rhmare - Tumblr blog

[rhmare]

From Spoon.2Di vol.85

Director Eisaku Kawanami Interview

Kawanami Eisaku-san has been involved in the production of the series ever since its planning stage. As production director and storyboard artist starting from the first season, and then as general director starting from the movie “Free! Timeless Medley - Kizuna”, he has breathed new life into the series, while still placing the utmost importance on the Free! universe, and created a work that will remain in the hearts of many fans. We asked him how he feels now that he has successfully completed the production, and what kind of thoughts he put into the movie.

“Gratitude was one of the themes of the film. Throughout the story, I wanted to convey a big “thank you” to the characters, to all the staff who have been involved in this project until now, and to all the people who will see the movie.”

I was very touched by this movie - which could be called a culmination of the series, where the footprints of “Free!” are sprinkled all throughout. What was most important to you when creating this film, and what are your honest feelings now that you have spun the story of “Free!” this far?

“Mainly, I feel like a I can breathe a sigh of relief. I have been swimming with Haru and the others for a really long time, and this movie was created while reflecting on all that accumulated time - so my feelings of relief for having been able to tackle Haru’s life and this work called “Free!” with sincerity and in my own way, for having been able to give them shape yet again, are really enormous. Ever since I became the director of “Free!”, I have always said, “I want all the characters to cross the finish line together in a happy way”. It may not be perfect, but I am very glad that I was able to give each and every character a gift of happy feelings in this movie. Gratitude was one of the themes of the film. Throughout the story, I wanted to convey a big “thank you” to the characters, to all the staff who have been involved in this project until now, and to all the people who will see the movie. There were many difficulties, but I am really happy that we were able to finish the film by putting all these different feelings into it. Moreover, I have always wanted to make a movie with a fired-up storyline like in a shounen manga, so I am also glad that I was able to accomplish that.”

Haru and Rin’s hearts were separated by an unexpected clash in the first movie, but the scene where they face each other again as “rivals” is reminiscent of their confrontation in the pool at night in the first season of “Free!”, it was really heart-warming. The scene where the two pull Makoto into the pool also made me smile. Please tell us your thoughts about the flow and direction of that scene.

“The main concept, “Haru confirms his bonds through swimming” was set as a general framework spread out throughout both movies - but all the non-essential parts, details and seasonings were added to the story in a pretty flexible manner. It’s difficult to put into words, but I feel like the “Free!” world carved into my body was added to the movie almost intuitively. For example, at the planning stage of the series, I was the one to suggest the idea of a confrontation in a night pool, I participated hands-on in the storyboarding and direction of the second episode of the first season, and I expressed the idea in visual images. When I tried to express my thoughts and feelings about “Free!” in this movie, the memories of that time suddenly came back to me. The Haru and Rin in my mind found their way to the “night pool” on their own, very naturally. For the staff, the production of this series was a sort of personal experience. I would even say it was ingrained in our bodies. I wove the storyboard of this movie while following the threads of my memory, and recalling that experience. The “Free!” that I had experienced emerged straight through the images, and the characters were moving freely as they pleased within that picture. I created the movie with those feelings, so during the production process, I felt very nostalgic, sometimes excited, and at the same time a little sad.”

After focusing on the butterfly race and putting in a lot of effort, Rin finally made it to the podium. The scene where Rin puts his medal around Gou’s neck was a deeply, deeply emotional scene for the viewers, who have witnessed Rin’s devotion to his family over the entire course of the story. How did you feel when you first wrote Rin’s story?

“Since the very beginning, Rin has always been an energetic and active character, and he’s always expressed his desire to win a medal. When I saw him actually win it I was very moved, even though I’m not Mikhail. Having watched the series so far, I feel that Rin has always been pursuing a relationship with his family and his community… but each time he was repeatedly met with setbacks and failures. In his blood-related family, he lost his father, and on his elementary school team, he didn’t get along with Sousuke. I think it was only when he swam the relay with Haru and the others that he felt something in his heart being filled. Then, in high school, he swam with Haru and the others again - and he was also able to swim on the Samezuka team while feeling a bond with them. After that, his personal relationships expanded to include the characters from “High☆Speed! Free! Starting Days”, starting with Ikuya and Natsuya, and he became even more determined to play an active role in the world. In the end, the catalyst for all of this was the relay that he swam with Haru and the others when he was in elementary school. For Haru, Rin is the one who led him to the relay - but for Rin too, it was precisely because Haru was there that he was able to truly see a “sight that he had never seen before”. On a surface level, Haru and Rin are very different from each other. But in the innermost depths of their hearts, deep down in their souls, they both have passionate hearts, and I think they are very similar. Although the length of the movie was limited, I hope that I was able to depict with care Rin's starting point, what he treasures, and what he’s gained in the series so far.”

