Free! Eternal Summer: Kindan no All Hard!

Mikashimotaku★ 9

We've been waiting so long, and it finally arrived. The much anticipated Free! Eternal Summer OVA. It's no overstatement that KyoAni did a fantastic job in delivering to their multitudes of Free! fans in such a fun, light-hearted 24 minute OVA. Story: 7 The premise is simple and fun. The Iwatobi and Samezuka boys all hang out at the Samezuka culture festival. Despite it's overall simpleness, the story provides excellent ways for characters to interact with each other both as usual and unusual. The OVA gives a new breadth of knowledge in the Free!verse because finally, we see some character interaction that has only so far beenimplied, but never really seen. Such as Nitori and Makoto, Sousuke and Nagisa, etc. Not to mention, everyone had a fair amount of screen time, even more minor characters like Gou and Kisumi got at least a little time in the spotlight. Art: 8 KyoAni has a reputation for their crisp animation. I was very please to see that the production quality of the OVA was relatively on par with the rest of the series. Often times, OVAs lack the same smooth finish as the TV series, due partly to it just being an 'extra'. Regardless, the free! OVA is rather fluid and eye-appealing, though I really didn't expect anything less of KyoAni. Sound: 8 All the voice actors we know and love made a reappearance in the OVA. Nothing has really changed soundwise. The music is very free!esque and fitting for the mood, whatever the scene may be. All the characters voices resonate exactly as we remember them. All in all, very solid. Character: 10 While the OVA doesn't have many important plot points, the character development is SUBSTANTIAL. Without all the conflict of a main story line, we are able to see the characters with no external forces. Really, we see them as they are. Hilarious, teenaged boys. The OVA provided a chance for each character to get some time to show the audience who they are. Character relationships are built (mainly Sousuke and Haruka), relationships are re-enforced (Rin and Rei), and some are just plain adorable (Nagisa and Momotarou). Each of the characters are special and quirky in their own ways, and we really get to see that in this OVA. Enjoyment: 10 I love Free!. I've been watching it since the first season back in July 2013. This one extra episode reiterated why I love the show so much, and how much I miss it because it's over. For all the reasons above I loved the OVA. There were so many moments that made me laugh, that made me happy, and just the nostalgia itself was in some ways enjoyable. Free! is a great show not enough people give a chance. Sometimes, we just have to let go of the negatives and enjoy the show. Overall (Average based on the five categories): 8.6 [Rounded to 9].

justlikecarlo★ 9

For those of you who really missed the guys from Free!, then this special unaired episode would definitely be an eyecandy! Right off the bat, we see the Iwatobi guys visiting the Samezuka School Festival and we then saw the crazy antics that ensued during the entire day in the festival. From the Samezuka's swim club's Maid and Butler Cafe (Damn, Rin looked good in butler uniform, as well as freaking Nitori and Momo on a maid costume, and Sousuke cooking omelette rice!!), to the guys playing the Survival game, where the winner is the last man standing. Who won? Watch it! And oh, the awkwardness betweenSousuke and Haru tho. XD For someone who enjoyed (tehnically) the first 2 seasons of this anime filled with nothing but fanservice for the girls, I can really guarantee that every Free! fan out there would enjoy it. I mean, how could you not resist seeing your ships happen?! From MakoHaru, to SouRin, to ReiGisa, to all the possible ships that you can think of! Giving this OVA a 9/10 just for the laughs alone. That's how funny this OVA is! So if you have nothing to watch and want to have a quick laugh, then watch this OVA. It's a gem!