The Ribbon Hero Review: A Flawed Anime Film Saved by a Bonkers Final Act

Some films stumble through their middle act and still manage to win you over by the end. The Ribbon Hero, Netflix’s new adaptation of Osamu Tezuka’s seminal Princess Knight manga, takes the original 70-year-old story down a post-apocalyptic path full of demons, anti-immigrant religious zealots, and a final act so wild it briefly turns into Looney Tunes. NBC Sports

What’s Ribbon Hero Story About?

Directed by Yuki Igarashi and made by studio OUTLINE, the film follows Sapphire, a princess whose kingdom Silverland is destroyed by an otherworldly calamity called “Nergal.” Having lost her family and people, she becomes a refugee in the neighboring kingdom of Goldland, slowly rebuilding hope — until the Nergal resurfaces to threaten everything she’s gained. NBC Sports

Where the Film Falls Short?

The story is simple but stretched out for far too long, with the main villain only properly introduced in the final 30 minutes and their purpose explained just 20 minutes before the end. The dialogue leans heavily on exposition, the characters feel flat and stereotypical, and most character development happens off-screen. The 3D CG used for the villain Nergal is also fairly generic.

What Actually Works?

Despite its flaws, the film has real charm. Just as Tezuka drew inspiration from musical theater for the original manga, The Ribbon Hero structures itself in acts complete with curtain rises, intervals, and even a puppet cutout show — giving it a genuinely unique visual identity. Flashbacks are rendered in black-and-white as a loving tribute to Tezuka’s original art style.

The film also touches on the mistreatment of immigrants and society’s forgotten, including a subplot about an end-times religious group targeting refugees — a surprisingly poignant thread even if underdeveloped.

The Final Act Saves It All

Whatever issues the film has melt away once the final act kicks in, with a dreamlike fight sequence that suddenly turns cartoony, complete with classical music, rubber-hose animation, and a rabbit-like villain — transforming the anime into Looney Tunes for its climax. There’s even a fourth-wall-breaking live-action moment reminiscent of Neon Genesis Evangelion, showing a prop of Tezuka’s original manga. NBC SportsNBC Sports

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Learn more about the source material on Wikipedia’s Princess Knight page.

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