Sorairo Utility
{{Short description|Japanese anime television short film}}
{{Infobox animanga/Header
| name = Sorairo Utility
| image = Sorairo Utility key visual.jpg
| caption = Key visual for the short film
| ja_kanji = 空色ユーティリティ
| ja_romaji = Sorairo Yūtiriti
| creator =
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
| type = tv film
| director = Kengo Saitō
| producer = Li Hengda
| writer = Kota Nozomi
| music = Daisuke Horita
| studio = Yostar Pictures
| licensee = Crunchyroll
| network = Tokyo MX
| released = December 31, 2021
| runtime = 14 minutes
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
| type = tv series
| title =
| director = Kengo Saitō
| producer =
| writer = {{ubl|Yū Satō|Aya Satsuki|Aki Mizuki}}
| music = Daisuke Horita
| studio = Yostar Pictures
| licensee = Sentai Filmworks {{English anime licensee|SA/SEA|Medialink}}
| network = Tokyo MX, tvk, MBS, BS Asahi, AT-X
| network_en =
| first = January 4, 2025
| last = March 22, 2025
| episodes = 12
| episode_list =
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}
{{nihongo|Sorairo Utility|空色ユーティリティ|Sorairo Yūtiriti|"Sky Blue Utility"}} is a Japanese original anime television short film about golf produced by Yostar Pictures and directed by Kengo Saitō. It premiered on Tokyo MX in December 2021. An anime television series, also produced by Yostar Pictures, aired from January to March 2025.
Characters
;{{nihongo|Minami Aoba|青羽 美波|Aoba Minami}}
:{{voiced by|Miyu Takagi}}{{cite web|last=Mateo|first=Alex|title=Yostar Pictures' Sorairo Utility Golf Anime's Trailer Reveals Cast, Staff, December 31 Airing (Updated)|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-11-18/yostar-pictures-sorairo-utility-golf-anime-trailer-reveals-cast-staff-december-31-airing/.179685|website=Anime News Network|access-date=November 18, 2021|date=November 18, 2021|archive-date=January 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102105428/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-11-18/yostar-pictures-sorairo-utility-golf-anime-trailer-reveals-cast-staff-december-31-airing/.179685|url-status=live}}
:A student who goes to an all-girls high school. She looks for a hobby after the mobile game she was playing announced it was ending service. After trying various hobbies, she ultimately gains an interest in golf after a chance encounter with Haruka.
;{{nihongo|Haruka Akane|茜 遥|Akane Haruka}}
:A high school student who works part-time at a driving range. She is the one who introduced Minami to golf. She was previously a skilled amateur golfer who participated in international competitions.
;{{nihongo|Ayaka Hoshimi|星見 彩花|Hoshimi Ayaka}}
:A university student and a popular influencer. She becomes fond of Minami and helped her work part-time jobs to afford golfing equipment. She also works as a model.
;{{nihongo|Izumi Akina|秋名 泉美|Akina Izumi}}
:{{voiced by|Yumiri Hanamori}}{{cite web|last=Cayanan|first=Joanna|title=Sorairo Utility Anime's 1st English-Subtitled Video Unveils More Cast|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-05-28/sorairo-utility-anime-1st-english-subtitled-video-unveils-more-cast/.211266|website=Anime News Network|access-date=May 28, 2024|date=May 28, 2024|archive-date=May 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528110041/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-05-28/sorairo-utility-anime-1st-english-subtitled-video-unveils-more-cast/.211266|url-status=live}}
:Minami's classmate and friend who is a skilled shogi player.
;{{nihongo|Masao Tadokoro|田所 昌夫|Tadokoro Masao}} / {{nihongo|Masa|マサ}}
:{{voiced by|Kazuhiko Inoue}}
;{{nihongo|Chosuke Tanabe|田辺 長介|Tanabe Chōsuke}} / {{nihongo|Cho|チョウ}}
:{{voiced by|Kenyu Horiuchi}}
;{{nihongo|Tetsuhiro Tanaka|田中 哲弘|Tanaka Tetsuhiro}} / {{nihongo|Tetsu|テツ}}
:{{voiced by|Toshiyuki Morikawa}}
;{{nihongo|Hina Yoarashi|夜嵐 日向|Yoarashi Hina}}
:{{voiced by|Maria Naganawa}}{{cite web|last=Mateo|first=Alex|title=Sorairo Utility Anime Casts Maria Naganawa|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2025-03-05/sorairo-utility-anime-casts-maria-naganawa/.221981|website=Anime News Network|access-date=March 6, 2025|date=March 5, 2025}}
:A wealthy girl who admires Haruka.
