The Ribbon Hero Prepares for Global Premiere with Final Trailer and New Voice Cast
The new anime film The Ribbon Hero, adapted from Osamu Tezuka's immortal work Ribbon no Kishi (Princess Knight), is back on the agenda with its final trailer. Released on July 30, the trailer introduced the first glimpses of the film's English dub and five new voice actors. According to the trailer, the film will have its global premiere next week.
The most notable names in the new voice cast are NIJISANJI's popular VTubers Mito Tsukino, Lunlun, and Debidebi Debiru. The inclusion of VTubers in anime films is a sign of the growing influence of virtual stars in the voice acting industry in recent years. The trailer also focuses on the film's English dub, revealing that The Ribbon Hero will be a production that appeals not only to Japan but to the entire world.
This new film is based on Ribbon no Kishi, which Tezuka serialized in Shojo Club magazine between 1953 and 1956 and is considered the first shōjo manga. The story tells the struggle for the throne of Princess Sapphire, who was mistakenly born with both a male and a female heart by an angel. Raised as a prince because there was no male heir in her country, Sapphire was a bold character for her time and became one of the first manga heroes to tackle gender themes. Tezuka's legacy will meet a new generation of viewers with The Ribbon Hero.
Naturally, this adaptation holds great significance not only for Tezuka fans but also for manga history. Considering that Osamu Tezuka is referred to as the “god of manga,” bringing one of his classics to life with modern animation technology is a tribute to the industry's past. It was announced that The Ribbon Hero's global premiere will take place next week; details about the film's release date and the full voice cast are eagerly awaited. It is certain that the English dub, in particular, will allow this classic story to reach a wider audience worldwide.
