Free! (Photo : YouTube)
Following the success of the four-boy Japanese swimming animation series titled "Free!" and "Free! Eternal Summer," Kyoto Animation is back with a follow-up film. The sequel to the first two Japanese animations delves into the past of main duo Haruka Nanase and Makoto Tachibana.
Voice actor Tatsuhisa Suzuki has finally confirmed that he will be reprising his role as Tachibana, Anime News Network reported. Previously, Nobunaga Shimazaki has also been confirmed to reprise his role as Haruka Nanase, the swimming genius with a penchant for anything and everything related to water.
The studio has also revealed the background story for "High Speed! - Free! Starting Days." The story happens after the winning medley relay race that Nanase and Tachibana, together with fellow teammates Rin Matsuoka and Nagisa Hazuki, participated in.
This time, they're racing together with new characters and classmates Asahi Shiina and Ikuya Kirishima, both first year junior high students. Trouble begins when the boys start a disastrous relay practice as they're each affected by the baggage and pasts that they have.
Screenplay writer Maiko Nishioka and head writer Masahiro Yokotani, both of whom were involved in the two other "Free!" animations are returning to the franchise. Other returning staff members from the previous Japanese animations include Yuka Yoneda (color key artist), Tatsuya Katou (music composer), Joji Unoguchi (art director), Yota Tsuruoka (sound director), Takao Kazuya (photography director) and Seiichi Akitake (prop designer).
The main visual "High Speed! - Free! Starting Days" has also been released, and it features four main characters, two of which are new faces, Crunchyroll reported. For those who are not familiar with the light novel by Koji Oji, the two new characters Shiina and Kirishima debuted in the second volume of "High Speed!"
"High Speed! - Free! Starting Days" is set to release in Japan later this year in December. Advance tickets will be available on July 25, and will come with illustrations of the characters by Futoshi Nishiya.
