Introduction
Taking place between the events of Free!: Eternal Summer and Free!: Dive to the Future, Free!: Take Your Marks plays out the graduated seniors' last summer through four different stories before they set sail for the future.
Unmei no Choice! (Destined Choice!) follows Haruka Nanase and Makoto Tachibana searching for a new apartment for Haruka as he settles into Tokyo.
Hitou no Cooling Down! (Cooling Down at the Secret Hot Spring!) sees Aiichiro Nitori choose a graduation gift for Rin Matsuoka and Sousuke Yamazaki, while Momotaro Mikoshiba wins tickets to the Anago Hot Springs. Hoping for a trip together, Aiichiro and Momotaro invite Rin and Sousuke.
Kessoku no Batafurai! (United Butterfly!) shows Rei Ryugazaki, Nagisa Hazuki, and Gou Matsuoka creating a recruitment video to attract new club members for the next school year.
Tabidachi no Etanaru Buru! (Departing Eternal Blue!) looks into the Iwatobi and Samezuka swim teams' plans for Rin's surprise going-away party, as he will be departing for Australia soon.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience reviews
7 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
Valentine07
(Spanish review below)
'Take your marks' is a kind of interlude between the second season and the third. It tells us small stories that happen between the two seasons and establishes some new relationships: like the mysterious coach whose old apartment Haru will rent or a certain character that Sosuke met, among other things. I consider this movie 100% slice of life. I don't think it's necessary to watch it to understand the third season. If you are a fan of the anime, you will surely like to see it, but if you don't, nothing will happen. Personally, I really liked it and I screamed a lot when certain characters met each other and when some friendships were established for the future.
But the film doesn't have a specific plot. That's why I say it's 100% slice of life.
As always, the ani…
Read at the sourcesmithpoul885
The four stories occurring between Free!: Timeless Summer and Free!: Jump to the Future show the progress for every one of the characters as they mature, and their lives will change decisively when the midyear closes.
Foreordained Decision! shows Makoto assisting Haruka with hunting preceding school in Tokyo. The one he picks winds up feeling like predetermination, as a person from Free Beginning Days appears.
* Chilling Off at the Mysterious Underground aquifer! Fortunate Momo wins passes to an underground aquifer, and they give them to Rin and Sousuke as a graduation gift. Every one of the four end up there, and clever antics follow... https://flyrank.co.uk/
Read at the sourceStormy_77
Story 9/10
The are 4 stories taking place between Free!: Eternal Summer and Free!: Dive to the Future show the transition for all the characters as they mature and their lives will change dramatically when the summer ends.
* Destined Choice! shows Makoto helping Haruka apartment hunt prior to college in Tokyo. The one he chooses does end up feeling like destiny, as a character from Free Starting Days shows up.
* Cooling Down at the Secret Hot Spring! Lucky Momo wins tickets to a hot spring and they give them to Rin ans Sousuke as a graduation gift. All 4 end up there and hilarious shenanigans ensue.
* United Butterfly is about the Iwatobi team's new recruitment video. This one actually made me tear up. I want friends like this. Everyone should have friends like this. Also the reality is i…
Read at the sourcekurosmile
Plot: 7/10
It's a really bittersweet plot honestly. I'm sad that all of them are parting ways. However, the friendship portrayed in the episodes are realistic. It's true we might part ways but it definitely doesn't mean that it's the end of the friendship.
I like the humour in this anime as well.
Characters: 8/10
The thing I like about this anime is because the characters stay in their architype. They are definitely not flat characters as you can definitely see their growth in this anime.
I like the way they subtly give audience hints about new characters. It got me wondering and looking forward to continue watching free. Each character has their own past and reason to swim; why they are so passionate about swimming and honestly, it makes me want to swim again!
Enjoyment: 8/10
I pe…
Read at the sourceBabyGirl06301
I'm not going to write a super long review on this movie, but it was wonderful. I always say that the characters are what make this anime amazing, and this movie didn't change that fact at all.
Aside from the swimming competitions, it was nice to sit down and hang out with the characters for a while. It also left a nice lead-in for the third season that will be coming out soon. I enjoy watching this characters grow and change so much, and I look forward to seeing more in the next season.
I'd definitely recommend this movie to fans that love these characters. Maybe you shouldn't stay up until 5:30 AM to watch it like I did, but you should watch it all the same. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Read at the sourcenumbersixes
I came into this hoping I wouldn't be trash for it, but I was trash for it, of course.
The movie is split into four parts. Each story details the events after Free! Eternal Summer. The stories mainly center on apartment hunting, a visit to the hot springs, filming a swim club recruitment video, and a surprise party.
The stories themselves are the biggest hang-up I have with the movie. They weren't too interesting in their premises. I mean ... an episode about apartment hunting. Really. How interesting can that get.
But I did like it more than Free! Starting Days. That was a reconstitution of Free!, while this at least added new elements to the table. Even though it was obvious that this movie was just a lead-in to Dive to the Future, it taught us more about the characters Free! fans we…
Read at the sourcemikachanP
I typically don't write reviews but this movie was so good that it warranted one. Review is spoiler free! (heh)
I went to see this movie with a friend in theaters on White Day. I know what to expect as I went in blind without having even seen the trailer for it. I just assumed, "well it's free! of course I'm going to like it" and I was right. If you are a long time fan of this franchise, you will enjoy it.
Story: 7/10
This movie is broken up into four "episodes" that are interconnected. Each episode contains a theme that is carried out by the end of it so watching only one won't leave you on that much of a cliffhanger. However, the stories themselves are written with their target audience in mind. Personally, I was not expecting the movie to be this funny.
I found it hard to breathe a…
Read at the source