Episode Rating: 4 (of 5)
Goodbye, Lara is an original series from studio Kinema Citrus that is due to air during the Summer 2026 season. It had its world debut at Anime Central this past weekend (perhaps because it was first announced at this convention two years ago), as well as its advertising poster being rendered as a chalk drawing worked on throughout the convention (seen here). Director Takushi Koide was also present to talk about the production afterwards, though I couldn’t stay for that part due to a schedule conflict.
In essence, the series is the answer to the question “what if the Hans Christian Anderson version of The Little Mermaid continued with the mermaid reincarnating rather than transcending as a spirit after death?” Indeed, most of the first episode is a condensed retelling of the base story, with a few minor tweaks: the “little mermaid” Lara isn’t a remarkable singer (she loses her voice as part of the deal with the Witch for reasons other than the Witch stealing it) and the Witch, who is Lara’s exiled aunt in this version, isn’t evil or hostile, but more an outsider who values freedom over the strict rules of the Sea King. Certain parts of the original story – such as the mermaid being tempted to stab the prince after being turned away by him but not going through with it – are included, though not quite enough context to fully understand why it’s happening if you don’t know the original tale well. That was the biggest flaw of what was otherwise a very well-handled set-up part.
That leaves the last few minutes to deal with Lara’s modern-day reincarnation in Japan’s Lake Biwa 200 years later, where she learns that the mermaid kingdom fell to ruin in the wake of her passing and her continuing her quest for True Love in the modern era may, according to a message left behind by the Witch, be the key to reviving it. That leads to her first encounter with the series’ co-protagonist Mari, a girl who carries boxing gloves around and seems to have some mystical ability, which really couldn’t go any worse.
I found the alternate take on the Witch, Grace, to be a very interesting characterization shift, and a running joke about Lara biting a fish in half is much cuter than it sounds after the initial shock. The story set-up is impactful and even somewhat emotion, and the way the two girls meet in the episode’s last scene is a riot. This will undoubtedly draw many viewers into watching more. Visuals and animation produce a more old-school aesthetic, with a feel more like cel animation than digital rendering; reactions will vary on whether that’s a plus or minus.
In all, this is a solid start to a series I will most likely be following when it airs.
USA Anime 