Netflix and Twin Engine have revealed the teaser trailer, key art, and main voice actor for The Ribbon Hero, a new anime film adaptation of Osamu Tezuka's classic Princess Knight (Ribbon no Kishi) manga. The film will debut worldwide on August 8, 2026.
Main Cast
Saya (of the comedy duo Lalande) has been cast as the lead character Sapphire, marking her first leading role in a feature-length animated production. Saya's casting brings a fresh voice to the iconic character originally created by the "God of Manga" himself.
Staff and Production
The film boasts an impressive creative lineup:
- Director: Yuuki Igarashi (Star Wars: Visions "Lop & Ocho", Jujutsu Kaisen first ED sequence) — his feature-length directorial debut
- Studio: OUTLINE (Igarashi's newly formed studio)
- Character Designer: Kei Mochizuki (LOOPERS visual novel, Twin Star Cyclone Runaway)
- Character Design Cooperation: Mai Yoneyama (Kiznaiver, "COLORs" MV)
- Animation Character Designer: Issei Arakaki (Vladlove, Nanoha Detonation)
- Nergal Design: Okama
- Music: Satoru Kōsaki (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) & Ryūichi Takada (Shangri-La Frontier) — both from studio MONACA
Story
"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."
A Modern Take on a Classic
Osamu Tezuka's Princess Knight (Ribbon no Kishi / リボンの騎士) first launched in Kodansha's Nakayoshi magazine in January 1958, and is widely recognized as one of the first shōjo manga — manga created for girls — featuring a cross-dressing princess who becomes a knight. The series was adapted into a black-and-white television anime in 1967 and has remained a cornerstone of manga history. Kodansha USA Publishing released a one-volume omnibus edition in English in August 2022.
Release Details
The film will debut worldwide on Netflix on August 8, 2026. Netflix is co-producing the film alongside Twin Engine. The film has also been selected for the "Annecy Presents" non-competitive section of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2026 (June 21-27, France), marking an early preview before its global streaming release.
Community Reception
The announcement has generated considerable excitement within the anime community. The teaser trailer reveals a visually striking film blending traditional 2D animation with subtle CG elements — a style that has drawn comparisons to recent Netflix anime films like The Imaginary and Drifting Home. On MyAnimeList forum discussions, fans have expressed particular interest in the creative pedigree behind the project: director Yuuki Igarashi's feature debut, the involvement of MONACA composers Kōsaki and Takada, and the reimagining of a foundational shōjo manga for contemporary audiences. The casting of comedian Saya — a relative newcomer to voice acting — has sparked curiosity about her performance as the courageous Sapphire.
What This Means
The Ribbon Hero represents a significant moment for the visibility of classic shōjo manga in the modern streaming landscape. Tezuka's Princess Knight is a foundational work — one of the earliest manga to feature a gender-swapping heroine fighting against societal expectations — and a modern, high-profile Netflix adaptation could introduce this landmark story to a new generation of viewers worldwide. With a talented debut director in Yuuki Igarashi, the powerhouse musical duo of MONACA, and Netflix's global distribution, The Ribbon Hero is positioned as one of the most anticipated anime films of the year.