Production and release
On October 25, 2021, the original anime produced by Yostar Pictures was announced.{{cite web|script-title=ja:Yostar Pictures初のオリジナルアニメ『空色ユーティリティ』の制作が発表！ ゴルフウェア姿の女子高生3人が描かれたキービジュアルが公開！|url=https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1635144165|website=Animate Times|date=October 25, 2021|access-date=October 25, 2021|language=ja}}{{cite web|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|title=Yostar Pictures, Kengo Saitō Reveal Sorairo Utility Anime About Golf|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-10-25/yostar-pictures-kengo-saito-reveal-sorairo-utility-anime-about-golf/.178816|website=Anime News Network|date=October 25, 2021|access-date=October 25, 2021}} It was later revealed to be a television short film, with Kengo Saitō directing the film, Li Hengda producing the film, Kota Nozomi writing the screenplay, Akira Amemiya in charge of the storyboard, and Daisuke Horita composing the music, and directing the sound. The 14-minute short film premiered on Tokyo MX on December 31, 2021. The film's theme song is {{Nihongo|"Gunjō Love theory"|群青 Love theory}} performed by the HAM unit (Miyu Takagi, Yurina Amami, and Ayasa Goto).{{cite web|script-title=ja:空色ユーティリティ|url=https://yostar-pictures.co.jp/sorairo-utility/#music|website=Yostar Pictures|access-date=January 1, 2022|language=ja}} Crunchyroll and Funimation both licensed the film outside of Asia.{{cite web|title=Sorairo Utility - Watch on Funimation|url=https://www.funimation.com/shows/sorairo-utility|website=Funimation|access-date=January 1, 2022}}{{cite web|title=Sorairo Utility - Watch on Crunchyroll|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/sorairo-utility|website=Crunchyroll|access-date=January 1, 2022}}{{cite web|last=Hazra|first=Adriana|title=Crunchyroll Streams Sorairo Utility Anime, My Next Life As a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! X OVA|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-01-02/crunchyroll-streams-sorairo-utility-anime-my-next-life-as-a-villainess-all-routes-lead-to-doom-x-ova/.181164|website=Anime News Network|date=January 2, 2022|access-date=January 3, 2022|archive-date=January 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103071121/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-01-02/crunchyroll-streams-sorairo-utility-anime-my-next-life-as-a-villainess-all-routes-lead-to-doom-x-ova/.181164|url-status=live}}
An anime television series, also produced by Yostar Pictures, was announced on February 8, 2024. The cast and director reprised their roles from the film,{{cite web|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|title=Sorairo Utility Original Golf-Themed Anime Special Gets TV Series|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-02-08/sorairo-utility-original-golf-themed-anime-special-gets-tv-series/.207356|website=Anime News Network|date=February 8, 2024|access-date=February 8, 2024}} with Yū Satō handling series composition, as well as writing scripts alongside Aya Satsuki and Aki Mizuki, Kota Nozomi returning from the film for original concept cooperation, and Daisuke Horita returning to compose the music.{{cite web|last=Cayanan|first=Joanna|title=Sorairo Utility Anime Series Reveals Teaser Promo Video, More Staff|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-03-07/sorairo-utility-anime-series-reveals-teaser-promo-video-more-staff/.208401|website=Anime News Network|date=March 7, 2024|access-date=March 7, 2024}} The series aired from January 4 to March 22, 2025, on Tokyo MX and other networks.{{cite web|last=Cayanan|first=Joanna|title=Sorairo Utility Anime Series Reveals Key Visual, January 2025 Debut|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-07-02/sorairo-utility-anime-series-reveals-key-visual-january-2025-debut/.212721|website=Anime News Network|access-date=July 2, 2024|date=July 2, 2024}}{{efn|name=airdate|Tokyo MX lists the series premiere on January 3, 2025, at 25:00, which is effectively January 4 at 1:00 a.m. JST.}} The opening theme song is {{Nihongo|"Shujinkō ni Narō!"|主人公になろう！|4=Be The Hero!}}, performed by Masayoshi Ōishi feat. Airi Suzuki,{{cite web|last=Cayanan|first=Joanna|title=Sorairo Utility Anime's 3rd Promo Video Reveals Opening Song, January 3 Debut|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-12-15/sorairo-utility-anime-3rd-promo-video-reveals-opening-song-january-3-debut/.219091|website=Anime News Network|access-date=December 15, 2024|date=December 15, 2024}} while the ending theme song is {{Nihongo|"Suiheisen"|水平線|4=Horizon}}, performed by Moeka Yahagi.