AnimeSuki Forums

Haak · 2013-07-05, 13:37

I don't think there's any surprise from critics in what Free turned out to be. Guardian Enzo pretty much said it himself:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

There's nothing wrong with a show that's transparently a service series for fujoshi, if that's what Feee! turns out to be - otaku have had hundreds of them, so they have no call to complain now. There could be more here - maybe one or more of the characters will emerge as really interesting (or like KtB, it'll be the 5th lead who brings a new spark of life to the series) or the story or comedic aspects will find another gear, and Free! will reveal some hidden depths that weren't apparent in the premiere.

As for myself, I agree with Triple_R in that this turned out to be better than expected. But only because I had really low expectations and thought this would be as bad as Kimi to Boku which I dropped 30 seconds into the second episode. I can see certain similar problems with Makoto and Nagisa but Haruka and Rin are totally in the safe zone. It's easy to talk about the shallow fanservice and it's true that it does seem to be the main focus but I can foresee real substance within their relationship already (No innuendos please).

germanturkey · 2013-07-05, 14:03

and so it begins....

Spoiler for genderbent:

Dark Wing · 2013-07-05, 14:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by germanturkey

and so it begins....

Spoiler for genderbent:

Well that didn't take long at all did it?...

Kirarakim · 2013-07-05, 14:19

I don't know what you guys are talking about. There was genderbent versions of these characters after the first CM aired.

Triple_R · 2013-07-05, 14:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark Wing

Well that didn't take long at all did it?...

I guess the good news is that they don't even need to be renamed.

Haruka, Nagisa, and Rin all make me think "female characters". Key characters to be precise, lol

I've seen Makoto used a lot for both genders.

Skane · 2013-07-05, 14:21

They should have given Gou a gruff voice like Dr. Girlfriend from Venture Brothers just to really screw around with people's minds.

ADD] Imagine if Gou was voiced by Wakamoto Norio...

Natch.

Dark Wing · 2013-07-05, 14:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirarakim

I don't know what you guys are talking about. There was genderbent versions of these characters after the first CM aired.

Really got a link? I didn't see it.

GDiddy · 2013-07-05, 14:26

OTP = Haruka x Pool.

Triple_R · 2013-07-05, 14:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by GDiddy

OTP = Haruka x Pool.

His life is clearly incomplete without Pool, and he drops his pants at the very sight of Pool, so...

Kirarakim · 2013-07-05, 14:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark Wing

Really got a link? I didn't see it.

I didn't save it but it was on Tumblr. In fact I am sure someone posted it either early on this thread or one of the many other Kyoani threads related to this topic.

Enternal · 2013-07-05, 14:54

Oh my gawd! What is this?!

ginger02 · 2013-07-05, 15:06

Something I saw on another forum

hoshino_crimsonwings · 2013-07-05, 15:21

Should've had Romi park voice Gou.

Kagura89 · 2013-07-05, 16:20

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Matsuoka siblings

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Shotas

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Haruka

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Rin

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Makoto

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Nagisa

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Rei

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Gou

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Dextro · 2013-07-05, 16:49

What about the teacher? I find the lack of art for the female teacher whose name I forgot a grave injustice

rulfo · 2013-07-05, 19:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triple_R

Were some people actually expecting this to be The Legend of the Galactic Swimmers?

Nope. I expected Cowboy Bebop with skin tight speedos.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enternal

Oh my gawd! What is this?!

Dear lord.... FUND IT.

GDiddy · 2013-07-05, 20:26

I've seen genderbent pics of the cast before.....though that one a thread back is new.

And Girl Haruka reminds me of someone....

Anyway, I'm amused by the fact that the ones who were crying over this show are now 'OH MY GERD ITS ACTUALLY FUNNY!'

germanturkey · 2013-07-05, 20:59

whatevs... i'm just going to sort through pixiv once a week and post what i like. haha

Archon_Wing · 2013-07-05, 23:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirarakim

Okay this argument is getting silly. For one I know from both Enzo and Reckoner's posts on other threads that they don't think guys should only act by a set perimeter of masculinity.

I have a lot of issues with many of what male anime fans have said about Free!, Fujoshi, and women shows in general. I never felt anything sexist from any of Enzo's and Reckoner's comments. I think this is really just an issue of miscommunication.

However I disagree with them that the characters act like middle school girls or like any girls I know. Do I think they are realistic portrayals of guys? Well no I absolutely don't.

