Best tv shows like Free!
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
The story revolves around Haruka Nanase, a boy who has always loved to be immersed in water, and to swim in it. Before graduating from elementary school, he participated in a swimming tournament along with his fellow swimming club members, Makoto Tachibana, Nagisa Hazuki, and Rin Matsuoka. After achieving victory, each of the boys went their separate ways. Time passed, and in the middle of their uneventful high school lives Rin appears and challenges Haruka to a match, showing Haruka his overwhelming power. Not wanting it to end like this, Haruka, gathers together Makoto and Nagisa once again and brings a new member named Rei Ryugazaki to create the Iwatobi High School Swimming Club in order to defeat Rin.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Sport
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: anime, captivating, exciting, light, humorous, motivational
Best tv shows and movies like Free! (2013):
Similar in 76%
Backflip!! (2021)
Plot Summary:
The final summer of middle school, Shotaro Futaba discovers boys gymnastics and is completely enamored by it. Shotaro ends up going to Soshukan Private High School (aka Ao High) and decides to visit the boys gymnastics club. He's greeted by very unique senpais and a star gymnast named Misato Ryoya. Dedicating your life to something you love during your fiery days of youth... Of course, there is frustration, and fights, but see how these boys work together as a team towards a similar goal in this drama about sports and youth.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 271
Genere: Animation, Sport
Country: Japan
Duration:
Plot tags: anime, captivating, entertaining
Similar in 80%
The Gymnastics Samurai (2020)
Plot Summary:
In the year 2002, the formerly powerful Japanese men's gymnastics team member Jotaro Aragaki is no longer able to compete. Even though he trained strenuously daily, he is asked about retiring by his coach Amakusa. However, a certain encounter alters Aragaki's fate.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 159
Genere: Animation, Drama, Sport
Country: Japan
Duration:
Plot tags: anime, captivating, suspense
Similar in 80%
2.43: Seiin High School Boys Volleyball Team (2021)
Plot Summary:
Kimichika Haijima was a strong junior high school volleyball team member. After getting into trouble with the team, he moved to his mother's hometown and reunites with his childhood friend, Yuni Kuroba. The two become an ace pair at volleyball, but in their last tournament, get into a big fight. Will they ever play volleyball together again?.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 359
Genere: Animation, Drama, Sport
Country: Japan
Duration:
Plot tags: anime, captivating, entertaining, josei
Similar in 76%
Tsurune (2018)
Plot Summary:
When Minato Narumiya joins Prefectural Kazemai High School, he is quickly invited to join the archery club by the club's advisor, Tommy-sensei. His childhood friends Seiya Takehaya and Yamanouchi Ryohei swiftly agree to join, but Minato is hesitant at first. Because Minato is the rare student with experience in archery, Tommy-sensei orders him to give a demonstration, which Minato does... except his arrow doesn't hit the target. It is revealed that Minato has developed a terrible dysfunction regarding archery.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 552
Genere: Animation, Drama, Sport
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: anime, captivating, disturbing, super sentai
Similar in 78%
Big Windup! (2007)
Plot Summary:
Follows Ren Mihashi, who had previously excelled as his middle school baseball team's ace pitcher, due to his grandfather's connections as its manager. As he graduates to high school, whose baseball team his grandfather does not manage, he initially does not believe he is good enough to succeed at baseball, however, but assisted by his friends, he grows in stature, confidence and skill, helping his team excel with his own ability.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 298
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Sport
Country: Japan
Duration: 25 min
Plot tags: anime, humorous, realistic, semi serious, feel good
Similar in 81%
Run with the Wind (2018)
Plot Summary:
Kakeru, a former elite runner at high school, is chased for stealing food. He is saved by a Kansei University student Haiji, who is also a runner. Haiji persuades Kakeru to live in the old apartment "Chikuseisou" where he plans to team up with fellow residents to enter Hakone Ekiden Marathon, one of the most prominent university races in Japan. Kakeru soon finds out that all of the residents except for Haiji and himself are complete novices.
