Studio Kinema Citrus 15th Anniversary Original Anime 'Goodbye, Lara' Set to Premiere in July 2026

Episode 1 U.S. Premiere Confirmed!

February 28, 2026 (Sat) – Tokyo, Japan: KADOKAWA has unveiled the original anime project, “Goodbye, Lara,” set to premiere in July 2026 as part of the studio's 15th anniversary celebration. The announcement also includes the release of the main promotional video (PV), offering a first glimpse into the world of “Goodbye, Lara,” brought to life through vibrant visuals and intricate storytelling.

Main Promotional Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4-6PwVRRj8

The PV introduces viewers to Lara (VA: Hana Hishikawa), a mermaid princess who, after 200 years, resurfaces in modern-day Shiga Prefecture. She encounters high school student Mari Otsu (VA: Nana Kawaishi), and together they embark on a journey of self-discovery and friendship.

Behind their lighthearted banter, the narrative travels back 200 years. Lara struggles with doubt, asking, “I don't understand… Are humans truly such ugly creatures?” After receiving a forbidden potion from Grace, a heretical witch, Lara's longing to find “true love” leads her to Luca, a boy who bears a resemblance to the prince she once loved. The story delves into Lara's past, exploring her inner conflict and longing while setting the stage for a compelling tale of love and redemption.

Everyday scenery—such as a local supermarket aisle, a railroad crossing, and quiet street corners of Shiga Prefecture—has been carefully illustrated in rich detail. These ordinary settings vividly contrast with the extraordinary presence of Lara, the mermaid princess, and Mari, a high school boxer.

Set against the picturesque backdrop of Shiga's landscapes, the series delicately portrays the subtle emotions of its characters, marking the powerful yet bittersweet beginning of a story centered on the search for “true love.” The interplay between the mundane and the magical deepens the emotional resonance of the story.

“Goodbye, Lara” Episode 1 U.S. Premiere Confirmed!
Anime Central, in partnership with KADOKAWA, Newtype, and Kinema Citrus, will present the U.S. premiere of “Goodbye, Lara” Episode 1 ahead of its July 2026 streaming debut.

Attendees will experience the series on the big screen and hear directly from Director Takushi Koide, KADOKAWA Producer Sayaka Ueda, and Deputy Editor Momoko Hatooka, who will appear as special guests.

Sayaka Ueda
Sayaka Ueda is an anime producer whose career spans journalism and anime production. After graduating from university, she worked as a news reporter at Kansai Television in Osaka before joining KADOKAWA. She has served as Assistant Producer on “Uncle From Another World,” “Delicious in Dungeon,” and “Made in Abyss,” and as Producer on “Overtake!,” “Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young Again,” “The Do-Over Damsel Conquers the Dragon Emperor,” and “I’ll Become a Villainess Who Goes Down in History.” Her upcoming projects include “Goodbye, Lara,” “Kusunoki's Garden of Gods,” “Bride of the Barrier Master,” and “Rebuild World.”

Momoko Hatooka
Momoko Hatooka serves as the Deputy Editor of Newtype, one of Japan's most influential anime magazines published by KADOKAWA. With years of experience in anime journalism, she plays a key role in curating features, interviews, and editorial content that reflect the evolving landscape of anime culture and fandom.

Takushi Koide
Takushi Koide is an animator and director at Kinema Citrus, known for his visually powerful and emotionally resonant work. He served as Assistant Director on “Revue Starlight” and directed the opening animation and a key episode of “Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun.” In 2026, Koide made his directorial debut with “Goodbye, Lara,” an original animated film and the first entirely original project announced by Kinema Citrus. Notably, “Goodbye, Lara” was first revealed at Anime Central, making Koide's return in 2026 especially meaningful.
Synopsis:
Once upon a time, there was a mermaid princess named Lara.
She grew up loved by her father, the King of the Sea, and her sisters.
One day, Lara fell in love with a human prince living on land.
It was a forbidden love, not permitted in the world of mermaids.
Even so, Lara set out for the surface.
She drank a potion given to her by the witch Grace and took on a human form.
However, it was a taboo potion.
Unless she found "true love," she would turn into bubbles and disappear.
Though she was a mermaid princess, Lara desired love with a human.
But—her wish did not come true, and she turned into bubbles and disappeared into the sea.
200 years later.
After a long passage of time, the mermaid princess Lara is revived in Lake Biwa.
This time, to find "true love"—

Series Overview:
“Goodbye, Lara” is an original anime project produced to commemorate Kinema Citrus's 15th anniversary. The studio is known for acclaimed titles including “Made in Abyss,” “My Happy Marriage,” “The Rising of The Shield Hero,” and “Revue Starlight.” Inspired by the classic fairy tale “The Little Mermaid,” the series reimagines the story in a contemporary Japanese setting.
Director Takushi Koide, a native of Shiga Prefecture, makes his directorial debut with this work.

Staff:
Director: Takushi Koide
Series Composition: Anna Kawahara
Character Designer: Shiori Tani
Music: Yuma Yamaguchi
Original Story, Animation Studio: Kinema Citrus

Japanese Voice Actors:
Lara: Hana Hishikawa
Mari Otsu: Nana Kawaishi
Grace: Rica Fukami
Luca: Ayumu Murase

Official Website: https://goodbyelara.com
Official X: @Goodbye_Lara（https://x.com/Goodbye_Lara）