Osamu Tezuka’s classic manga “Princess Knight” is getting adapted as The Ribbon Hero, produced by TWIN ENGINE. Set to premiere worldwide on Netflix on August 8, 2026. Netflix has also introduced a final trailer and additional voice cast members with the release date announcement.
Ribbon Hero is directed by Yuki Igarashi (and animated by his studio OUTLINE), who began wowing audiences when he served as key animator on the ending sequence of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 1. The animator celebrated his directorial debut with Star Wars: Visions Season 1 Episode 8 – Lop & Ochō. That said, Ribbon Hero marks Igarashi’s feature-film directorial debut. To help with the script, Komura Junko served as scriptwriting associate.
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“For this film, I poured in my respect for Osamu Tezuka, the creator of Princess Knight; for Ichizo Kobayashi of the Takarazuka Revue, which lies at the root of the work; and for the supreme, classic entertainment they brought into the world. They also created their works while overcoming hardships such as infectious diseases and war, and those works became the very foundation of our culture,” Igarashi said in an interview with TUDUM, Netflix’s blogging platform.
“To everyone living in this era, I hope you enjoy this blood‑stirring, heart‑pounding piece of what I believe is ‘true’ mainstream entertainment,” he concluded.
Additionally, Kei Mochizuki provides the original character designs for the film and is well known for bringing characters to life in video games like Fate/Grand Order and Touken Ranbu. Mai Yoneyama, who served as ending director on Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and Shinichirō Watanabe’s LAZARUS, joins as a collaborator on the character concepts.
What is Ribbon Hero about?
Netflix’s official description is:
Sapphire is the princess of a kingdom that no longer exists. Having lost everything in her homeland of Silverland to the calamity known as “Nergal,” she wanders in despair until she finally arrives in Goldland.
Though burdened by her past, she begins to find a glimmer of hope as she encounters the kindness of the people there. But as if to sneer at her peaceful new life, the calamity Nergal appears once more. The very despair that once reduced her homeland to ashes now threatens to steal the light from this land as well.
“I won’t lose anything ever again. And I won’t let anyone else lose anything either.” Brushing away her tears of sorrow, the girl takes up her sword. This is the story of a lone hero who ties her ribbon and resolves to defy her fate
Watch the Trailer
The Ribbon Hero Cast & Characters
One of the exciting casting announcements from today’s trailer is that Mito Tsukino, Lunlun, and Debidebi Debiru are all celebrating their first roles as voice actors in an anime production. Members of the same VTuber (virtual YouTuber) group NIJISANJI. For more about the cast & characters, see below:
- Saya as Sapphire
- Yoshimasa Hosoya as Rock
- Mito Tsukino as Hecate
- Yusuke Tezuka as Chorogy
- Lunlun as Chick
- Debidebi Debiru as Tack
What is the release date?
The Ribbon Hero is set to premiere globally on Netflix on August 8, 2026.
