HIDIVE has announced that it is now streaming the highly anticipated golf-themed anime series, Sorairo Utility. The first episode became available on January 3, 2025, at 12:00 PM EST, marking the start of a weekly simulcast. This news comes as a welcome addition to the Winter 2025 anime season for fans of sports anime and slice-of-life stories.
A Swing into the World of Golf
Sorairo Utility is an original anime series produced by Yostar Pictures and Pony Canyon. The series follows the journey of Minami Aoba, a high schooler who feels like a background character in her own life. After her favorite gacha game ends its service, Minami is left searching for something that makes her feel unique. Her quest leads her to a golf practice range, where she encounters Haruka Akane, a talented golfer, and Ayaka Hoshimi, an aspiring social media influencer.
The show explores themes of self-discovery, friendship, and personal growth through the lens of golf. Unlike some other sports anime that focus on intense competition, Sorairo Utility offers a more relaxed, character-driven narrative. It’s a story about finding joy in a hobby and forming meaningful bonds. The series is also accessible to viewers unfamiliar with golf, as the narrative naturally introduces the appeal of the sport.
Characters and Cast
The anime boasts a talented voice cast, with several actors reprising their roles from the earlier 2021 short film. The main characters include:
- Minami Aoba, voiced by Miyu Takagi, is the central character, a beginner golfer searching for her place in the world.
- Haruka Akane, voiced by Yurina Amami, is a skilled golfer who works part-time at the driving range.
- Ayaka Hoshimi, voiced by Ayasa Goto, is an influencer who also enjoys golf and aims to use the sport to boost her online presence.
- Izumi Akina, voiced by Yumiri Hanamori, joins the cast as a new character to the series.
- Masao “Masa” Tadokoro, voiced by Kazuhiko Inoue
- Chosuke “Cho” Tanabe, voiced by Kenyu Horiuchi
- Tetsuhiro “Tetsu” Tanaka, voiced by Toshiyuki Morikawa
Production Team
Sorairo Utility is directed by Kengo Saitō, who also designs the characters. Yū Satō is supervising the series scripts. Aya Satsuki and Aki Mizuki are also writing scripts for the series. Kota Nozomi, who wrote the script for the original short film, is credited for collaborating on the original concept. Additional staff members include:
- Hitoki Takeda as Color Key Artist
- Yoshitaka Kudō as Art Director
- Wu Jiann-horng as Compositing Director of Photography
- Kengo Shigemura and Ayaka Satō as Editors
- Daisuke Horita as Music & Sound Director
- Yostar Pictures Sounds and ZENTA STUDIO for music production.
Music
The opening theme song, “Be the hero! feat. Airi Suzuki,” was written, composed, and arranged by Masayoshi Ōishi, who invited Airi Suzuki to perform the duet with him. The ending theme song, “Horizon,” is performed by singer-songwriter Moeka Yahagi.
HIDIVE: Your Destination for Anime
HIDIVE is a dedicated anime streaming service that provides a wide array of content, from simulcasts and fresh dubs to classic series and deep cuts. It aims to serve the passionate anime fan community. The service offers a diverse catalog that includes various genres, such as fantasy, romance, thriller, and isekai adventures. HIDIVE is known for its uncensored titles, making it a unique destination for anime enthusiasts.
The streaming service was launched in June 2017 after the dissolution of The Anime Network’s online service. HIDIVE exclusively streams select licensed titles from Sentai and Section23, and also features some titles that were previously held by A.D. Vision. HIDIVE is accessible in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Oceania.
How to Watch Sorairo Utility on HIDIVE
New episodes of Sorairo Utility are simulcasted every Friday at 12:00 PM EST. To watch the series, viewers will need a subscription to the HIDIVE streaming service. HIDIVE offers a free trial, allowing new users to explore their content before committing to a paid subscription.
Other Winter 2025 Anime on HIDIVE
Sorairo Utility is not the only new series making its debut on HIDIVE in the Winter 2025 season. The platform has also added other new anime series to its lineup, including:
- From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad’s Been Reincarnated!, an isekai comedy about a civil servant who gets reincarnated into his daughter’s favorite video game.
- Beheneko: The Elf-Girl’s Cat is Secretly an S-Ranked Monster!, an ecchi comedy about a knight reincarnated as a monster.
- Flowers and Asura, a slice-of-life drama about a young girl who discovers her passion for storytelling.
- I’m Living with an Otaku NEET Kunoichi!?
A Must-Watch for Anime Fans
Sorairo Utility offers a fresh take on the sports anime genre with its focus on character development and relatable themes. With its charming characters, engaging story, and high-quality animation, this series is poised to be a hit among anime fans. The fact that HIDIVE is streaming the series is great news for fans looking to keep up with the latest releases. With new episodes every Friday, viewers have plenty of reasons to tune in and follow Minami’s journey into the world of golf.
