Netflix held a studio focus panel at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2026, unveiling a wave of new information on upcoming anime originals. Among the biggest reveals: the anime adaptation of Yasuda Kasumi’s manga Fool Night, produced by the first-ever collaboration between Sunrise and Shaft, plus fresh details on Twentieth Century Electric Catalog – Eureka Evrica, The Ribbon Hero, The One Piece, and more.
Fool Night: Sunrise × Shaft Brings Dystopian Manga to Life
Yasuda Kasumi’s Fool Night, serialized in Shogakukan’s Big Comic Superior, is getting an anime adaptation that will stream exclusively on Netflix worldwide in 2026. Alongside the announcement, a teaser PV and teaser visual were released.
The manga earned a spot in Japan’s “Kono Manga ga Sugoi! 2023” and won the Best Suspense Award at France’s Japan Expo Award (DARUMA Prize) 2023. The story is set in a far-future Earth where thick clouds cover the sky, leaving only winter and night. Most plants have withered, and humanity depends on a technology called “tenka” that transforms human bodies into plants to produce oxygen. The teaser PV highlights the high-quality animation and heavy soundtrack, capturing the emotions of characters struggling to survive in this harsh world. It features the protagonist Kamiya Toshiro’s heartfelt monologue, Hourai Yomiko gazing at a “reika” (spirit flower) on an operating table, and a person in the midst of tenka who can no longer speak or move. The visual depicts Toshiro and a partially transformed person, illustrating the beautiful yet merciless dystopia where one must choose between living as a human or becoming a plant to escape suffering.
The production is handled by Sunrise (known for the Gundam series, including Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury) and Shaft (famous for Puella Magi Madoka Magica and the Monogatari series) in their first joint project. Director Yukawa Atsushi (Suzume no Tojimari) leads the team, with series composition by Tanaka Jin (Oshi no Ko), sound direction by Tsuruoka Youta (Koe no Katachi), and music by Katou Tatsuya (Dr.STONE). The cast includes Uchiyama Kouki as Kamiya Toshiro and Kotobuki Minako as his childhood friend Hourai Yomiko.
Author Yasuda commented: “The construction of Fool Night began with the desire to see the sight of houseplants lined up in a sterile office. I kept building rooms I liked without any plan, the building warped, but it didn’t collapse and somehow reached an anime adaptation. All thanks to readers around the world who supported Fool Night. I am truly grateful. Now that the altitude has risen, I would be delighted if even more people far away discover it through the anime.”
Twentieth Century Electric Catalog – Eureka Evrica: New Scene Photos
The anime series Twentieth Century Electric Catalog – Eureka Evrica will premiere worldwide exclusively on Netflix from July 5. Produced by Kyoto Animation, the series has also been nominated in the TV Films category of the Annecy festival’s official competition. New scene photos have been released.
Set in an alternate early 20th-century Kyoto where only steam engines have developed, the story follows protagonist Sakamoto Kihachi, who dreams of an “age of electricity.” He and his brother record their electrical inventions in a “Twentieth Century Electric Catalog.” After losing his brother and the catalog in war, Kihachi falls into despair. But a chance encounter with a girl named Momokawa Inako brings the lost catalog back to him, and together they rediscover their dreams.
The new scene photos combine challenging backgrounds with a painterly touch and meticulous animation that vividly depicts character movements and emotions. The beautiful, refined cuts make the characters’ breathing almost palpable. When the characters’ hearts are strongly moved, their eyes shine with brilliant colors. Director Oota Minoru, known for his work on Kyoto Animation productions, pushes into new visual territory.
The Ribbon Hero: Tezuka Osamu’s Classic Reimagined
Netflix film The Ribbon Hero will launch worldwide exclusively on August 8. Based on Tezuka Osamu’s classic manga Ribbon no Kishi, it marks the feature directorial debut of Igarashi Yuuki, a highly versatile animator. The film was officially screened in the Annecy Présents section, with the director attending. New scene photos show protagonist Sapphire standing up against a powerful enemy as the Ribbon Hero to protect her loved ones.
Princess Sapphire of Silverland loses everything to the unknown threat “Nergal” and arrives in Goldland in despair. Touched by the kindness of Goldland’s people, she begins to find hope, but Nergal reappears to shatter the peace. A second trailer revealed Velvet, an executive of the mysterious religious organization “Mitra,” who questions whether Sapphire is responsible for Silverland’s fall. The story follows Sapphire’s resolve to take up the sword to protect her new friends and Goldland.
The voice cast includes Saya (Lalande) as Sapphire, Kobayashi Seiran as her friend Pine, Uchiyama Kouki as the manipulative Velvet, and Shintani Mayumi as the elderly attendant Zirco. The theme song “Reborn” is performed by the new Japan-Korea unit Girls Archives., a collaboration between HYBE’s NEB (Next Entertainment Business) division—known for global storytelling with BTS, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, ENHYPEN, and ILLIT—and INCS TOENTER, which has driven Japan’s digital-native generation with supercell and HoneyWorks. This marks the pre-debut single for the unit.
Tezuka Osamu, the “manga god” who continues to attract new readers 37 years after his death, created the original Ribbon no Kishi. All eyes are on how this classic shoujo manga will be reborn for a modern audience.
The One Piece: New Episode Art and Teaser Trailer Coming
Netflix series The One Piece will stream worldwide exclusively from February 2027. This new anime adaptation of Oda Eiichiro’s globally popular manga One Piece (serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump) reimagines the East Blue arc from scratch. Produced by WIT Studio, it runs on a separate track from the long-running TV anime, pushing visual expression to new heights possible only now. The adventure of Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates is depicted with a nostalgic yet fresh sense of presence.
Commemorative episode art for the first episode, titled “ROMANCE DAWN” (the same as the original manga’s first chapter), was released. It captures Luffy’s iconic declaration “I’m going to be the King of the Pirates!” and brims with the energy of a new adventure’s beginning. At the panel, a comment video from director Hizuma Masashi was shown, followed by the first minute of episode 1, which drew huge excitement. A teaser trailer will be unveiled globally for the first time at the “Next on Netflix Animation” panel on June 24 (Japan time).
Bass X Machina: Brian Tyree Henry Leads New Series
Netflix series Bass X Machina (coming soon worldwide exclusively) released a scene photo. Inspired by the life of real-life legendary lawman Bass Reeves, the story follows a father who, in a lawless wilderness, takes on the roles of judge, jury, and executioner to protect his family. The photo shows protagonist Bass with a cyborg arm crackling with electric light, his sharp gaze conveying a father’s fierce determination. Actor Brian Tyree Henry, who also voices characters in animated works like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, stars as the lead and serves as executive producer.
Blue Eye Samurai Season 2: New Image Revealed
Netflix series Blue Eye Samurai season 2 (coming soon worldwide exclusively) also shared a new scene photo. Set in Edo-period Japan, the series follows a mixed-race sword master who hides her identity while seeking revenge. The image captures protagonist Mizu with her piercing blue eyes, revealing her obsession with vengeance. Season 1 captivated audiences with its stunning visuals and samurai action; season 2 is highly anticipated.
Netflix continues to spotlight a diverse range of Japanese and global animation, with these high-quality productions leading the charge.
