Free! Iwatobi Swim Club - Recommendations

Brad says...

Each of these shows follow a group of dedicated high school boys as they compete in competitions relating to their chosen sport. The characters are fairly similar, with an intense rivalries prevalent in each. Exaggerated action shots are a common sight in each show as well. Both shows are fairly similar, so it stands to reason that fans of one are likely to enjoy the other, but due to the nature of Free!'s fanservice it may turn a lot of people off before they give it a fair chance.

jaysah925 says...

when i first read the synopsis of Free! it instantlly reminded me of KnB. sports? tournaments? friendship? bishie boys? HECK YEAH. watching the first episode of free! definitely confirmed my suspicions that this anime would have the same themes of KnB.  

gilay04 says...

Both plots have boys who aspire to be a professional at the sport they love and try their hardest with their teammates...Though they are around different sports the plot is alike and it gives us a thrill of suspension as we gaze upon the episodes!

Have an enjoyable time with anime and manga too! XD

I personally love Kuroko's Basketball and one of my new favorites Free!

Naga says...

Both anime are about a group of teenage boys engaged in a certain sport. The focus is more or less around their relationships and most of the plot is revolving around the sport. If you’re a fan of one, there’s a big chance you’ll also enjoy the other one.

NicoNicoDesu says...

The recommendation is pretty obvious--both shows are centered around a group of crazy-hot guys (who, especially in "Free!"'s case, are often half-naked) who love sports. Of course, the sports are different, but both allow for some cool animation effects and give the shows an excuse to make the guys have shounen-ai relationships, sweat and pant enough to make any girl swoon, and parade around showing their bodies (which are beautiful enough to warrant a watch in either case (especially "Free!"'s).

But if you actually care for interesting casts and genuinely entertaining shows (and, you know, a little fanservice on the side. It never hurt anyone), both of these shows are easy recommendations.

Larkawolfgirl says...

Both of these shows revolve around a group of students as they struggle to compete in their sport of choice. While it is more apparent in Free, both show the reunion of old time teammates. Fanservice is abundant in both, though Free! definitely wins. Fangirls will jump over these two shows since many shounen-ai inferences can be made. 

manuueex says...

Both animes show lots of boys who play a sport and do competition. It talks a lot about the rivalry and the friendship in both too.

kenji123 says...

Both of these anime is about friendship, sports, and hardwork to be the best... reccomended for people who loves sports 

TallyCrow says...

Both anime is about a sport and about competing to be the best. 

Friendships are built and rivals are made :) 

The only difference is the actual sport! 

KatoMarika says...

there both about teenage boys who love a certain sport. they enter competions and train hard to win.

Makotowhale20 says...

Another one of my favorite sports anime (and yes swim is a sport). Kuroko's Basketball, also known as Kuroko no Basuke, is one of the anime I would encourage people to watch. It's very easy to get attached to the characters due to their character deevelopment and different personalities. 

Peta7382 says...

they both are sporting anime's that focus on a group of highschool boys who excel at their sports. They are centred around friendship and teamwork.

delmar2708 says...

Both are sports anime and follow a group of young teenager boys who love sports. It deeply expressess the strength of teamwork and how there is no I in team. In a sence, they both give a slice of life.

whitereaper says...

firstly because they are both team work based. secondly because they are both based on sportsmanship. thirdly they both show truefriendships.

ccallstar111 says...

Sports Anime. They are both a mixture between light hearted humor and rival angst. If you are looking for gayness, Free! is a better recommendation than Kuroko no Basket. Both are slices of life that focuses on relationships and character development.

violaistmia says...

Well, they are both sports anime. Although Kuroko's basketball isn't that much fanservice, it is still very interesting and the characters are pretty cute. Both have good plots also.

animerandom says...

Both are sports anime with clean graphics with unrealistic (but awesome) graphics when the characters get in the zone.

ladyinvisible says...

Because these animes are both sports anime. They not only show you what their sports life is but also a bit of their personal life and past.

Theadventurer2019 says...

If you love sports and character development then you would like both and other anime in this similar genre

Starra says...

Good boys playing sports and doing their best. Both series also explore the themes of friendship quite well. Free! has more drama and KuroBas doesn't get nearly as heavy until a bit later on in the story.

Also, neither are very realistic depictions of their featured sport in order to make things more exciting. 

Randxm says...

Both animes are about competing, defeat, winning and friendship. They're both entertaining and each charatcters are lovely

FullmetalDragon says...

Both are great sports anime with some interesting characters. If you like one, you will almost certainly like the other! 

Fit4Life says...

Both of these anime's are sports anime's with a strong shounen ai feel to them. There is tons of bromance and plenty of hot guys. 

tsukkibaka says...

