Netflix recently announced its new original anime film The Ribbon Hero, a modern take on Osamu Tezuka’s 1950s manga Princess Knight. Its first poster, which shows a female character (likely the protagonist Sapphire) designed by Fate/Grand Order illustrator Kei Mochizuki in collaboration with Cyberpunk: Edgerunners animator Mai Yoneyama, was meant to generate hype, but some Japanese fans are concerned that the adaptation looks noticeably (some would say “completely”) different from the source material.
While some put their trust in director Yuki Igarashi (whose animation work includes popular anime titles like Mob Psycho 100, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, and Star Wars: Visions), as well as the rest of the crew, a good number of fans are skeptical about the art style.
Some fans theorize that the “Princess Knight” tag was added to draw attention to the film, suggesting that The Ribbon Hero would not be able to stand on its own as an original project without relying on its source material. Others would much rather prefer if Outline and Twin Engine (the production companies behind the film) made a unique IP instead of an adaptation if the character designs look too unlike their original counterparts.
Though The Ribbon Hero character in the poster (who we’re assuming is Sapphire) doesn’t look bad by any stretch of the imagination, her sharper, more mature design looks nothing like Sapphire’s softer, more rounded look typical of Tezuka’s style in the manga and anime.
The Ribbon Hero is meant to be a “modern treatment” of Princess Knight, which is apparent in its art style and character designs. While this decision was probably made to draw in modern audiences, longtime Princess Knight fans are starting to feel put off by the changes, with some losing interest in the movie and others likening the character design to “tasteless gum”.
The Ribbon Hero is set to premiere on Netflix in August 2026.
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