{{cite web|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|title=Sorairo Utility TV Anime Reveals 2nd Trailer, Moeka Yahagi Ending Theme|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-11-01/sorairo-utility-tv-anime-reveals-2nd-trailer-moeka-yahagi-ending-theme/.217424|website=Anime News Network|access-date=November 1, 2024|date=November 1, 2024|archive-date=November 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241101122019/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-11-01/sorairo-utility-tv-anime-reveals-2nd-trailer-moeka-yahagi-ending-theme/.217424|url-status=live}} Sentai Filmworks licensed the series for streaming on Hidive. Medialink licensed the series in South and Southeast Asia for streaming on Ani-One Asia's YouTube channel.{{Cite web|date=December 30, 2024|title=☃️ #Medialink January 2025 New Anime Line-Up ☃️ ⛳️Sorairo Utility is arriving on Ani-One Asia!|url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0wNSTMWIL3qaorLx0jie6A/community?lb=UgkxzoFnequtNp18BjDMEC8hp0rkBcFuZ68U|access-date=December 30, 2024|website=Ani-One Asia|language=en|via=YouTube}}
=Episodes=
{{Episode table
| background =
| overall =
| title =
| titleR = {{Cite web|url=https://anime-sorairo-utility.com/story/|title=Terebi Anime「Sorairo Yūtiriti」Koshiki Saito|script-title=ja:TVアニメ「空色ユーティリティ」公式サイト|trans-title=TV Anime「Sorairo Utility」Official Site|website=anime-sorairo-utility.com|language=ja|access-date=January 4, 2025|archive-date=January 19, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250119201013/https://anime-sorairo-utility.com/story/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.hidive.com/season/28112|title=Sorairo Utility - HIDIVE|publisher=Hidive|access-date=January 4, 2024}}
| director =
| writer =
| aux2 =
| aux2T = Storyboarded by
| airdate =
| airdateR = {{Cite web|url=https://anime-sorairo-utility.com/onair/|title=Terebi Anime「Sorairo Yūtiriti」Koshiki Saito|script-title=ja:TVアニメ「空色ユーティリティ」公式サイト|trans-title=TV Anime「Sorairo Utility」Official Site|website=anime-sorairo-utility.com|language=ja|access-date=January 4, 2025}}{{efn|name=airdate}}
| episodes =
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 1
| Title = Special Encounters
| TranslitTitle = Supesharuna Deai
| NativeTitle = スペシャルな出会い
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| DirectedBy = Shigetaka Ikeda
| WrittenBy = Yū Satō
| Aux2 = Shigetaka Ikeda
& Kengo Saitō
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2025|1|4}}
| ShortSummary = After her mobile game announced its end of service, Minami Aoba tries to find another hobby. On her way home, she helps an old man in bringing his golf club to a nearby driving range, where she meets Akane Haruka, who invites her to play golf. Minami soon takes an interest in the sport. Akane invites her to play at a short course.
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 2
| Title = Special Friend
| TranslitTitle = Supesharuna Tomodachi
| NativeTitle = スペシャルな友達
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| DirectedBy = Katō Shūsaku
| WrittenBy = Yū Satō
| Aux2 = Shigetaka Ikeda
& Kengo Saitō
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2025|1|11}}
| ShortSummary = Minami struggles her first time playing golf, but Akane guides her throughout the day. They exchanged contact information that night. During class the day after, Minami tells her friend Izumi about golf. Later, Akane gives Minami with her used golf clubs as a reward for a "perfect 100-point game". She messages Ayaka Hoshimi, a streamer, notifying her about Minami's promising talent.
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 3
| Title = Special Job
| TranslitTitle = Supesharuna Oshigoto
| NativeTitle = スペシャルなお仕事
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| DirectedBy = Zenichirō Itō
| WrittenBy = Aya Satsuki
| Aux2 = Shigetaka Ikeda
& Kengo Saitō
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2025|1|18}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 4
| Title = Special Club
| TranslitTitle = Supesharuna Kurabu
| NativeTitle = スペシャルなクラブ
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| DirectedBy = Hiroyuki Okuno
| WrittenBy = Aki Mizuki
| Aux2 = Shigetaka Ikeda
& Kengo Saitō
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2025|1|25}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 5
| Title = Special Training
| TranslitTitle = Supesharuna Tokkun
| NativeTitle = スペシャルな特訓
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| DirectedBy = Shūsaku Katō
| WrittenBy = Yū Satō
| Aux2 = Shigetaka Ikeda
& Kengo Saito
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2025|2|1}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 6
| Title = Special Round
| TranslitTitle = Supesharuna Raundo
| NativeTitle = スペシャルなラウンド
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| DirectedBy = Katsunari Mikajiri
| WrittenBy = Aki Mizuki
| Aux2 = Shinichi Tabe
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2025|2|8}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 7
| Title = Special Finishing Move!
