It has been announced that the original animated feature Super Princess Kaguya! will premiere worldwide as a Netflix film on January 22, 2026. This musical animation features a story inspired by the classic Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, brought to life by a lineup of celebrated Vocaloid producers. The main cast has also been revealed: Yuko Natsuyoshi will voice Kaguya, Anna Nagase will voice Ayaha Sakayori, and Saori Hayami will voice Yachiyo Tsukimi.
Super Princess Kaguya! teaser visual. (C) Colorido・Twin Engine Partners
Super Princess Kaguya! is a musical anime collaboration between Japan’s oldest narrative, Princess Kaguya, and renowned Vocaloid producers. It marks the feature-length directorial debut for animator Shingo Yamashita. The film tells a story of the bonds between girls united by song, depicting the fateful stage for two of them within the virtual space “Tsukuyomi,” a world brimming with dreams and hope.
Super Princess Kaguya! scene still. (C) Colorido・Twin Engine Partners
The music is provided by an illustrious group of Vocaloid producers, led by ryo (supercell)—who stunned the music world with the Hatsune Miku hit “Melt”—and featuring kz(livetune), 40mP, HoneyWorks, Aqu3ra, and yuigot. Director Yamashita brings his signature strengths to the project: stylish and emotional visuals that closely follow the narrative, combined with dynamic action sequences utilizing 3D camerawork. The film promises to depict the live performances in the virtual world of “Tsukuyomi” and the emotional bonds between the girls with breathtaking quality.
Super Princess Kaguya! scene still. (C) Colorido・Twin Engine Partners
The animation is being produced as a joint effort between Studio Colorido—renowned for titles like Penguin Highway and A Whisker Away, which feature charming characters and dynamic visual direction—and Studio Chromato, which makes its debut with this film under the leadership of director Shingo Yamashita. Character designs are a collaboration between Hechima (co-creator of original designs for Gakuen Idolmaster) and Akihiro Nagae (character designer and chief animation director for Drifting Home).
Super Princess Kaguya! scene still. (C) Colorido・Twin Engine Partners
The newly released teaser visual depicts the protagonist, Kaguya, bowing gracefully with hands clasped, yet offering a slightly mischievous smile. While Kaguya’s kimono and the surrounding torii gates and lanterns evoke a traditional Japanese atmosphere, she is seated on a modern live stage, glittering brightly with countless penlights. This impressive visual concept fuses the traditional with the contemporary, establishing a striking new world.
Super Princess Kaguya! scene still. (C) Colorido・Twin Engine Partners
A special teaser trailer has also been released. Following an instrumental open featuring traditional Japanese instruments, including a shamisen, Yachiyo Tsukimi (voiced by Saori Hayami) takes a breath and begins to sing. She performs a charming rendition of “World is Mine CPK! Remix,” a new arrangement of the popular 2008 Vocaloid song, created specifically for this film. The trailer also offers glimpses of Kaguya (voiced by Yuko Natsuyoshi) and Ayaha Sakayori (voiced by Anna Nagase).
Super Princess Kaguya! scene still. (C) Colorido・Twin Engine Partners
Creator Comments
ryo (supercell)
I wonder if Princess Kaguya ever had moments where she thought, “What if I were just a normal girl?” And if she were alive today, I wonder if she’d be a game streamer or a VTuber. You think that’s impossible? Maybe, but if she were, this wouldn’t just be a story about some distant person in an unknown world; it would surely be a story about us, about ourselves. I was involved in this project by providing both a new song and the “World is Mine” remix. Please look forward to the film.
yuigot
Watching the completed film, I truly felt the passion and dedication of Director Yamashita and the production team. The fantastical scenery of Tsukuyomi, the impact of the live performances, the story that keeps you thrilled to the very end, and the rich expressions of Kaguya and the cast—I was blown away by every moment. In an age where synthesized voices and virtual talents are now commonplace, I feel the message this work holds is incredibly significant. I am sincerely proud to have contributed music to such a magnificent project.
Aqu3ra
I am overjoyed that this work, for which I carefully crafted the music in step with the animation production, is finally reaching everyone. It’s a film defined by its artistic beauty, its powerful action sequences, and a story that will make you laugh and cry. By the end, I’m certain you will have fallen in love with the characters. It’s obviously a must-see for those wanting a glimpse into the future of internet culture or those who love Vocaloid and music, but it’s also the perfect refreshing boost for anyone feeling a bit drained lately. Please be sure to watch it.
HoneyWorks
The visual expression, which fuses Japan’s oldest narrative, Princess Kaguya, with the music of internet creators, is truly breathtaking. We are eagerly awaiting its worldwide exclusive release on Netflix.
40mP
When I was working on the music, the story was still in the plot stage, but I drew inspiration from the many memorable phrases scattered throughout it and was able to write the song in a single burst. At the preview screening, I was overwhelmed by the visual expressiveness and captivated by the songs as Kaguya and the others seemed to dash across the screen. Even after it was over, I found myself wanting to return to the world of Tsukuyomi again and again.
kz(livetune)
My very first impression was, “Is this animation… too good?” It’s an incredible work, so much so that it was almost intimidating. The conversational pacing, the story development—every part of it has such a groove. It felt like an amazing DJ set that you could dance to all night, making me forget it was even a feature-length film. I remember finishing the screening, turning to yuigot and our guitarist Waga-kun, and all of us looking at each other and saying, “That was insanely good!” I just hope everyone else enjoys it as much as we did.
Super Princess Kaguya! Trailer
Source: OriconNews
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