IMDB Rating: 8.4
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Sport
Country: Japan
Duration: 23 min
Plot tags: anime, captivating, seinen, super sentai
Similar in 88%
Hoop Days (2003)
Plot Summary:
A defunct high school basketball team finds a new student and things may start looking up for them.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 73
Genere: Animation, Drama, Sport
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: anime, inspirational, captivating, exciting, light, entertaining
Similar in 84%
High Speed! Free! Starting Summer (2015)
Plot Summary:
A prequel to the 2013 Kyoto Animation series Free! which is an adaptation of light novel High☆Speed!.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 609
Genere: Animation, Drama, Sport
Country: Japan
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: anime, inspirational, captivating, psychological, emotional
Similar in 89%
Laid-Back Camp (2018)
Plot Summary:
While the perfect getaway for most girls her age might be a fancy vacation with their loved ones, Rin Shima's ideal way of spending her days off is camping alone at the base of Mount Fuji. From pitching her tent to gathering firewood, she has always done everything by herself, and has no plans of leaving her little solitary world. However, what starts off as one of Rin's usual camping sessions somehow ends up as a surprise get-together for two when the lost Nadeshiko Kagamihara is forced to take refuge at her campsite. Originally intending to see the picturesque view of Mount Fuji for herself, Nadeshiko's plans are disrupted when she ends up falling asleep partway to her destination. Alone and with no other choice, she seeks help from the only other person nearby. Despite their hasty introductions, the two girls nevertheless enjoy the chilly night together, eating ramen and conversing while the campfire keeps them warm. And even after Nadeshiko's sister finally picks her up later that night, both girls silently ponder the possibility of another camping trip together.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: anime, exciting, light, sincere, humorous, captivating, educational, iyashikei
Similar in 82%
Love Live! School Idol Project (2013)
Plot Summary:
The school idol project is set at a school between Tokyo's Akihabara, Kanda, and Jinbouchou neighbourhoods. The school faces the danger of being streamlined out of existence, so nine of its female students decide to become idols to protect their school and boost attendance.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Family, Music, Musical
Country: Japan
Duration: 25 min
Plot tags: anime, feel good, captivating, light, humorous, tsundere
Similar in 76%
Yuri!!! on Ice (2016)
Plot Summary:
Yūri Katsuki carried all of Japan's hopes on his shoulders to win at the Gran Prix Finale ice skating competition, but suffered a crushing defeat. He returns home to Kyushu and half feels like he wants to retire, and half feels like he wants to continue ice skating. Suddenly the five-time consecutive world championship ice skater Victor Nikiforov appears before him with Yuri Plisetsky, a young Russian figure skater who is already defeating his seniors. Victor and both Yuris take up the challenge on an unprecedented Gran Prix series.
IMDB Rating: 8.3
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Romance, Sport
Country: Japan
Duration: 20 min
Plot tags: anime, captivating, exciting, yaoi, humorous, light, feel good, manga
Similar in 83%
Haikyu!! (2014)
Plot Summary:
Shōyō Hinata began playing volleyball after seeing the "small giants" who played the sport when he was in elementary school. He suffers a crushing defeat in his first and last tournament in middle school at the hands of his rival Tobio Kageyama. So, Hinata joins Kurasuno High School's volleyball team, vowing revenge against Kageyama. However, Kageyama is also on Kurasuno's team. The former rivals form a legendary combo with Hinata's mobility and Kageyama's precision ball-handling. Together, they take on the local tournaments and vow to meet Kurasuno's fated rival school in the nationals.
IMDB Rating: 8.7
IMDB Votes: 33000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Sport
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: anime, exciting, captivating, realistic, disturbing, humorous, semi serious, shounen, mind blowing, super sentai
Similar in 87%
Captain Tsubasa (1983)
Plot Summary:
Tsubasa Ozora moves to the town Nankatsu to increase his skills as a soccer player. He is challanged by the Super Goalkeeper Genzo Wakabayashi. He then agree to compete and see who was the best soccer player there.