Haru was able to finally confront himself and overcome the barrier of turning 20 years old, despite being burdened with many different problems. In the previous interview, you said that “Free! The Final Stroke” is “a story meant to bring a temporary conclusion to Haru’s relationship with water”, but please tell us your impressions on Haru’s story so far, and the thoughts that you put into the movie.

“Haru doesn't say much, except what is essential. But his swimming is very eloquent, and has charmed many people. Up to this point, everyone has experienced various feelings after watching Haru swim. But in this movie, the idea is that of Haru using his own swimming to return everyone’s feelings of gratitude, to the best of his ability. Haru, who has always thought he was okay with being alone in the water - after interacting with many characters and experiencing a lot of emotions, both good and bad - has now grown up. In the last race, he put all of those feelings into his swimming and swam recklessly, following his emotions. It was meant to convey those feelings both to the audience/the people watching the relay in the movie, and to the staff who made this film/the fans who supported us in the real world. But I think it was a very exhausting and difficult swim for Haru. The only thing I can tell him right now, is “Haru, thank you for all your hard work”. I hope that he will keep living each day at his own pace. I am sure that Haru and the others will continue to swim in the future, while occasionally doing silly stuff. When watching the finished film, I was very happy I could confirm with my own eyes their readiness to face the future. It made me think that I should also do my best. I think it’s a very happy thing for the series, that the story has now reached one point of completion. It was a sight that I was able to see only because Haru was the main character!”

Please give a message to all the fans who have been following the “Free!” series up until now!

“While I was making this movie, before I knew it, I found myself thinking back to all the days connected to the creation of “Free!”. Every day I was hit by the realization of how many things happened, both in the series and on the actual site of production. It was fun to keep swimming with Haru and the others for such a really, really long time. I didn't expect that we would end up having such a long relationship. I still haven't fully digested everything about the time that we spent together with “Free!” - however, we have tried to cram the maximum amount of love and gratitude that we could into this movie. Just at the thought of all the people who watched the film, I am filled with feelings of gratitude. I would be very happy if “Free!” could become the kind of series that will remain in someone’s heart for years to come.”

[rhmare]

🌸CONTRIBUTOR SPOTLIGHT: mezzo🌸

@rhmare will be contributing an illustration for the zine! ✨ She’s got a fun piece planned for us–here’s a sneak peek 🐟

Check out our carrd for more info about the zine, and to preorder now!

[rhmare]

New meme format

[rhmare]

RH Week 2020 Day 3 - Celebration

........I love drunk!Haru okay.

[rhmare]

RH Week 2020 Day 2 - Family

Alternative version

“Ah yes. Me. My boyfriend. And his f*cking cat.”

[rhmare]

RH Week 2020 Day 2 - Family

“Ah yes. Me. My boyfriend. And his hand-made one meter tall Iwatobi-chan.

...and his hard-won two meters tall special edition Northern Stoplight Loosejaw-kun.

And that giant Samezuka-chan doll that I still have no idea where he got.

And-”

[rhmare]

RH Week 2020 Day 1 - Connection

...look.

Look, I know that baby Haru was quite set on the idea of sending Rin an omamori to cheer him up during his difficult time in Australia, but.

Please consider.

LONG-DISTANCE VOODOO CUDDLES.

Based on this.

[rhmare]

...so has this officially become a meme yet? Because if not, it should.

Drawn basically as a present for yohao88​.

[rhmare]

RH Week 2019 Days 4/5 - Destiny + Dreams

A very weird nightmare?

The tragic past memories of two soldiers on opposite sides of the war deserting in the name of Love™?

