Hiroko Utsumi (内海紘子, Utsumi Hiroko) is a Japanese anime director, animator, storyboard artist, and manga artist. She is best known for her work with Kyoto Animation, particularly as the original director of Free!. After leaving Kyoto Animation's affiliate company Animation Do, she directed the anime adaptation of Banana Fish manga, and created and directed SK8 the Infinity with Bones. She is a graduate of the Osaka Municipal College of Design.