Tezuka Osamu remains an active source of licensed adaptations and merchandise, with a live-action NHK special, a Netflix theatrical film, and a new sofubi figure line all releasing in 2026.
Tezuka Osamu's works continue to generate new adaptations and merchandise in 2026, each tracing back to his original stories. The live-action NHK special, based on his autobiographical manga, stars Kengo Kōra as Tezuka and Konosuke Harada as his wartime alter ego. It premieres August 12 and moves between 1945 Osaka and 1973 Tokyo, covering both his wartime childhood and the personal crises of the 1970s.
The Netflix animated film The Ribbon Hero, adapted from Princess Knight, began streaming worldwide on August 8 and gets a limited two-week theatrical run starting September 4. Directed by Yuki Igarashi in his feature-length debut, with animation by studio OUTLINE, the film also spawned character merchandise through IID's Entertainment Print service, available at convenience store multi-copy machines.
On the collectibles side, Kenelephant's Chūkū Kōbō studio releases Hyakkimaru and Dororo sofubi figures as the 6th installment of the Tezuka Osamu Characters Sofvi Collection, under Tezuka Productions supervision. The figures reproduce a conversation scene from the episode "Muzanbari no Maki" and go on sale in December 2026, following earlier releases like Atom from Ambassador Atom and Chirol from Phoenix.
Together these stories show Tezuka's characters moving across live-action, streaming, theatrical, and figure formats in the same year, with Tezuka Productions maintaining oversight of the merchandise line.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every fact links the story it came from.
Structured graph also available as JSON at /public/entities/tezuka-osamu.
CC BY 4.0.
Kenelephant's Chūkū Kōbō studio is releasing Hyakkimaru and Dororo sofubi figures as the 6th installment of the Tezuka Osamu Characters Sofvi Collection. Both figures reproduce the conversation scene from the episode "Muzanbari no Maki" and are scheduled for sale in December 2026, with advance reservations open from August 28 to September 18.
Twin Engine announced on August 27 that the Netflix animated film The Ribbon Hero, based on Osamu Tezuka's Princess Knight, will screen in select theaters for a limited two-week run starting September 4. The film has been streaming worldwide on Netflix since August 8. The first-week visitor gift is a CD with the theme song Reborn, featuring a jacket illustration by character designer Kei Mochizuki. The second-week gift will be announced later. Separately, IID began selling character bromides and stickers from the film on August 26 through its Entertainment Print service, available at multi-copy machines in FamilyMart, Lawson, and Ministop stores. The full-body bromides come in 8 types in L and 2L sizes, priced at 300 and 400 yen, while the stickers are a single 2L type at 500 yen. Sales run through March 31, 2027. The film is directed by Yuki Igarashi, his first feature-length directorial work, with animation production by studio OUTLINE.
NHK revealed the trailer, five new cast members, and an August 12 premiere date for the live-action special based on Osamu Tezuka's autobiographical manga. The drama stars Kengo Kōra as Tezuka and Konosuke Harada as his wartime alter ego, weaving between 1945 Osaka and 1973 Tokyo.