...kind of hard to say, given Rin’s overactive imagination whenever it comes to dreams.

[rhmare]

RH Week 2019 Day 3 - (Final) Departure

...Rin should probably have been more specific when he told Haru to diversify his English greetings now that he can’t intruduce himself with ‘Hi I only swim free’ anymore.

[rhmare]

RH Week 2019 Day 2 - Water

One day, a kind soul will write and/or draw a tragic and heart-wrenching RinHaru Titanic AU based on this old prompt by xirishima.

I am not that soul.

[rhmare]

RH Week 2019 Day 1 - Confessions

Happy holidays to everyone!

but especially to overworked local deities in small fishing villages.

[rhmare]

RH Week Day 4 - Life

Aaaaaaaah, sweet daily life.

...no, but really, consider: now that they’re part of the national team, Haru and Rin will inevitably spend a lot of their time on planes.

That is, of course, a WONDERFUL opportunity for RH cuddles (not to mention for joining the mile high club)… but let’s be honest, you can only spend so much time cuddling and having sex in a plane toilet before things start getting kind of boring. And cramped.

So.

How about using this plane time more judiciously by forcing our boys to go through the plot of EVERY SINGLE PLANE ACTION MOVIE EVER each time they board a plane?

They are flying out to Paris for a competition? BAM, a terrorist tries to take over the plane. They are called over to Moscow for a race? BAM, the passengers suddenly start fainting left and right - which makes everyone think of an infectious disease but really it turns out to be just mass hysteria. They are headed to the Olympics in Rio? BAM, a malfunction leads to an emergency crash-landing on a dangerous uninhabited island and they must do everything they can to get to Rio in time. They are finally going home after a tiring week-long marathon competition in America? BAM, they get kidnapped by weird aliens while they’re passing over the Bermuda triangle.

Nagisa keeps a running tally of the incidents, and after a while starts a betting pool on what will befall them next. It makes Makoto cry with worry, but also he keeps winning because he’s so paranoid he somehow manages to guess every single thing right.

Obligatory side note: …Rin is a true bred Australian boy by now, meaning that he can DEFINITELY deal with motherfucking snakes, this is a fact please don’t fight me on this.

[rhmare]

RH Week Day 3 - Water

...I mean.

You know he would.

Though he would swim instead of run to move along, obviously.

[rhmare]

RH Week Day 2 - Relationship

......I can’t believe that Kyoani still hasn’t given us a canon design for Nanase grandma.

KYOANI RELEASE THE FORBIDDEN GRANDMA DESIGNS 2019 CHALLENGE *waves fist*

[rhmare]

RH Week Day 1 - History

“I had a dream, and I met with a king. I sold crystal and crossed the desert. And, because the tribes declared war, I went to the well, seeking the alchemist. So, I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you.”

― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

[rhmare]

Hi! Do I need to watch free! Starting days to understand Dive To The Future? Because there’s the ‘new’ characters Asahi and Ik-something? I don’t know who they are, can you tell me who they are exactly?

Asahiand Ikuya, yeah…. they’re Haru and Makoto’s teammates from middle school. :D

Thereare also Nao and Natsuya, though they’re probably less important… honestly, I think I’dbe a good idea to watch the movie itself, since that was when those characterswere introduced (well, technicallythey were introduced in the novel - but the movie is pretty different from thenovel, and I assume that the new season will follow movie continuity, so XD).

Ifyou really don’t feel like watching it for some reason (or you don’t have any timeatm), I guess reading some summaries and watching the recap episode (that youcan find here: kudouusagi.tumblr.com/post/175628533557/) would be enoughfor a general understanding… especially since I’d be ready to bet the serieswill give us continuous flashbacks to all the important scenes, lol. There arealso some parts in the recap movies (Timeless Medley Bond + Promise) where theyshowed us their older selves and introduced yet another new character (Hiyori, Ikuya’sfriend)… though they were mostly just cameos or foreshadowing.

Anyway,while I’d of course advise to watch all the material Kyoani has given us, Ithink the important thing for you to do in order to ‘understand’ the new seasonis to have at least some idea of whothese characters are… because otherwise you’d be completely lost. XD