Based on Osamu Tezuka's 'Princess Knight'. Netflix Film 'THE RIBBON HERO' to Stream Exclusively Worldwide in August 2026! Teaser Visual & Main Staff Revealed!
Netflix has announced that 'THE RIBBON HERO,' a film based on Osamu Tezuka's classic manga 'Princess Knight,' will be exclusively streamed worldwide in August 2026. The announcement includes the reveal of a teaser visual and the main staff, featuring Yuki Igarashi as director and Kei Mochizuki as character designer.
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- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 06:00
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Netflix has announced that 'THE RIBBON HERO,' a film based on Osamu Tezuka's classic manga 'Princess Knight,' will be exclusively streamed worldwide in August 2026. Alongside this, a teaser visual, main staff, and staff comments have been released.
Yuki Igarashi, known as one of the industry's most versatile animators, will serve as director. He gained attention for his sophisticated animation, single-handedly drawing the keyframes for the ending sequence of 'Jujutsu Kaisen Season 1.' His directorial debut, 'Star Wars: Visions "Lop & Ocho," ' received high praise both domestically and internationally for its meticulous storytelling and powerful action scenes. This film marks Igarashi's highly anticipated first feature-length directorial work.
Kei Mochizuki, who has designed popular characters for numerous games such as 'Fate/Grand Order' and 'Touken Ranbu ONLINE,' is responsible for the original character design. Additionally, Mai Yoneyama, who directed the ending sequences for 'Cyberpunk: Edgerunners' and 'LAZARUS,' is credited for character design cooperation. Issei Arakaki is in charge of animation character design, and Cedric Errol is the art director.
Animation production is handled by OUTLINE, led by director Igarashi. The studio is known for its captivating character creation and overwhelming drawing power filled with flair. A team of talented creators has gathered to depict the story of a hero who decides to defy a harsh fate, with a delicate world view and sophisticated action.
Teaser Visual Drawn by Original Character Designer Kei Mochizuki Released!
Comments from the Main Staff Also Arrive!
The newly released teaser visual was drawn by original character designer Kei Mochizuki. It depicts a young girl, with a large red ribbon reminiscent of the original 'Princess Knight,' exuding a particularly strong presence.
The tagline, "I don't want to be who someone else wants me to be," hints at the girl's struggle and will to resist external expectations and choose to be herself.
Her captivating expression, reflecting emotions that cannot be expressed in a single word, is also striking. What will she confront, and what will she fight against? While the details of the story have not yet been revealed, expectations are high for how Osamu Tezuka's masterpiece shojo manga 'Princess Knight,' featuring the cross-dressing beauty Sapphire as the protagonist, will be reborn in the modern era, 37 years after his passing, continuing to attract new readers.
◆Director: Yuki Igarashi
I have put my utmost respect into the classic entertainment created by Osamu Tezuka, the creator of 'Princess Knight,' and Ichizo Kobayashi, the founder of the Takarazuka Revue, which was its root. They too created works overcoming difficulties such as infectious diseases and wars, and those works have become the foundation of our culture. Please enjoy this thrilling, "royal road" entertainment for all people living in this era.
—Biography—
'Jujutsu Kaisen Season 1' Ending Sequence: Solo Key Animator
'Star Wars: Visions "Lop & Ocho"': Director
Gen Hoshino 'Isekai Mixed Great Dance Party (feat. Obake)' Music Video: Director, Character Design, Storyboard, Direction, Animation Director, Key Animator
◆Original Character Design: Kei Mochizuki
I have always thought about two things: showing my full respect to Osamu Tezuka-sensei, and what is needed to design this new work as a contemporary illustrator. I aimed for a design that doesn't lean too much one way or the other, and that is uniquely me. It is truly an honor to be involved in this delicate, powerful, and wonderful work for my first animation project. Thank you very much!
—Biography—
'Fate/Grand Order' Barghest (Fairy Knight Tristan): Character Design
'Touken Ranbu ONLINE' Kyogoku Masamune: Character Design
'The Fourth Boundary': Main Character Design
◆Character Design Cooperation: Mai Yoneyama
It is a great honor to be involved, even a little, in a work based on 'Princess Knight,' which I watched when I was little. 'THE RIBBON HERO' will be reborn with new expressions that only creators of this era can achieve. Please look forward to it!
