Netflix and Twin Engine will release The Ribbon Hero, a new anime film adapting Osamu Tezuka's Princess Knight, directed by Yuuki Igarashi at studio OUTLINE in August 2026.
Netflix and Twin Engine are producing The Ribbon Hero, an anime film that reimagines Osamu Tezuka's foundational 1953 shojo manga Princess Knight (Ribbon no Kishi). Directed by Yuuki Igarashi at his newly established studio OUTLINE, the film is set for a worldwide Netflix premiere in August 2026.
Princess Knight holds a singular place in manga history. Serialized by Osamu Tezuka beginning in 1953, it is widely regarded as one of the earliest shojo manga and a direct ancestor of modern gender-bending storytelling in anime. The story follows Sapphire, a princess born with two hearts one male, one female in the kingdom of Silverland. Because only males can inherit the throne, she is raised as a prince, concealing her identity from the scheming Duke Duralumin.
The franchise last received an anime adaptation in a 1999 short film, making The Ribbon Hero the first new animated entry in 27 years. The new film positions itself as a story about "a lone hero who chooses to defy a harsh destiny, set in a delicately crafted world," signaling a fresh interpretation rather than a straightforward retelling of the original manga.
The Ribbon Hero marks Yuuki Igarashi's feature-length directorial debut. Igarashi built his reputation through high-profile animation work, including key animation on Jujutsu Kaisen's first season and his directorial debut on the Star Wars: Visions episode "Lop and Ocho," which was widely praised for its visual storytelling and emotional depth.
Igarashi founded OUTLINE specifically to realize projects with strong artistic identity, and The Ribbon Hero is its inaugural production. In a statement accompanying the announcement, Igarashi said he "poured in respect for Osamu Tezuka" and the Takarazuka Revue the all-female Japanese theater troupe that heavily influenced Tezuka's original work while aiming to deliver "true mainstream entertainment" to a global audience.
The production assembles a notable creative team. Illustrator Kei Mochizuki designed the original characters, with Mai Yoneyama known for her work as ending director on Cyberpunk: Edgerunners providing character design cooperation. Issei Arakaki serves as animation character designer, while Cédric Hérole handles artistic direction, bringing an international sensibility to the film's visual palette.
A teaser visual drawn by Mochizuki has already been released, offering a first look at the modernized character designs that blend Tezuka's classic aesthetic with a contemporary animation style.
The Ribbon Hero joins Netflix's expanding slate of original anime productions alongside Twin Engine, which has previously collaborated on projects like Vinland Saga and Trigun Stampede. The film's August 2026 global premiere means it will be simultaneously available to Netflix subscribers worldwide, including in India, without the staggered rollout that sometimes affects licensed anime titles.
With a rising director, a storied source material, and a production house known for backing distinctive anime visions, The Ribbon Hero is shaping up to be one of the more closely watched anime films of the summer season.
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