Netflix’s upcoming anime film The Ribbon Hero just added a very interesting trio to its cast: three VTubers from Nijisanji.
Announced on July 30, Mito Tsukino, Lunlun, and Debidebi Debiru have joined the feature-length anime movie, marking their anime voice acting debut in this format. For VTuber fans, that’s a pretty big crossover moment — not just a cameo stream collab, but actual roles in a Netflix anime film.
In the movie, the three play companions who meet the main character, Sapphire, after she escapes her ruined homeland and ends up working at a mining site in Goldland.
Here’s the newly revealed casting:
- Mito Tsukino voices Hecate
- Lunlun voices Chick
- Debidebi Debiru voices Tack
- Veteran voice actors Yoshimasa Hosoya and Yusuke Tezuka are also part of the newly announced cast
The Ribbon Hero is inspired by Osamu Tezuka’s 1953 manga Princess Knight, one of those classic titles that sits deep in anime and manga history. The story follows Sapphire after the loss of her kingdom, as she becomes the Ribbon Hero and fights against a mysterious disaster known as Nergal.
That Tezuka connection is important. This is not just some random fantasy film throwing popular internet names into the credits for hype. The source material has legacy weight, and Mito Tsukino herself acknowledged that pressure.
Speaking about the role, Mito said that being involved in a project tied to Princess Knight came with “a tremendous sense of responsibility,” and that she approached it with full sincerity.
Lunlun also shared that this was their first time doing voice acting, so there were nerves at the start. However, the lively back-and-forth during recording helped them relax and enjoy the process.
Debidebi Debiru had a similar reaction, saying they were surprised to receive the offer because it was their first anime voice acting role.
Why this matters for VTuber and anime fans
Analysis: VTubers moving into anime voice roles is not new-new, but this kind of casting still matters because it shows how much the gap between VTuber fandom and mainstream anime production has narrowed.
For Malaysia and SEA fans who already follow Nijisanji clips, streams, fan translations, or anime communities online, The Ribbon Hero could become one of those crossover titles worth watching just to see how these personalities perform outside their usual streaming format.
The interesting part is the challenge. VTubing is built on live personality, improv, chat reactions, and character energy. Anime voice acting is a different beast — more controlled, more directed, and tied tightly to the tone of the scene. If the performances land, it could make studios even more comfortable bringing VTubers into bigger anime projects.
At the same time, The Ribbon Hero has to stand on its own as a film. The Nijisanji casting will definitely pull attention from fans, but the movie is also carrying the name of Princess Knight, so expectations are not small.
The Ribbon Hero begins streaming exclusively on Netflix worldwide on August 8.