Saaya Steps Into the Role of Sapphire
The Ribbon Hero (THE RIBBON HERO リボンヒーロー) marks the first time a feature-length anime has drawn directly from Tezuka's Princess Knight (リボンの騎士), the 1953 manga widely regarded as the work that introduced fighting heroines to shōjo manga. The film is directed by Yuki Igarashi (Star Wars: Visions' "The Ninth Jedi") and produced at OUTLINE, the studio Igarashi founded under Twin Engine.
Saaya, one half of comedy duo Laland, takes on Sapphire — and she's candid about what it took to say yes. In a statement published by Comic Natalie, she admitted the offer initially made her hesitate despite years of jumping into new genres without a second thought. "The level of craft that goes into anime is extraordinary — alien, meticulous, and in a class of its own. I had too much respect for it to take it lightly," she said.
What sealed the deal was director Igarashi telling her that Sapphire's background and upbringing overlapped with her own. "Using humor to hit back when life gets hard — that's my motto, and I saw it in Sapphire too," Saaya explained. She described the recording process as the most grueling and rewarding work of her career: "Past 30, I've never thrown myself into a challenge like this and enjoyed the struggle this much."
What the Key Visual and Trailer Reveal
The newly released key visual puts the transformed Sapphire front and center — sword in hand, eyes set with resolve. Her pre-transformation self stands at the center of the image alongside three new characters, all framed by a bold red ribbon. The tagline reads: "This feeling becomes a sword."
The first trailer opens on a bruised, battle-worn Sapphire letting out an anguished cry. Ribbons envelop her, granting the power to transform. Having found a reason to keep fighting, she declares, "For everyone who is struggling" — but the trailer cuts that resolve against a shot of a figure flashing a sinister grin, hinting at a threat the film has yet to name.
A Stacked Production Team
Igarashi's pedigree punches well above what you'd expect for a debut feature director. He solo-animated the Jujutsu Kaisen ending sequence, handled roughly 60 percent of the key animation for Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! episode 3 (which the original manga's creator called a "divine episode"), and made his directorial debut with "The Ninth Jedi" — one of the most praised shorts in the Star Wars: Visions anthology.
The rest of the team is stacked to match. Character concepts come from illustrator Kei Mochizuki, with animator and illustrator Mai Yoneyama on character concept cooperation. Issei Arakaki handles animation character design. The score is composed by Satoru Kōsaki and Ryūichi Takada of MONACA — Kōsaki's credits include The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and the Monogatari series. Junko Kōmura, known for writing multiple Super Sentai series and Healin' Good PreCure, provides script cooperation.
Twin Engine serves as the production company, with animation handled at OUTLINE — the studio Igarashi established within Twin Engine's ecosystem.
Looking Ahead
The Ribbon Hero premieres exclusively on Netflix worldwide on August 8, 2026. That global day-and-date release means international fans won't have to wait for a staggered rollout — the film lands everywhere at once.
No additional cast beyond Saaya's Sapphire has been announced yet. The three new characters visible in the key visual remain unnamed, so expect further casting reveals in the weeks ahead. With the first trailer now out and roughly ten weeks until launch, a second trailer and possibly a theme song announcement are likely on the way.