The anime community is eagerly waiting for the premiere of Goodbye, Lara, an original series from Kinema Citrus that reimagines Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid in modern-day Japan. Created to celebrate the studio’s 15th anniversary, this fantasy romance anime has generated excitement through its stunning visuals and emotional storyline. The premiere of Goodbye, Lara Episode 1 marks the beginning of a tale about love, loss, and second chances. Here is everything we know about the release, streaming details, cast, and story.
Goodbye, Lara Episode 1 Release Date and Time
Goodbye, Lara Episode 1 is scheduled to premiere in Japan on Sunday, July 5, 2026, at 24:30 JST, which is 12:30 a.m. on July 6, 2026. The series will first broadcast on Tokyo MX, BS Asahi, and ytv.
For international audiences, Crunchyroll will stream the series, making new episodes available shortly after the Japanese broadcast. Here is the Goodbye, Lara Episode 1 release time for different global regions:
- Japan: July 6, 2026, at 12:30 AM JST
- United States (Pacific Time): July 5, 2026, at approximately 8:30 AM PDT
- United States (Eastern Time): July 5, 2026, at approximately 11:30 AM EDT
- United Kingdom: July 5, 2026, at approximately 4:30 PM BST
- India: July 5, 2026, at approximately 9:00 PM IST
- Australia (Eastern Time): July 6, 2026, at approximately 1:30 AM AEST
The series is scheduled to have 12 episodes, and new episodes will be available weekly on Crunchyroll.
The Story and Premise of Goodbye, Lara
The series tells the story of Lara, a mermaid princess who was raised with love by her father, the King of the Sea, and her sisters. Lara fell in love with a human prince, but this love was forbidden in the mermaid world. To be with him, she drank a potion from a witch named Grace and took on human form. However, the potion came with a cruel condition: if Lara did not find “true love,” she would turn into bubbles and disappear. Her wish went unfulfilled, and she vanished into the sea.
200 years later, Lara is mysteriously reborn in Lake Biwa in Japan’s Shiga Prefecture. Now, she resumes her search for true love in the modern world. The story follows Lara as she adjusts to contemporary human life and becomes housemates with Mari Otsu, a high school student and boxer. The series promises a mix of fantasy and modern-day romance, exploring themes of love, redemption, and second chances.
The anime is set against the backdrop of Shiga Prefecture, and ordinary locations like supermarket aisles and street corners are carefully illustrated to contrast with Lara’s magical presence. Director Takushi Koide, a native of Shiga Prefecture, brings a personal touch to the series by setting the story in his hometown.
Main Cast and Voice Actors
The original anime features a talented voice cast. The main characters and their voice actors include:
- Lara voiced by Hana Hishikawa (known for Demon Lord 2099)
- Mari Otsu voiced by Nana Kawaishi
- Grace voiced by Rica Fukami (known for Sailor Moon as Minako Aino/Sailor Venus)
- Luca voiced by Ayumu Murase (known for Sanda)
- Yoshiya Otsu voiced by Tomohiro Ono
- Makoto Otsu voiced by Mitsuaki Madono
- Ema Otsu voiced by Nanae Sumitomo
- Rowan voiced by Masaki Terasoma
Production Team
Goodbye, Lara is produced by Kinema Citrus, the studio known for acclaimed titles such as Made in Abyss, My Happy Marriage, The Rising of the Shield Hero, and Revue Starlight. The production staff includes:
- Director: Takushi Koide, making his directorial debut with this series
- Series Composition: Anna Kawahara
- Character Designer: Shiori Tani
- Music: Yuma Yamaguchi
- Animation Production: Kinema Citrus
Music and Theme Songs
The music for Goodbye, Lara features two popular artists. The opening theme song, “Sayonara Lara”, is performed by the well-known band Ikimonogakari. The ending theme song, “Hearts Glow”, is performed by Hana Hope. A portion of the opening theme can be heard in the recently released promotional videos.
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Where to Watch Goodbye, Lara
Global audiences can watch Goodbye, Lara on Crunchyroll, which has secured the streaming rights for the series. The series is exclusive to Crunchyroll for streaming outside Japan. New episodes will be available weekly, shortly after they air on Japanese television. The series had its U.S. premiere screening at Anime Central 2026, which took place from May 15-17.
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