—Biography—
'Kiznaiver': Character Design / Animation Director
'Cyberpunk: Edgerunners': ED Animation Director / Storyboard / Direction / Key Animator / Photography
'LAZARUS': ED Animation Director / Storyboard / Direction / Key Animator
◆Animation Character Design: Issei Arakaki
Yuki Igarashi, known as one of the industry's most versatile animators, will serve as director. He gained attention for his sophisticated animation, single-handedly drawing the keyframes for the ending sequence of 'Jujutsu Kaisen Season 1.' His directorial debut, 'Star Wars: Visions "Lop & Ocho," ' received high praise both domestically and internationally for its meticulous storytelling and powerful action scenes. This film marks Igarashi's highly anticipated first feature-length directorial work.
Kei Mochizuki, who has designed popular characters for numerous games such as 'Fate/Grand Order' and 'Touken Ranbu ONLINE,' is responsible for the original character design. Additionally, Mai Yoneyama, who directed the ending sequences for 'Cyberpunk: Edgerunners' and 'LAZARUS,' is credited for character design cooperation. Issei Arakaki is in charge of animation character design, and Cedric Errol is the art director.
Animation production is handled by OUTLINE, led by director Igarashi. The studio is known for its captivating character creation and overwhelming drawing power filled with flair. A team of talented creators has gathered to depict the story of a hero who decides to defy a harsh fate, with a delicate world view and sophisticated action.
Teaser Visual Drawn by Original Character Designer Kei Mochizuki Released!
Comments from the Main Staff Also Arrive!
The newly released teaser visual was drawn by original character designer Kei Mochizuki. It depicts a young girl, with a large red ribbon reminiscent of the original 'Princess Knight,' exuding a particularly strong presence.
The tagline, "I don't want to be who someone else wants me to be," hints at the girl's struggle and will to resist external expectations and choose to be herself.
Her captivating expression, reflecting emotions that cannot be expressed in a single word, is also striking. What will she confront, and what will she fight against? While the details of the story have not yet been revealed, expectations are high for how Osamu Tezuka's masterpiece shojo manga 'Princess Knight,' featuring the cross-dressing beauty Sapphire as the protagonist, will be reborn in the modern era, 37 years after his passing, continuing to attract new readers.
◆Director: Yuki Igarashi
I have put my utmost respect into the classic entertainment created by Osamu Tezuka, the creator of 'Princess Knight,' and Ichizo Kobayashi, the founder of the Takarazuka Revue, which was its root. They too created works overcoming difficulties such as infectious diseases and wars, and those works have become the foundation of our culture. Please enjoy this thrilling, "royal road" entertainment for all people living in this era.
—Biography—
'Jujutsu Kaisen Season 1' Ending Sequence: Solo Key Animator
'Star Wars: Visions "Lop & Ocho"': Director
Gen Hoshino 'Isekai Mixed Great Dance Party (feat. Obake)' Music Video: Director, Character Design, Storyboard, Direction, Animation Director, Key Animator
◆Original Character Design: Kei Mochizuki
I have always thought about two things: showing my full respect to Osamu Tezuka-sensei, and what is needed to design this new work as a contemporary illustrator. I aimed for a design that doesn't lean too much one way or the other, and that is uniquely me. It is truly an honor to be involved in this delicate, powerful, and wonderful work for my first animation project. Thank you very much!
—Biography—
'Fate/Grand Order' Barghest (Fairy Knight Tristan): Character Design
'Touken Ranbu ONLINE' Kyogoku Masamune: Character Design
'The Fourth Boundary': Main Character Design
◆Character Design Cooperation: Mai Yoneyama
It is a great honor to be involved, even a little, in a work based on 'Princess Knight,' which I watched when I was little. 'THE RIBBON HERO' will be reborn with new expressions that only creators of this era can achieve. Please look forward to it!
—Biography—
'Kiznaiver': Character Design / Animation Director
'Cyberpunk: Edgerunners': ED Animation Director / Storyboard / Direction / Key Animator / Photography
'LAZARUS': ED Animation Director / Storyboard / Direction / Key Animator
◆Animation Character Design: Issei Arakaki