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Netflix has had plenty of positive buzz recently, from its blockbuster One Piece casting news, to Grammy nominations for Kpop Demon Hunters, to more original anime. The latest offerings have allowed Netflix to compete with other streaming giants as well as the anime powerhouse, Crunchyroll itself. But Netflix's latest anime movie, Cosmic Princess Kaguya!, is especially promising. Blending the direction of Shingo Yamashita (Chainsaw Man, Frieren, Jujutsu Kaisen) this latest Netflix anime movie blends classic Japanese folklore with a modern setting and Vocaloid collaborations. The result is likely to draw upon similar appeals to Kpop Demon Hunters, but this time pushing the focus to Japanese pop culture with this modern reimagining of Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. Netflix's New Movie Will Be an Early Contender for 2026 Anime Film of the Year Cosmic Princess Kaguya! features the stellar designs of Hechima and Akihiro Nagae, backed by the production of Studio Colorido and Studio Chromato. Colorido's other work, including Nagae's, made a splash in Japan with Penguin Highway in Japan and abroad, picking up festival honors for excellence in its animation. Cosmic Princess Kaguya! promises similar excellence with Netflix's support. The movie's premise is in itself familiar with Japanese audiences, retelling the country's oldest folktale. It's the tale of a girl who is found resting inside a bamboo stalk, raised by the woman who found her as her adopted daughter, named Kaguya. As her beauty grows, she attracts suitors including Japan's emperor seeking her hand in marriage. The story takes further twists from there, however; Kaguya is originally from the Moon, and thus gives each man an impossible task to balk at their proposals before ultimately leaving for her home. She leaves behind parting gifts, prompting the Emperor himself to send a message to reach Heaven, so she may receive it. It's a commonly retold tale. Cosmic Princess Kaguya! will feature the following voice cast confirmed so far: Yūko Natsuyoshi as Kaguya Anna Nagase as Iroha Sakayori Saori Hayami as Yachiyo Runami Naturally, with the modern touches of Cosmic Princess Kaguya! incorporated, this won't be the average fairy tale anime. The movie will play out like a live performance in Tsukuyomi, with music featuring 40mP, HoneyWorks, Aqu3ra, yuigot, Kz from Livetune, and Ryo from Supercell, creator of "Melt", one of the first widely successful songs featuring Hatsune Miku. So, it grows clearer by the minute that Cosmic Princess Kaguya! intends to capture similar modernized magic to Kpop Demon Hunters by infusing Japanese Vocaloid styles with an instantly recognizable tale. This allows Japanese audiences to enjoy the story in a new light, while international viewers, thanks to Netflix, can potentially experience the story for the first time. Cosmic Princess Kaguya! Faces Stiff Anime Movie Competition Without even factoring in the runaway success of 2025's Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle and even Chainsaw Man's new movie, 2026 is a packed year. There are franchise returns like That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie - Walpurgisnacht: Rising, and Studio 4°C's gorgeous original take on All You Need Is Kill. But what Cosmic Princess Kaguya! brings compared to the refined charm of Arvo Animation's Paris ni Saku Étoile and other exciting anime movies of 2026 is a similar level of polish, but also an accessible charm. It's not just touted as a film, but a musical festival sure to engage audiences on more than merits of its animation alone.