IMDB Rating: 7.9
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Family, Sport
Country: Japan
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: anime, retro, exciting, captivating, serious
Similar in 75%
Anima Yell! (2018)
Plot Summary:
Hatogaya Kohane falls in love with cheerleading at the end of middle school, and begins a cheerleading club in high school with Arima Hizume and Saruwatari Uki. The positive, hard-working girls will be sure to cheer you up!.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 102
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Sport
Country: Japan
Duration: 23 min
Plot tags: anime, captivating, entertaining, semi serious
Similar in 87%
Farewell, My Dear Cramer (2021)
Plot Summary:
With no soccer accomplishments to speak of during the entirety of Suou Sumire's junior high school years, the young wing gets an odd offer. Suou's main rival, Soshizaki Midori, invites her to join up on the same team in high school, with a promise that she'll never let Suou "play alone." It's an earnest offer, but the question is whether Suou will take her up on it. Thus the curtain opens on a story that collects an enormous cast of individual soccer-playing personalities!.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 99
Genere: Animation, Sport
Country: Japan
Duration:
Plot tags: anime, captivating, entertaining
Similar in 85%
Burning Kabaddi (2021)
Plot Summary:
Yoigoshi Tatsuya was a star soccer player known as "Yoigoshi the Unstoppable," but when he entered high school, he severed all involvement with sports. Now, he has been invited to a certain sports team. In these matches, victory is achieved through teammates working together to catch and defeat the opponents invading their territory... You could call it a sort of running combat sport. And the name of this game is... Kabaddi.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 538
Genere: Animation, Action, Sport
Country: Japan
Duration:
Plot tags: anime, captivating, funny, feel good, entertaining
Similar in 85%
La Corda d'Oro: Primo Passo (2006)
Plot Summary:
Hino goes to a school that specialises in music and has two streams: the normal stream and the music stream, where the music students are regarded as the more elite. She was running late for her class one day when she saw a tiny fairy, who seemed really excited that she could see it. The next day, the entrants in the music competition, who are decided by the school, are announced. Hino's name appears on the list - except she doesn't play an instrument. The fairy gives her a magical violin that can be played by anyone. Reluctantly, she enters into the competition and is forced to deal with the prejudices of her peers.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 128
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Music, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: anime, serious, exciting, humorous, captivating, shoujo
Similar in 82%
Galactik Football (2006)
Plot Summary:
Galactik Football is a french animated television series, co-produced by Alphanim, France 2, Jetix Europe, and Welkin-Animation. Its third 26-episode season aired in Europe in June 2010. In the universe of Galactik Football, the inhabited worlds of the Zaelion Galaxy compete in Galactik Football, a sport analogous to football, but played seven to a side. The game is complicated by the addition of Flux, which enhances a player's attributes such as speed, strength, and agility, or grants special powers such as teleportation. The story follows the fate of an inexperienced Galactik Football team, the Snow Kids, as they aim to compete in the Galactik Football Cup.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Animation, Action, Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi, Sport
Country: France
Duration: 26 min
Plot tags: anime, exciting, funny, light, inspirational, feel good, humorous, entertaining, surreal, witty
Similar in 76%
A Place Further Than the Universe (2018)
Plot Summary:
Scenery that we have never seen. Sounds that we have never heard. Scent that we have never smelled. Food that we have never tasted. And the surge of emotion that we have never experienced. This is the expedition of recollecting the pieces torn apart and sensation left alone. When we reach that place, what will we think? Howling, 40 degree angle. Raging, 50 degree angle. Shouting, 60 degree angle. A wilderness beyond the heavy sea. The furthest south, far from civilization. At the top of the Earth. We will find lights through the girls' eyes to live tomorrow.
IMDB Rating: 8.2
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 23 min
Plot tags: anime, light, sincere, humorous, captivating, entertaining
Similar in 81%
Handa-kun (2016)
Plot Summary:
Set six years prior to the events of Barakamon, detailing the life of Seishuu Handa as a high school student—and a very interesting life it is. In Handa-kun, Seishuu Handa is admired by his peers as a calligraphy genius and given the utmost respect, but Handa-kun himself is under the mistaken impression that the deference and attention he receives from the other students is actually bullying. Handa just wants to live a quiet life, but hilarity ensues as one character after another challenges his position as the school idol, and somehow comes away as a fan all while Handa is horrified and clueless.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 936
Genere: Animation, Comedy
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: anime, humorous, light, inspirational, sweet, shounen
Similar in 79%
At the Mercy of the Sky (2009)
Plot Summary:
Sakura Ooyagi returns to his old hometown in order to start school at Sōei High School. On the first day, he runs into an old childhood friend: a junior named Mihoshi Akeno. As children, the two used to play together, with Mihoshi, or Mii-chan, being extremely fond of astronomy. After convincing Sakura to join the school's astronomy club, another girl, Hime Makita, joins the club in hopes of winning over Sakura. The anime tells the story of the 6 club members as they soar through their lives, each maturing and changing their outlooks on life.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 71
