Product Info

Studio

OUTLINE

Director

Yuki Igarashi

Genre

Adventure, Animation, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

Rated

PG

Theatrical Release Date (NA)

Aug 8, 2026

Film Length

1hr 49min

Purchase From

The Ribbon Hero, inspired by the 1950s Japanese manga Princess Knight, beautifully animates and showcases promise. However, the film suffers from a rushed story with scenes that feel convoluted.

A Hero in Need

©TWIN ENGINE

The movie introduces Princess Sapphire and the last minutes before the mysterious calamity by the “Nergal” destroys the fallen kingdom of Silverland. Leaving the collapsing kingdom, Sapphire and her personal nanny and scientist, Zirco, set out to find a new place to live. They travel alone and eventually reach Goldland, a kingdom governed by a religious organization. There, Sapphire meets new friends and faces many confrontations in the city, including the mysterious Nergal, which seeks to continue destroying humanity. However, a special power sleeps within Sapphire that awakens to push back the Nergal. Can she use her unique power to save everyone?

Based on the 1950s Japanese manga, Princess Knight, The Ribbon Hero takes the story into a modern cinematic experience. Aside from the kingdom and the princess names, most of the movie is original, with a setting in a post-apocalyptic theme. On paper it presents an entertaining story, but the film has a difficult time explaining that adventure. From the start of the film, it showcases an intriguing plot regarding Sapphire and the fall of Silverland, which recalls a reminiscence of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Not long after the introduction, scenes start to feel rushed. Plot points and character buildup felt empty. Details on the Nergal are provided in small doses throughout the film but not fully explained till the end. By then you already felt overwhelmed with the story’s disjointed flow, as scenes needed more explanation or more time to develop.

©TWIN ENGINE

Two of the side characters, Pine and Velvet, are given more solid ground compared to the other side characters. The shy girl named Pine that Sapphire first meets gives a positive first start and eventually develops a heartwarming friendship, but the film could use more time to develop this relationship more. Velvet, who works for the religious organization in Goldland, has his agenda to utilize Sapphire, but his presence begins to falter later in the film. While I like the rest of the side characters too, I wonder if having too many to fit into this two-hour film took too much away from each other and not provide enough development time to make them feel whole. While many of the battles feel serious and intense, one major battle feels so cartoonish and over-the-top that it’s treated like a comical scene more than it should be.

I really do want to enjoy Sapphire’s adventure more due to its captivating post-apocalyptic story and characters, but its narrative and disjointed scenes make it difficult to do that. Perhaps if the movie was adjusted to be more of a short series, I think The Ribbon Hero would be delivered in a better way.

Stylish Transformation

©TWIN ENGINE

Despite the storytelling issues, The Ribbon Hero boasts several outstanding features that set it apart. Produced by TWIN ENGINE and animated by OUTLINE, a new Japanese animation studio, led by director Yuki Igarashi, displays excellent taste when it comes to the visuals and character designs. I appreciate the homage to the 1950s manga, as the film creatively showcases this influence. For example, Sapphire’s transformation look uses designs of the original character, such as the cape, ribbon, and sword, and calling herself the “Princess Knight” is a nod to the original manga.

Character illustrations are one of the best visuals in the film. Sapphire’s original form and her Princess Knight form are dazzling. Side characters like Pine embody the design and appearance of a gentle small-town girl. Velvet is a unique character design, as he wears heels, delicate facial designs, and royalty-like attire while being excellent with a sword. Zirco is a fun character that looks like a small child who drives in a hover vehicle that fits her size. Other characters, such as Hecate, have a stunning visual design that seems more suited for a higher-profile role in the film; Tick and Tack, as identical twins, are well-designed characters but have minimal screen time, and Chorogy and Rock, the other two male supporting characters, are also visually well-designed with a lack of character depth.

©TWIN ENGINE

The majority of the story takes place in the city of Godland, detailed and visually pleasing with bright visuals. When the Nergal appears, the overall tone turns gloomy and dark. The visuals of the various forms of Nergal are done in 3D, which stands out somewhat but is too concerning as you watch Sapphire tackle these monsters in a fast-paced battle. Additionally, the special effects are impressive during the sword clashes between Sapphire and her enemies. The film features highly detailed visuals, including falling building debris, lighting effects, and the disintegration of the enemy.

One of the film’s themes is using puppet show aesthetics to break the film into different acts. For example, the film uses real curtain visuals to simulate the closing and opening of a curtain. There’s a scenario where the film uses real-life photography to explain Sapphire’s powers in a creative way but feels out of place, as this technique is the only time real-life visuals are used in a scene.

There isn’t anything alarming with the film’s whimsical score. In fact, I do enjoy some of the pieces, such as the vocal tracks used within the film, like Pine singing while Sapphire plays her flute, and Sapphire’s transformation theme that builds the momentum. The film’s theme song used at the beginning of the credits, called “Reborn” by Girls Archives., is uplifting and energetic and ends the film on a strong emotional note.

The Final Ribbon

The Ribbon Hero delivers heartfelt nods to the original 1950s manga with stunning animation and stylish character designs. However, its rushed, convoluted narrative and underdeveloped cast keep Sapphire’s adventure from reaching its full potential.

An early screening was provided for this review. The Ribbon Hero releases August 8, 2026 on Netflix . Fans can visit the film’s official website and the official page on Netflix for more information.