Netflix releases 'Ribbon Hero' adaptation of Osamu Tezuka's Princess Knight

Netflix’s new animated film "Ribbon Hero" debuted on August 8, 2026 as a modern adaptation of Osamu Tezuka’s 1953 manga Princess Knight. Directed by Yûki Igarashi, the movie follows Princess Sapphire, a sword‑wielding heroine who confronts the giant flying earwig Nergal that threatens her kingdom of Silverland. The story expands the original’s themes of gender expectations while adding contemporary visual styles, including a mix of Euro‑inspired pageantry and 2‑D backdrops. Igarashi aimed to honor the classic work, even inserting a cameo of Tezuka’s original comics, and to introduce the pioneering heroine to new audiences.

Critical response notes the film’s impressive animation variety but criticizes its conservative focus on the protagonist’s feminine side and a plot that leans toward conventional girl‑power tropes. Reviewers highlight the battle sequences against interdimensional critters and the transformation of Sapphire via a magical ribbon, while noting the lack of the more daring elements present in Tezuka’s source material.