Netflix has unveiled an incredible upcoming slate at Annecy Festival 2026, including The One Piece, The Ribbon Hero, Blue Eye Samurai, and more.
NETFLIX UNVEILS UPCOMING ANIME SLATE OUT OF ANNECY FESTIVAL
Debuts Include THE RIBBON HERO Film Trailer, Fool Night Series Announcement, New Art from THE ONE PIECE, New Images from Sparks of Tomorrow, Blue Eye Samurai, and Bass X Machina
Netflix today unveiled a slate of announcements, first looks, and exclusive materials across its anime slate at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. The Netflix Anime Studio Focus highlighted upcoming titles from some of Japan’s most acclaimed creators and animation studios, spanning original stories, beloved manga adaptations, and returning fan-favorite franchises.
The titles span some of the most significant creative forces in animation today.
WIT STUDIO — acclaimed for Attack on Titan and Spy x Family — takes on what may be its most ambitious project yet with THE ONE PIECE, a brand new adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s best-selling manga series with over 600 million copies in circulation worldwide.
Synopsis: Produced by WIT Studio, THE ONE PIECE is a brand new anime adaptation starting from the very beginning of the original manga’s East Blue saga. Separate from the TV anime series that has charged full speed ahead over the course of more than 25 years, this series taps into the expressive potential of modern technology to offer a familiar yet fresh take on the adventures of Luffy.
Release date: February 2027
We were lucky enough to see a short teaser of The One Piece. As someone who has watched the live action series, but has not read the manga or watched the original anime, this series has me extremely excited. The anime has thousands of episodes which leaves me feeling overwhelmed with no idea where to start, thankfully The One Piece will allow me to start from the beginning.
THE RIBBON HERO marks the feature film debut of director Yuki Igarashi whose virtuosic animation on works such as Jujutsu Kaisen and Star Wars: Visions earned him global recognition, reimagining Osamu Tezuka’s “Princess Knight,” a beloved classic from the father of manga.
Synopsis: Bringing together a team of highly skilled creators, the film depicts the story of a lone hero who chooses to defy a harsh destiny, set in a delicately crafted world and brought to life through polished action.
Release Date: August 8, 2026
Fool Night brings Kasumi Yasuda’s acclaimed manga to life through a landmark collaboration between Sunrise and Shaft, two of Japan’s most storied animation studios.
Synopsis: Transfloration— a technology that implants seeds into the bodies of those near death, transforming them into plants. It is the desperate measure humanity has chosen to ensure its survival.In a distant future where thick clouds cover the sky, trapping Earth in constant winter and night, most of the planet’s vegetation has withered away.
Facing a serious oxygen shortage, humanity has built a society that relies on the meager amount of oxygen provided by Transfloration.A young man, Toshiro Kamiya, lives in poverty and works hard to pay taxes, cover living expenses, and afford medication for his mentally ill mother. However, the cruel reality around him gradually eats away at his hope. In this dark world full of despair, he chooses the path of the “Spiriflor” — the plants that humans transform into.
Release date: 2026
Sparks of Tomorrow sees Kyoto Animation, widely regarded as one of Japan’s finest studios, adapt Hiroshi Yuki’s beloved novel.
Synopsis: In an alternate version of the early 20th century where technological progress evolved along a different path shaped by steam power, Kyoto is blanketed in constant smoke. A boy, hardened by the loss of his brother, grows distrustful after their shared dream of an “Age of Electricity” is cut short. A deeply devout girl hides her dreams and regrets for her deceased mother deep within her heart. When the two cross paths, they set about exploring the secrets of the 20th Century Electrical Catalog, a glimpse into the future they long for. Together, they must confront their pasts and carve a path toward the future they once believed in.
Release date: July 5 2026
Rounding out the showcase, the second season of the Emmy-winning animated series Blue Eye Samurai and Bass X Machina, from creator LeSean Thomas and Executive Producer Brian Tyree Henry, exemplify a new wave of internationally produced animation that draws deeply from anime’s visual language and storytelling sensibility, representing the medium’s growing creative influence beyond Japan.
Bass X Machina Synopsis: In a lawless Steampunk West overrun by brutal outlaws, machines, and supernatural terrors, a father is forced to become judge, jury, and executioner—knowing that every act of justice meant to protect his family may ultimately cost him the very people he’s fighting to save.
Bass X Machina Release date: November 3, 2026
In Blue Eye Samurai season 2, Mizu’s bloody quest continues in London, where she faces new friends, old foes, and her own demons. In Japan, Akemi and Taigen navigate Edo Castle under a dangerous new Shogun, while Ringo searches for new purpose.
Netflix brings anime to members in more than 190 countries and regions and in up to 34 languages. More than 50% of Netflix members regularly enjoy anime, and in 2025, anime titles were viewed over 1.5 billion times. As anime continues to resonate with audiences around the world, Netflix remains committed to bringing bold stories and visionary creators to fans everywhere through an expanding slate of series and films.
