Osamu Tezuka's iconic shojo manga, "Ribbon Knight," first serialized in 1953, holds a monumental place in Japanese manga history. This April, Netflix announced a brand-new animated film, "THE RIBBON HERO," reimagining the classic with a fresh twist. It's set to premiere exclusively on Netflix on August 8th.
The official team recently dropped the third trailer, revealing additional characters and their voice cast. What's got everyone buzzing is the inclusion of three Nijisanji VTubers: Tsukino Mito, Lunlun, and Debidebi Debiru, all making their long-form anime voice acting debut!
The five newly announced voice actors portray characters Sapphire, the protagonist, befriends while working in the mines. Lock serves as the foreman of their work crew, with the others being fellow team members.
▼ Lock: Yoshimasa Hosoya
▼ Hecate: Tsukino Mito
▼ Chorogi: Yusuke Tezuka
▼ Chick: Lunlun
Tack: Debidebi Debiru
The biggest buzz, of course, comes from the casting of three Nijisanji VTubers. Tsukino Mito, Lunlun, and Debidebi Debiru are all stepping into the world of feature-length anime voice acting for the very first time, and they've shared their thoughts on this exciting new venture.
▼ Tsukino Mito
"It's a tremendous honor to be part of such an important project, based on the timeless classic 'The Ribbon Hero.' I approached this role with a great sense of responsibility. Hecate is an incredibly emotional, straightforward, and strong woman. I'm so thrilled to be able to voice one of my favorite characters from the original manga."
▼ Lunlun
"It's a huge privilege to play a twin character alongside my beloved Debidebi-senpai. I was naturally nervous for my first voice acting role, but the lively interactions between the characters quickly helped me relax, and I had a truly enjoyable recording experience. I hope everyone will enjoy seeing Chick and Tack's perfect chemistry and their small yet determined efforts. This is a fantastical story that somehow makes you project your own dreams and beliefs onto it, and I hope you all love it."
▼ Debidebi Debiru
"This time, I'm playing a twin with that little white fella. It's my first time voice acting for an anime, and I was genuinely shocked when I got the offer! At first, I worried if I could even do it, but then my partner and I completely immersed ourselves in the story, constantly thinking, 'What is Tack feeling right now?' and 'Is Chick okay?' We really got into character and enjoyed the recording process. I hope everyone pays attention to Chick and Tack's determined efforts, and please look forward to how their story ultimately unfolds!"
The casting choice has certainly raised some eyebrows, with many surprised that three VTubers with limited voice acting experience were selected. Debidebi Debiru, in particular, has a history of speaking somewhat indistinctly, leading to questions about the suitability of this voice acting decision.
However, "The Ribbon Hero" isn't just a fresh take on Osamu Tezuka's "Ribbon Knight." It boasts an impressive lineup, with director Yuki Igarashi at the helm, popular illustrator Kei Mochizuki on character design, and the equally acclaimed illustrator Mai Yoneyama contributing. The animation is being handled by director Igarashi's OUTLINE team alongside TWIN ENGINE, the studio behind "Cosmic Princess Kaguya!" All of this still has fans eagerly anticipating the film.
"The Ribbon Hero" is set for a global exclusive release on Netflix on August 8th. The countdown is on, and many fans have been waiting for this for a long time, so don't miss it when it drops!