Free!- Iwatobi Swim Club and Yuri!!! on Ice are both very gay, and they are both about sports.

hamletsmage says...

Are you tired of fanservice that only shows bouncy boobs and cute panties? Do you want some masculine butts, glistening pecs, possibly gay interactions? Well, these two anime will give you what you've been looking for. Both are sports anime designed to show off the masculine form. Pair them together for male-fanservice overload. 

YagamiRiku says...

Both of these animes are about sports, and the angst and struggles of the characters in them to overcome their fears, as well as the competition of their sports. 

llamalicious525 says...

They're both series about pretty sports boys that are gay for each other. Besides the fluff reasons, both have great soundtracks and have diverse characters that know how to pull at your heart while still being adorable.

LadyCacti says...

Both animes are full of attractive guys doing sport competitions. Oh, how could I forget ALL of the shounen-ai tones! In fact there's so much it's practically impossible to ignore!

Altogether these are great animes which are really enjoyable to watch. If you liked one, you will almost definitely like the other!

snivets says...

Both are highly shippable hot-blooded sports stories. Guaranteed match up, if you liked one, you will like the other.

halfcafkuroo says...

The subtle homosexauality (and obvious for yoi) is very cute. Both are excelent sports animes and intense and entertaining

ShowerOfSunshine says...

Both involve sports and also focuses a lot on friendship and there is also an aspect of comedy in both. Both are also aimed at teenage girls.

Pickletom10 says...

Both shows are filled with emotions, friendship, and compitition. I love both shows and think they have wonderful art. These beautiful men will pull at your heartstrings and show you something new!

RockyDash says...

These two are amazing if you love seeing guys half naked and in sparklely or tight outfits than these two are practically the same. If you love yaoi than i recommend them both but free doesnt have as much yaoi as Yuri on ice. but still they are both really good

yurioswife says...

If you're into sports anime with a slight romance then Free!Iwatobi swim club and Yuri! on ice are the animes for you

meeloo says...

Cute and likable male characters, although Free has more of them! They're both sports-focused, and they're both not the type of sports anime that expects the main characters to always get first place every time. They're more realistic and relatable to the average viewer, whether or not they're familiar with the sports environment.

VivisQueen says...

Sports and bishies are the most obvious parallels. However, Yuri on Ice is a much stronger show with more sympathetic and memorable characters, also the plot is simply managed better. Not to mention, if you appreciated the rare female gaze approach to sports in Free, then you'll likely enjoy the yaoi approach of Yuri on Ice.

KarmaKhameleon says...

Both star a cast of attractive guys playing sports. There is a lot of bromance in both anime which can have some gay undertones. Both anime are drawn nicely with a cool tone color palette that is fun and calming.

LoveHurts4Me says...

 They both show men doing sports. They both have a wide range of personalities for the characters. But, so far from what I've seen Free! tends more to be straight boys with some homosexual tendencies (gay baiting or whatever the term is.) Unlike Yuri!!! On Ice which is full on gay and is not gay b Iaiting. Though I may be wrong.

Snushy says...

It's funny becasuse you'd think 'swimming and ice skating have nothing in common' but I enjoyed both these just the same. They both have the emotional side to their sport, i suppose all sports animes do.... anyway, if you're a fan of Yuri on Ice or Free, watch the other!

Starletka says...

The obvious connection between Free! and Haikyuu!! is that they have to do with sports, but they also share a pleasant, peaceful atmosphere and have very likable (mostly male) characters. As a person who never even liked the sports genre, I can honestly say I enjoyed both of these series.

ccallstar111 says...

Both Haikyuu!! and Free! Iwatobi Swim Club are sports anime, with boys being the main characters. Although Free! is more serious than Haikyuu!!, both shows have common themes such as teamwork, friendship, hard work, and determination. Both shows also contain a rivalry between two characters who are also friends. If you like either show, you will like the other one.

Nemirel says...

They're both sports animes. In Haikyuu!! there's more of a focus on training and there's always comedy, while in Free! it's more serious with a little comedy, about how they live with their past and get over personal obsticles. They both have rivals that are also good friends, Nekoma and that training group for Haikyuu!!, Rin and his team for Free!. In Haikyuu!!, the characters are more diverse, so there's almost a guarentee that one will become your favorite. In Free!, there's only a few characters, so you get to know them, and their pasts extremely well. Haikyuu!! is a longer series than Free! with almost 50 (as of this time) episodes in two seasons (third hasn't come out yet), while Free! only has about 25 in both seasons.

EmmaHomestuck says...

its about sports. i googled shows like free because i really love it and haikyuu came up. i havent watched haikyuu yet but i hope its good

Maxchan says...

Even though they may not seem similar, both Haikyuu and Free are both very similar. Yes, one is about swimming and the other is about volleyball. But the way both animes show how the team bonds with each other and grow stronger, winning and losing against other teams, building friendships and a little on actual school life. 

