Cosmic Princess Kaguya! (2026) – Official Trailer #2, Release Date, Cast, Story and Streaming Guide

Netflix is preparing to launch one of the most imaginative Japanese animated films of 2026, and the buzz is already building worldwide. Cosmic Princess Kaguya!, directed by Shingo Yamashita and produced by Studio Colorido and Studio Chromato, brings a fresh, music-driven reimagining of the classic folktale The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. The highly anticipated anime musical fantasy will premiere globally on January 22, 2026, delivering a heartfelt coming-of-age story wrapped inside a surreal virtual-world adventure. With the release of Trailer 2, audiences finally have a deeper look at the film’s unique mix of futuristic creativity and timeless Japanese mythology.

If you’re searching for everything to know about Cosmic Princess Kaguya!—including plot details, voice cast, crew, and where to watch—this guide has you covered.

What Is Cosmic Princess Kaguya! About?

At its core, the film follows Iroha Sakayori, a 17-year-old high school student living in Tokyo in the very near future. Like most teenagers, Iroha is exhausted by the daily grind of balancing academics with part-time work. Her only escape is Tsukuyomi—an online virtual space administered by popular streamer Yachiyo Runami.

The World of Tsukuyomi

Tsukuyomi is not just another app. Inside this virtual environment, users can:

• Create clones of themselves

• Freely explore art and performance

• Play competitive battle games to earn digital rewards

• Pursue creativity without limits

For Iroha, Tsukuyomi is a safe place of hopes and dreams.

Everything changes when she encounters something impossible.

When Fantasy Crashes Into Reality

One evening on her way home, Iroha notices a mysterious utility pole glowing with iridescent colors. From that pole emerges an infant. Confused but compassionate, Iroha takes the baby home—only to watch her transform overnight into a carefree teenage girl.

Her name is Kaguya.

Suddenly Iroha finds herself asking the same question viewers have asked for centuries:“Are you Princess Kaguya?”

But this is not the Kaguya you know from history books.

A Surreal Opposites-Attract Storyline

The official logline for the film explains it best:

Iroha’s quiet, structured life is knocked off its orbit when Kaguya—a joyful runaway from the Moon—moves in with her. Convincing Iroha to join her, Kaguya pulls the shy teenager onto a virtual stage where they begin performing together inside Tsukuyomi.

What follows is a tale about:

• Friendship across worlds

• Identity in the digital era

• Unpaid emotional debts

• Learning to take control of your destiny

• The warmth of unseen emotions

Love and imagination must find their own language before the final curtain rises.

About the Adaptation

Cosmic Princess Kaguya! marks a major milestone for Keigo Higashino adaptations, but also for Japanese anime as a whole.

• It is the first time this legendary folktale has been adapted into an anime feature

• The film draws inspiration from Andy West’s memoir-style storytelling

• Characters were designed collaboratively by Akihiro Nagae and Hechima

• Music is composed by some of the most beloved Vocaloid and J-pop producers in Japan

The Music Lineup

The soundtrack will feature original songs from:

• Ryo of Supercell

• HoneyWorks

• Aqu3ra

• 40mP

• Kz of Livetune

• Yuigot

• And more

Netflix has rarely backed an animated film this musically ambitious. Clearly, the platform believes in this project as something truly special.

Cast and Characters

The voice cast brings together a talented group of rising and veteran performers.

Main Characters

• Fumiya Takahashi as Reito Naoi – a young man turned guardian

• Yuki Amami as Chifune Yanagisawa – Iroha’s dignified aunt

• Asuka Saito as Yumi Saji – curious university student

• Takao Osawa as Toshiaki Saji – a gentle regular visitor

• Additional roles voiced by Narain, Priyamani, Nassar, and others

These characters form the emotional backbone of the story—important figures that add color to Iroha and Kaguya’s journey.

Crew and Production Details

• Director: Shingo Yamashita

• Screenplay: Shingo Yamashita & Saeri Natsuo

• Studios: Studio Colorido and Studio Chromato

• Music: Anirudh Ravichander

• Cinematography: Sathyan Sooryan

• Editing: Prakash Raj

• Runtime: Approximately 90 minutes

• Country: Japan

• Language: Japanese (multilingual subtitles expected)

A-1 Pictures, known for producing many masterpieces, contributes sophisticated visual expression to create the mysterious world of Tsukuyomi with modern cinematic polish.

Where to Watch and Stream Cosmic Princess Kaguya!

Streaming Platform

Cosmic Princess Kaguya! will premiere exclusively on Netflix worldwide.

• Official Release Date: January 22, 2026

• Availability: Global – all Netflix territories

• Languages: Subtitles in English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Italian, and more

• Cost: Included with standard Netflix subscription

Unlike many anime films that begin in theaters first, this project is launching directly to streaming, meaning fans can enjoy it immediately at home without waiting months for digital release.

Additional Viewing Options

While Netflix is the primary home, viewers can also:

• Revisit earlier works inspired by the folktale on BBC iPlayer

• Watch related interviews and promotional content through Netflix Tudum

• Explore the original light novels licensed by Yen Press in North America

Genres

• Anime Fantasy

• Musical Fantasy

• Reality-Inspired Drama

• Opposites-Attract Romance

• Japanese Animation

• Coming-of-Age

Why Cosmic Princess Kaguya! Is Already a Big Deal

Here is the blunt reality: originality is rare in modern franchises.

And this film looks genuinely original.

By mixing a futuristic digital clone world with a centuries-old myth, Cosmic Princess Kaguya! has positioned itself as one of the most creative experiments Netflix has attempted in Japan. It’s emotional, strange, whimsical, and unexpectedly warm—the exact combination that turns niche anime into global word-of-mouth hits.

With the release of the second official trailer, the curtain has officially risen on a film aimed at hearts rather than just eyeballs. Cosmic Princess Kaguya! promises to deliver an emotional journey that trembles in your soul and reminds audiences that imagination still has power—even in an uncertain near-future world.

Mark your calendars for January 22, 2026 on Netflix.This is Princess Kaguya as never seen before.