| TranslitTitle = Supesharuna Hissatsu Waza
| NativeTitle = スペシャルな必殺技
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| DirectedBy = Shigeru Fukase
| WrittenBy = Yū Satō
| Aux2 = Shinichi Tabe
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2025|2|15}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 8
| Title = Special Caddie
| TranslitTitle = Supesharuna Kyadi
| NativeTitle = スペシャルなキャディ
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| DirectedBy = Hiroyuki Okuno
| WrittenBy = Aya Satsuki
| Aux2 = Shinichi Watanabe
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2025|2|22}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 9
| Title = Special Buzz
| TranslitTitle = Supesharuna Bazu
| NativeTitle = スペシャルなバズ
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| DirectedBy = Zenichirō Itō &
Shūsaku Katō
| WrittenBy = Risa Mizuno
| Aux2 = Masaoki Nakajima
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2025|3|1}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 10
| Title = Special Milady!?
| TranslitTitle = Supesharuna Ojōsama!?
| NativeTitle = スペシャルなお嬢様！？
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| DirectedBy = Shūsaku Katō
| WrittenBy = Yū Satō
| Aux2 = Yūsuke Suzuki
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2025|3|8}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 11
| Title = Special Doubles Match
| TranslitTitle = Supesharuna Daburusu
| NativeTitle = スペシャルなダブルス
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| DirectedBy = Shinichi Tabe
| WrittenBy = Aya Satsuki
| Aux2 = Takafumi Hoshikawa
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2025|3|15}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 12
| Title = Special 'Special'
| TranslitTitle = Supesharuna Tokubetsu
| NativeTitle = スペシャルな特別
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| DirectedBy = Katsunari Mikajiri
| WrittenBy = Aki Mizuki
| Aux2 = Akira Amemiya
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2025|3|22}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
Reception
The series was positively received. ANN reviewers Richard Eisenbeis, James Beckett, and Caitlin Moore said the series was in "the real world" but is still "pretty darned charming...and...incredibly gay" and is a "straightforward anime about girls playing golf." All three compared it to Birdie Wing, which they called a "sapphic-charged golf anime" which was ""absolutely batshit insane" and which turned golf "into an extreme sport with high-stakes mob gambling", was "incredibly gay" and mixed mafia and stunt shots which were "approximately equivalent to KISS-theming and black lights." All three contrasted it to Sorairo Utility.{{cite web|last1=Eisenbeis|first1=Richard|last2=Silverman|first2=Rebecca|last3=Beckett|first3=James|last4=Moore|first4=Caitlin|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/preview-guide/2025/winter/sorairo-utility/.219284|title=The Winter 2025 Anime Preview Guide: Sorairo Utility|website=Anime News Network|date=January 3, 2025|access-date=April 19, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250308000523/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/preview-guide/2025/winter/sorairo-utility/.219284|archive-date=March 8, 2025|url-status=live}} Yuricon founder Erica Friedman also compared the series to Birdie Wing. She said that while the series was not "more gay and outlandish women’s sports drama," it is centered more on golf, differs from the Sorairo Utility movie, and is "very refreshing" with the relationship between Haruka and Minami and the chill nature of the old male players, but criticized the fan service in the series, while calling the series a "shockingly nice anime...about golf." She also rated the art at a 7/10, characters at 9/10, story at 8/10, fan service at 5/10, and yuri at 1/10.{{cite web|last=Friedman|first=Erica|url=https://okazu.yuricon.com/2025/01/13/sora-iro-utility-streaming-on-hidive/|title=Sorairo Utility, streaming on HIDIVE|website=Okazu|date=January 13, 2025|access-date=April 19, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250116114405/https://okazu.yuricon.com/2025/01/13/sora-iro-utility-streaming-on-hidive/|archive-date=January 16, 2025|url-status=live}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.yostar-pictures.co.jp/sorairo-utility/|Official TV short film website}} {{in lang|ja}}
- {{Official website|https://anime-sorairo-utility.com/|Official TV series website}} {{in lang|ja}}
- {{ann|anime|24902}}
{{Yostar Pictures}}
Category:2025 anime television series debuts
Category:Anime with original screenplays
Category:Golf in anime and manga