Ribbon Hero Anime Movie Revives the Tezuka Classic After 27 Years

Netflix has partnered with Twin Engine to produce The Ribbon Hero, a new anime film inspired by Osamu Tezuka’s seminal work Princess Knight. The Ribbon Hero will release globally on Netflix in August 2026, marking the franchise's first new anime in 27 years, following a 1999 short film. The original television series aired from 1967-1968.

Princess Knight, which originally ran from 1953 to 1956 in Shōjo Club magazine, is considered a founding work in shōjo manga, impacting decades of shōjo or teenage-girls-targeted narratives in Japanese manga. Netflix did not detail a specific plotline; however, from the announcement, it seems producers are reinterpreting the property for modern audiences in The Ribbon Hero.

The Ribbon Hero “depicts the story of a lone hero who chooses to defy a harsh destiny, set in a delicately crafted world,” Netflix briefed about the upcoming anime movie. Twin Engine, known for seminal projects such as Vinland Saga and Dororo, is handling overall production.

Netflix Combines Emerging Talents to Bring Back Classic Shōjo IP with The Ribbon Hero Movie

To revive Tezuka's classic manga, Netflix and Twin Engine have brought together emerging talents such as Yuki Igarashi, whose work credits include directing Star Wars: Visions’ episode Lop & Ocho and key animation of Jujutsu Kaisen's first season ending sequence. Igarashi is directing The Ribbon Hero anime film at his anime studio OUTLINE as his feature-length directorial debut.

Character design is handled by Kei Mochizuki, known for work on Fate/Grand Order and Touken Ranbu, with Kazunari Arakaki as the animation character designer. Mai Yoneyama, who contributed to Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, will join as a collaborator on character concepts. Cedric Herold is overseeing The Ribbon Hero’s art direction.

Director Igarashi stated in the announcement, “For this film, I poured in my respect for Osamu Tezuka, the creator of Princess Knight; for Ichizo Kobayashi of the Takarazuka Revue.” He further positioned the Netflix anime movie as a “blood‑stirring, heart‑pounding piece,” which he believes can be a true mainstream success.

The production of The Ribbon Hero highlights the growing demand for shōjo anime in a shōnen-crowded space. Earlier, in March, Chie Shinohara’s classic Red River was announced for an anime adaptation, reviving the 1995 Shōjo IP.

For Netflix, The Ribbon Hero production aligns with its aim to differentiate its anime catalog amidst intensifying competition from platforms like Crunchyroll. By anchoring new projects based on historically significant works, the platform can drive both cultural prestige and global engagement.