I think it is foolish to expect anime characters expect realistically; in fact I never really understood the concept of anime and realism. I feel that leads to fantasy and sci-fi getting bashed by the unimaginative.

And yes, it is pretty stupid to complain about fanservice of male characters, when it's perfectly ok to start thinking of where to find doujin of female characters. Though I think some may think that the treatment of characters of either gender as a piece of meat to be offense, in respect of anime characters that resemble people.

So there's the feeling that these guys are just females moved to male characters by moving stereotypical traits over. I don't necessarily think that inherently is a bad thing; certainly there are a bunch of interesting tangents. I just doubt the show would go that way but they could.

Quote:

The guys in Free! are meant to appeal to female fantasies. I am not necessarily saying they are my fantasies lol but just like the girls in KON! (the oft cited example in this thread) appeal to male fantasies, it is the same for the guys in Free! And yes many of the same tropes appeal to both genders.

And those tropes, regardless of gender are the opposite of fantasy of me. Pretty sure I would kill myself if that were reality.

Fevvers · 2013-07-06, 00:59

Honestly? None of the characters appeal to me (yet), I was never a fan of past Kyoani characters anyway. Watching this for the gorgeous animation alone (DAT WATER!!)!

2013-07-05, 14:03	Link #582
germanturkey Udon-YAAAAAAAA Join Date: Jan 2008 Age: 35	and so it begins.... Spoiler for genderbent: __________________ Aria is the best series EVER. Rewatch Origination with me. Blessed are those who listen to headphones, for they listen to the sound of heaven.

2013-07-05, 14:19	Link #584
Kirarakim Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007	I don't know what you guys are talking about. There was genderbent versions of these characters after the first CM aired. __________________ Twitter MAL

2013-07-05, 14:21	Link #586
Skane Anime Snark Join Date: May 2006 Location: Singapore Age: 41	They should have given Gou a gruff voice like Dr. Girlfriend from Venture Brothers just to really screw around with people's minds. ADD] Imagine if Gou was voiced by Wakamoto Norio... Natch. __________________ Hearthstone Battletag: Skane#1425 [Can't GIF This], [Jail's House of Rock], [Kanon In The Snow], [She Ain't Dead Yet... She's In Quantum], [She Stabs] Founder of "The Cult of Psycho-Moe", Member of "ARIA the Social Group" & the "Belkan Saint Church".

2013-07-05, 14:26	Link #588
GDiddy Sisterhood of the Desu Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: in a van by the river	OTP = Haruka x Pool. __________________

2013-07-05, 14:54	Link #591
Enternal Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005	Oh my gawd! What is this?! __________________ Falcom Collections - A Wallpaper Archives of Trails in the Sky, Ys, and Other Games by Falcom

2013-07-05, 15:06	Link #592
ginger02 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012	Something I saw on another forum

2013-07-05, 15:21	Link #593
hoshino_crimsonwings Senior Member Join Date: May 2006	Should've had Romi park voice Gou. __________________

2013-07-05, 16:20	Link #594
Kagura89 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Malaysia	Images Matsuoka siblings Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload? Images Shotas Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload? Images Haruka Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload? Images Rin Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload? Images Makoto Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload? Images Nagisa Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload? Images Rei Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload? Images Gou Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload? __________________

2013-07-05, 16:49	Link #595
Dextro He Without a Title Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The land of tempura	What about the teacher? I find the lack of art for the female teacher whose name I forgot a grave injustice __________________

2013-07-05, 20:26	Link #597
GDiddy Sisterhood of the Desu Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: in a van by the river	I've seen genderbent pics of the cast before.....though that one a thread back is new. And Girl Haruka reminds me of someone.... Anyway, I'm amused by the fact that the ones who were crying over this show are now 'OH MY GERD ITS ACTUALLY FUNNY!' __________________

2013-07-05, 20:59	Link #598
germanturkey Udon-YAAAAAAAA Join Date: Jan 2008 Age: 35	whatevs... i'm just going to sort through pixiv once a week and post what i like. haha __________________ Aria is the best series EVER. Rewatch Origination with me. Blessed are those who listen to headphones, for they listen to the sound of heaven.

2013-07-06, 00:59	Link #600
Fevvers a regular van veen Join Date: Feb 2007	Honestly? None of the characters appeal to me (yet), I was never a fan of past Kyoani characters anyway. Watching this for the gorgeous animation alone (DAT WATER!!)!