Netflix has released a new trailer for an upcoming anime film set to premiere on January 22, 2026. It reinterprets one of the oldest Japanese folktales in a sci-fi world featuring characters from the same universe as Hatsune Miku.
What kind of film is it? The upcoming anime is titled Cosmic Princess Kaguya!, and if it reminds you of a Ghibli film, that’s no coincidence. The film is based on the same folktale as The Tale of the Princess Kaguya.
In the tale, a poor bamboo cutter finds a tiny woman in glowing bamboo, whom he takes home. There, she transforms into a baby, but she grows faster than other children. The foundling is then named Hime (Japanese for princess). Throughout the film, you will learn the true identity behind the child.
Cosmic Princess Kaguya! also aims to retell this story, but with some unique elements. The trailer already shows that the story will be significantly more futuristic:
Princess Kaguya in a world that could be straight out of Cyberpunk
What makes Netflix’s film different? The film focuses more on its musical performance than the classic fairy tale. The film’s soundtrack comes from producers in the Vocaloid scene, which you may recognize from the virtual idol Hatsune Miku. The creator of the song Melt featuring Miku is also involved.
Additionally, the trailer already indicates that the anime could be a visual spectacle. In the video, colorful schools of fish swim among houses illuminated by neon lights. The characters are surrounded by glowing shooting stars.
This is partly due to Shingo Yamashita making his directorial debut for a longer production. He has previously worked on the openings of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 1 and Chainsaw Man. He is excited to finally give his all for a complete anime:
This is my first full-length original animated film. I have infused everything I have learned about visual expression, my love for unique characters, and my deep affection for internet culture since the 1990s into this film. It’s a cheerful, entertaining movie – so sit back, relax, and enjoy it!
The setting is different as well. The story takes place in the virtual realm of Tsukuyomi, a nod to the true origins of Princess Kaguya. Two girls build a connection through their singing.
Hatsune Miku herself has already had her own film. However, in this one, she loses the most important thing she needs as a singer: An anime character started as a voice, now so well-known that she gets her own film in theaters
