Free! Take Your Marks
Plot. In a post-credits scene, a message reads, "See you next stage", which was later revealed as a teaser for "Free!"'s third season, "Dive to the Future". Production. Kyoto Animation announced that a "new screen project" had been green-lit in a promotional video for the home release of "High Speed! Free! Starting Days". Details were announced at an event on March 19, 2017, where it was announced that the project would consist of two compilation films of "Free! Eternal Summer", the series' second season, titled "Free! Timeless Medley". In addition to the two  films, the project also included a third all-new original film sequel to the series and takes place where Haruka prepares to enter college, which serves as a transition to the series' third season, "Free! Dive to the Future". The film is told in four episodic parts and was released in theaters on October 28, 2017. "Free! Take Your Marks" was released on DVD and Blu-ray on April 4, 2018. Funimation acquired the rights for "Free! Take Your Marks", along with "High Speed! Free! Starting Days" and "Free! Timeless Medley" for distribution in North America. A limited screening of  Free! Take Your Marks was held on March 14, 2018 with English subtitles. All films were released as a set in October 2018. Reception. "Free! Take Your Marks" opened at #8 on its opening week. The film made at box office. The limited edition of the Blu-ray release debuted at #1 on Oricon and sold 6,336 copies on its first week, while the regular edition debuted at #7 and sold 1,991 on its first week. The DVD release debuted at #2 and sold 3,592 copies on its first week. Spencer Dakos from "Anime News Network" praised the film's  comedic approach in revealing sides to the characters that were never seen before and noted that the film took a step away from the dramatic storytelling in "High Speed! Free! Starting Days" and "Free! Eternal Summer". Jacob Chapman from "Anime News Network" cited the film's strengths as an "enjoyable comedy" that helps "ease fans gently into season three", but claimed that the film seemed like an original video animation and the change in director from Hiroko Utsumi to Eisaku Kawanami greatly affected the "atmosphere, drama, and fan service." Nick Creamer from "Anime News Network" praised it for integrating the  comedic style of the show's first season, but felt that the narrative was not cohesive. Soundtrack. The original soundtrack was produced by Tatsuya Kato, and it was released on November 29, 2017 under the name . The album peaked at #42 on the Oricon Weekly Albums Chart and charted for two weeks. The opening theme song, "Free-style Spirit", was performed by Style Five, which consists of the voice actors for Haruka, Makoto, Nagisa, Rei, and Rin. The ending theme song, "What Wonderful Days!!", was performed by . Both songs were released as a double-A side single on November 8 , 2017, which debuted on Oricon at #19 and charted for 5 weeks. They were later added on the original soundtrack album, along with all three versions of "What Wonderful Days!!"