nerves, and gentle humor = oshi-katsu gold ✨ | Relax and enjoy their quieter, more personal stories. |
| 📺 Dive to the Future (Season 3) | College arc! Fresh faces return + new rivalries. | Ikuya & Asahi are back! Ultimate oshi lineup unlocked 💥 | Feels like a reward for long-time fans. You’ll cheer every episode! |
| 📀 OVA: “Build-Up of Early Spring!” | A heartfelt prelude to Season 3. Shows team bonding in training camp. | Beautiful dynamics between old & new members 💛 | Watch before Season 3 for max emotional payoff! |
| 🎥 Road to the World: The Dream | A bridge between Season 3 & the final movies. Some recap, some fresh scenes. | You’ll root for your faves as they chase global dreams 🌍🏅 | Perfect warm-up before the grand finale! |
| 🎥 The Final Stroke (Part 1 & 2) | The epic conclusion. Emotional, intense, unforgettable. | Everyone gives it their all — it’s the ultimate push for your oshi! 👏 | Everything ties together here. Expect tears, chills, and pride. 🥹 |
🏁 Final Thoughts – Swim Through Every Emotion with Free!
From their very first splash in High☆Speed! to the breathtaking final stroke on the world stage, the Free! series isn’t just about swimming — it’s about friendship, growth, and chasing dreams.
Watching it in the right order lets you feel every emotion as the characters grow up right before your eyes.
Whether you’re a first-timer or rewatching to support your favorite boy (again and again!), this journey hits deeper with every season and film.
💙 Oshi-katsu tip: Don’t just watch — cheer for your fave, collect your favorite scenes, and rewatch their key episodes! Each character has their own arc worth celebrating.
So grab your towel, queue up the episodes, and get ready to dive headfirst into the world of Free!
Because once you start… you’ll never want to leave the pool. 🏊♂️✨
✅ Before You Go…
📌 Looking for more anime watch order guides?
Check out some of our latest fan-favorite picks below:
- ⚔️ Sengoku Basara – Ultimate Anime Watch Order Guide (2025)
Samurai action meets historical hype! Find the best order to experience this fierce and fiery battlefield. - 🎀 Senran Kagura – 2025 Watch Order Complete Guide
Ninjas, fan service, and secret missions? Yep, this guide helps you slice through the timeline with ease. - 👶 Head Start at Birth – 2025 Complete Watch Order
From diapers to destiny! This offbeat but heartwarming series has a timeline worth keeping track of.
💞 Want to support the blog?
If you found this guide helpful, feel free to bookmark it or share with your fellow anime fans!
We’re always working on new watch order guides, streaming tips, and otaku-approved picks curated just for you. 💌
Thanks for reading — and happy anime watching! 🌟
コメント