Ribbon no Kishi (1999)

Princess Sapphire is a girl raised as a Prince. Through the mischief of an angel, the princess is born with both a girl's body and boy's mind. Since there is no boy successor in her kingdom, Sapphire is raised as a boy, but evil ministers try to reveal her secret. Unable to put up with the kind of vicious conduct prevailing in the kingdom, Sapphire disguises herself as "Princess Knight" and wields her sword of justice. This is an animated version of the girls' manga featuring Sapphire's romance and adventure, which marked the first made-for-TV animated program geared towards girls in Japan.

Erika, the princess of the Magic Kingdom has come to Earth in order to find a human girl who looks just like her. That girl turns out to be Himeko Nonohara, a tomboy's tomboy. Erika must give Himeko a magical item she has created in order to prove her worth as a successor to the crown. Himeko must test this item, a hair ribbon that allows her to transform into any other person she sees, to see if it is worthy. The series follows Himeko's adventures and her budding romance with Daichi, the boy who discovers her secret.

Princess Sapphire of the lost kingdom. Stripped of everything in her homeland, Silverland, by the calamity known as "Nergal," she arrived in Goldland at the very depths of despair. While carrying the weight of her past, she began to find a glimmer of hope through the kindness of the people. Yet, as if mocking her peaceful daily life, the calamity "Nergal" appears once more. The same despair that reduced her homeland to ashes is now threatening to steal the light from this land as well. "No more loss for me. No more loss for anyone.” Wiping way her fears of sorrow, the young girl takes up her sword. This is the story of a hero who ties her ribbon and resolves to defy fate. Note: This anime is inspired by Osamu Tezuka's manga "Princess Knight”.

A short film that was screened at the 1969 Toei Manga Matsuri.