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration:
Plot tags: anime, psychological, captivating, entertaining
Similar in 87%
Girl's High (2006)
Plot Summary:
Eriko and her friends Yuma and Ayano are excited about entering high school. Their excitement leads to their breaking of the rules when they toured the school before the opening ceremony. They find out their preconceptions about the all female school may not be as true as they had first thought. Despite that, Eriko and her friends are joined by new friends. They aim to get through high school life together.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 123
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration:
Plot tags: anime, light, feel good, humorous, captivating, entertaining, ecchi
Similar in 82%
A-Channel (2011)
Plot Summary:
Tooru and Run have been best friends forever, so when Tooru learns that she's managed to get into the same high school as Run, she runs to tell her... only to find Run in a compromising position with yet another girl, Yuko. Needless to say, that makes things a bit awkward at school, with Tooru fending off those who might be interested in Run while Yuko and their other girlfriend, Nagi, have to deal with Run's own penchant for drama.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 184
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: anime, feel good, captivating, entertaining, semi serious, seinen, yuri, iyashikei
Similar in 82%
Wasteful Days of High School Girls (2019)
Plot Summary:
One day out of boredom, Tanaka decided to give her classmates nicknames based on their quirks. Her friend Sakuchi became "Ota" for her nerdy interests, and her other friend Saginomiya became "Robo" because of her expressionless personality. In retaliation, her friends decided to name Tanaka "Baka." These are the ridiculous days of three high school friends claiming (or not) the height of their youth.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 323
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: anime, humorous, sincere, feel good, captivating, entertaining, seinen, super sentai
Similar in 81%
Masamune-kun's Revenge (2017)
Plot Summary:
As a child, Masamune Makabe once suffered greatly at the hands of a wealthy and beautiful girl named Aki Adagaki, who nicknamed him "Piggy" due to his chubby appearance. Seeking revenge against his tormentor, Masamune works hard to improve himself and returns as an incredibly handsome, albeit narcissistic, high school student. When he encounters Aki once again, he is prepared to exact vengeance. With the aid of the rich girl's maid, Yoshino Koiwai, Masamune slowly begins to build his relationship with Aki, intending to break her heart when the time is right. However, as his friendship with Aki begins to grow, Masamune starts to question the objectives of his devious plans, and if bringing them to fruition is what his heart truly desires.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: anime, captivating, light, exciting, psychological, disturbing, semi serious, romantic comedy, shounen, stylized
Similar in 88%
D-Frag! (2014)
Plot Summary:
Kazama Kenji likes to believe he is something of a delinquent. Moreover, others seem to like to agree that he is. Of course, Kenji's gang finds their way to a group of four not-so-normal girls—Chitose, Sakura, Minami and Roka—and all at once, whatever reputation he may have is nothing compared to the outrageous behavior of the girls. Shanghaied into joining their club, what will happen to his everyday life from that point on?.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 834
Genere: Animation, Comedy
Country: Japan
Duration:
Plot tags: anime, captivating, entertaining, satirical, semi serious, ecchi
Similar in 85%
Seitokai Yakuindomo (2010)
Plot Summary:
The stage is set at Ousai Private Academy which, due to declining birth rates, has transitioned from an all-girls high school to a co-ed. The current ratio of male to female students is 28:524. Within this paradise, Tsuda Takatoshi is inaugurated as vice-president of the student council. The student council has a strict image. However, there are some members who defy imagination.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 699
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 307 min
Plot tags: anime, humorous, feel good, entertaining, ecchi, captivating, light, manga, parody, dark comedy
Similar in 83%
Armed Girl's Machiavellism (2017)
Plot Summary:
The Private Aichi Symbiosis Academy was originally a high school for high-class girls. When it became co-ed, the girls, out of fear, asked to be permitted to bring weapons to school. When that was enforced, a five-member vigilante corps-like organization called the "Supreme Five Swords" was also formed. After many generations, the five swords eventually became a group which corrected problematic students, and the academy started proactively accepting such students in order to correct them. Nomura Fudou was sent to this school after being part of a huge brawl. What will he do when the only options he has after enrolling are being expelled from that school or being corrected the way the rest of the male students there were...by being forced to dress and act like a girl!.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 518
Genere: Animation, Action, Comedy
Country: Japan
Duration:
Plot tags: anime, ecchi, exciting, light, humorous, captivating, entertaining, shounen, super sentai, 2d animation
Similar in 89%
Kuroko's Basketball (2012)
Plot Summary:
In the story, Kagami Taiga has just enrolled into Seirin High School when he meets Kuroko Tetsuya of the school's basketball team. Kuroko happens to be the shadowy sixth member of the legendary Generation of Miracles basketball team. Together, Kagami and Kuroko aim to take their team to the inter-high school championship - against Kuroko's former teammates.
IMDB Rating: 8.2
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Sport
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: anime, captivating, exciting, uplifting, tense, manga, mind blowing, shounen, light