In my opinion both are great animes! I loved the characters and how the team isn't OP. They have to work and grow stronger to win. The thing is I get way into these types of animes and just start yelling at the screen for them to win XD 

I would agree with this recommendation if you enjoyed free or Haikyuu! Both are great but it really depends on how you see the story of them.

Kirasan8 says...

If you love/like haikyuu, you will also love/like free... There are handsome boys, emotions, sport and (mainly) bl ships. If you are fujoshi/fudanshi, you will enjoy both of those anime series. I hope this rec helped you and I'm sorry for mistakes in my english :)

MeiSieuIsStarlord says...

Both show the intensity of a difficult sport from the perspective of teenagers, who build a school team where one either didn't exist before, or was still being realized. Both delve into the intensities and insecurities of the team collective and the individual. On a lighter-hearted note, both also include the endearing/infuriating banter and antics between teammates and rivals (though Haikyuu parodies its characters and these situations more). 

Both are personable animes. Neither are boring. 

devihelios says...

Both have fun plots with interesting and unique characters. They bond over their sport and get through their hardships together. Obviously it isn't as cheesy as I'm making it sound, but they are similar in that way. Also, the main characters are both way too obsessed with their chosen sport and have a natural knack for it. (Hinata still has someway to go, but good intuition, reflexes, etc.)

Snushy says...

I watched these quite far apart in time but just a couple of episodes into Haikyuu i definitly got Free vibes.. plus Kagayama's design was based off Haru, or so I've heard! I love these boys with my entire heart soo....

ShiroHatake says...

Both anime are focused on male high school characters competing in sports competitions. There is a central plot focus on the importance of friendship and teamwork to reach their goals. Both shows are full of hot guys. 

gingswifey says...

both have to do with sports 

like even if you dont play any sports (which honestly same) youll enjoy these :)

and there are conflicts and funni stuff in between

the boys are also cuties lolol try not to simp too much tehe

phantomKID13 says...

yessss !!! totally agree both the animes were super amazing can watch it 10000 times more since i love sports 

xyst says...

Both anime are in the sports genre and follow a group of male students. The character in both shows face many obstacles and will generally pass them with the support of others or determination by themselves. 

evelynannb says...

Two brilliant sports anime combined loveable comedic characters with brilliant arcs and development. What more could you ask for?

maidmelody says...

both sports animes that have extremely lovable characters who go through amazing character development

though free! deals with some slighty heavier topics, both shows are enjoyable and lighthearted and will (hopefully) leave a smile on your face :)

ShowerOfSunshine says...

Both of these shows have very similar characters and are about a new sports club being formed. Free! is about a swimming club while Tsurune is about kyudo- which is similar to archery. Each of these shows also includes an important character from a rivalling team as well.

burntpopcorn says...

free! and tsurune have many similarities. free! and tsurune are both about how the characters work together to form a high school club designated towards their specific sport. both of these shows have similar characters (ex. nagisa and nanao have personalities that are very alike to one another) as well. the animation is also very amazing. it is very difficult to animate water (and make it appealing) but free! did it absolutely perfectly! same thing with tsurune. the animation for it is very beautiful. these are both great shows that you should definitely watch sometime if you haven't already!

AndriasSch says...

It would be rather difficult not to like Free!/Tsurune if you liked the other series, since the development of both is basically the same story with the same twists, except for the main character's motivation. The cast of characters has also very similar designs and personalities, and there are sports clubs activities, as well as individual and group competitions. Other teams are shown participating, including the childhood friend of the protagonist appearing as a rival in those competitions.

devihelios says...

The characters' personalties are mostly the same, but different to each anime. The main characters deal with their sport-related problem and get the supporting charcters to help them out. Both are funny and captiving to the watcher.

Thanh03 says...

Both are abut sports and it's about a new sportsclub being formed. The chracters have similar personalities. There's the childhood friend who went to a different school. 

ErinMM says...

Both very similar plot ideas. Someone wants to stop their sport, friends and friendship keeps them going. Tsurune has less half naked people.

Reya244 says...

............................................................................................................................i think this kida of simlar to haikyuu

allaboutthatLeo says...

dunno a lot of guys to fawn over. a lot of hotness and also some wholesome and dramatic moments. highly recommend.

ashleykun says...

they are both shounen animes and have same kinda plots both about sports and wanting to get better lots of friendships fun and loads of laughs in both animes

Leyleydawolf says...

They are both based on athletes playing the sport they love and the problems they have to overcome

Spork996 says...

both gay sports anime                                                                                                                                                

Morwen says...

This isn't a recommendation based on plot, but more on the feel of these shows. Both of these shows are clearly aimed at women, and feature a group of guys with intense relationships with each other.

