A proper classic is coming back, bro. Osamu Tezuka’s Ribbon no Kishi, also known as Princess Knight, is getting a new anime film titled The Ribbon Hero, and it is set to stream globally on Netflix this August 2026.
That is a big deal because this will be the franchise’s first new anime project in 27 years. The last animated entry was a short film shown in 1999, while the original manga goes all the way back to 1953. For anime fans who mostly know Tezuka through titles like Astro Boy or Black Jack, this is a good chance to see another major piece of anime history reintroduced for a modern streaming audience.
What is Ribbon no Kishi about?
Ribbon no Kishi follows Sapphire, a princess born with both a boy’s heart and a girl’s heart. She eventually takes on the identity of a masked hero, giving the story that classic fairy-tale adventure feel with a very Tezuka-style twist.
The manga first launched in 1953, and later received a TV anime adaptation that aired from 1967 to 1968. So yes, this is not just another random reboot. This is one of those foundational anime/manga properties getting a fresh shot for the Netflix era.
For Malaysian and SEA anime fans, the Netflix release is the important part. Older classics can be hard to access legally here unless you are hunting physical releases, random imports, or low-quality uploads. A worldwide Netflix rollout means newer fans can jump in without needing to do homework across five different platforms.
Who is making The Ribbon Hero?
The film is directed by Yuki Igarashi, whose past work includes the ending animation for JUJUTSU KAISEN Season 1 and Star Wars: Visions. This will be his first feature-length directorial project, so The Ribbon Hero is also a major step up for him.
The main staff includes:
- Director: Yuki Igarashi
- Original Character Design: Kei Mochizuki
- Character Design Cooperation: Mai Yoneyama
- Animation Character Design: Issei Arakaki
- Art Direction: Cédric Hérole
- Production: TWIN ENGINE
- Animation Production: OUTLINE
The staff comments shared for the announcement point towards a team trying to balance respect for Tezuka’s original work with a more modern visual identity. Igarashi highlighted the influence of Tezuka and Ichizo Kobayashi of the Takarazuka Revue, which connects back to the roots of Princess Knight’s theatrical style. Kei Mochizuki also described the challenge as finding a balance between honouring Tezuka and designing something that works for today’s audience.
That is probably the key question for this film: can it feel classic without looking dusty?
Why SEA fans should keep an eye on it
Anime fans in Malaysia are spoiled right now with seasonal bangers, cinema releases, and streaming drops every month. But classics like Princess Knight matter because they show where a lot of modern anime DNA came from — gender performance, royal fantasy, masked hero drama, stylish adventure, all before many of today’s popular tropes became mainstream.
The Ribbon Hero also sounds like it is not trying to be a museum piece. With creators like Mai Yoneyama and Cédric Hérole involved, plus a director connected to visually sharp projects, this could become a stylish gateway for younger fans who usually skip older IPs.
No Malaysian cinema release was mentioned in the source material, so for now, Netflix is the confirmed route. If you already keep your subscription mainly for anime drops, this is one to bookmark for August.
Source: Anime Corner