Ouran is obviously more romantic, since it's a reverse harem (there's a female lead character in Free!, but she only serves as a manager and friend to the guys), but putting aside the romance aspects of Ouran and the main sports plot in Free! they're definitely similar in tone. Both have elements of comedy and drama, spend a lot of time on character development, and end on a dramatic, feel-good tone.

Since the audiences for both of these shows are so similar, I think that fans of one would definitely like the other.

HiddenNugget says...

Although the plots are very different, they both have thesame atmosphere of a small family of friends going through various things together

kristrex says...

Even though both of them are different in their plots, they are both fairly light hearted and is a story of friends getting to know each other and their lives. Though Iwatobi Swim Club lacks the romantic aspect, in both animes, there are fairly cute guys ;) However, if you prefer an anime with more romance, then Ouran High School Host Club would be better. Iwatobi Swim Club is more of a slice of life anime, but both are fairly relaxed and enjoyable to watch :)

Jennosaur says...

Both of them are awesome, ok. Free and OHSHC both have a group of attractive men, enough said.

GemJewel says...

Both are anime are focused on High School team sports where the main characters band together to improve themselves and face their opponents as best they can. In each, members that want the club are tasked with finding others to join and convince them to do so via a race. 

ccallstar111 says...

Both shows are sports anime, but it's more than that. The friendly but intense competition between athletes is beautiful in an emotional way. The animation quality is on par with each other. Two characters are very similar to each other, Haruka Nanase  (Free!) and Takeru Fujiwara (Prince of Stride). Both are serious and emotional but also hilarious and full of comedic relief when necessary.

IchigoKakashi says...

They share some similarities that make rather identical... some of them are:

-they are short animes with only 12 episodes

-both plots are about a washed-up high school sports club (that was known as it's best club within said sport) that gets renewed/revived and makes it great again within said sport

-character designs. For instance they both got a boy that would do great within cross-dressing, a stoic and a guy that seems rather happy-go-lucky at first glance

One of the differences however, is the fan servive. You liked "Prince of Stride" but want more abs, swimming and less clothes? Go watch "Free!" Liked "Free!" but want less focus on fan service and more running? Go watch "Prince of Stride"

BloodyRedRoses says...

They both are sports animes, they have the general slice of life concept, the main characters have the same emotional struggles with their sport, AND YOU WILL SHIP LITERALLY EVERYTHING.

3inOne says...

Both of these anime focus on water sports, however, Free! focuses on swimming, while Dive!! focuses on diving (they are different sports but still within the same category). Also, both of the anime showcase teams that are about to be shut down or are very small and have lots of problems. They are offered hope and able to continue on certain conditions. 

Plus, they both have hot shirtless guys, so what's not to like ;)

Fuuoshi says...

Because they both are water/swimming related animes...idk xD

...

I'm sorry..

I'll just go now....

hamletsmage says...

Obviously the main tie here is water-based sports. Both showcase young men with rather unpolished abilities striving to comoete on a national stage. With a lot of the characters questioning their motivation in sports where your friends are your rivals, the tones are similar as well. 

Lamia69MJ says...

Both Anime has Refreshing Minty Ocean Vive that gives whoever watching 

Energetic & O Want to Swim 🏊‍♂️ 🏊‍♀️ like That..Worth Watching 

ZetsubouKaiji says...

These are both slice of life comedies about a group of boys. Although the main reason for the rec is the boys themselves. They're all bishounen boys for the ladies to drool over. In Meganebu all the guys wear glasses and in Free! the boys are often stripped down to their swim trunks. However, both show are more than fanservice vehicles.

Meganebu is a straight comedy with little or no connecting plot other than maybe an overall theme for an episode, whereas Free actually does have a plot about the swim team. However, both shows have a charming cast of characters and if you want to see pretty boys living their daily lives then these are two good choices for you.

Annalyn says...

Both anime are about cute boys in a club, and neither are particularly deep. Free! tries to take itself seriously, but its success is debatable. Meganebu! doesn't even try to be serious, which is why I enjoyed it. Both focus on friendship and all that sappy stuff. The characters are similar enough to require this recommendation.

GustafTheWise says...

Both shows show great usage of all male clubs who want to achieve a great goal that others edge them towards with a few hardships and getting over those.

snivets says...

Both Free! and Kimi to Boku revolve around a group of high school boys. The characters in both interact similarly with each other: despite the fact that they do nothing but argue with each other, you can tell they're good friends. If you enjoy the characters in either show, I'd recommend trying the other.

HasseRovdjur says...

Both shows feature a cast made primarily out of highschool boys and is generally about them interacting with eachother. Kimi to Boku is more of a regular slice of like while Free has more of a fanservice element and it's about a sports club.