The upcoming original anime Goodbye, Lara, which recently revealed a main trailer and a July broadcast start date, is set to have its US premiere at Anime Central 2026. The screening will feature the anime’s director Takushi Koide, producer Sayaka Ueda, and Newtype deputy editor Momoko Hatooka as the guests of honor.
Further details about the premiere will be delivered later. Anime Central 2026 will run from May 15 to 17.
Goodbye, Lara is an original anime that sees the titular mermaid surfacing in Shiga Prefecture’s Lake Biwa and becoming housemates with teenage boxer Mari. 200 years before the main story, Lara fell love with a human prince and consumed a witch’s potion to become human herself. Alas, the potion has a side effect that triggers if one fails to find true love, which resulted in Lara becoming bubbles.
The anime, which was unveiled at Anime Central 2024, is the 15th anniversary project of animation production studio Kinema Citrus. It is also the series directorial debut of Koide, a Shiga native who served as assistant director, revue costume designer, weapon designer, and more on Revue Starlight and its movie sequel.
Staff
• Director: Takushi Koide
• Character designer: Shiori Tani (Revue Starlight prop designer, Revue Starlight the Movie co-main animator and animation director et al.)
• Series composer: Anna Kawahara (Ashita, Watashi wa Dareka no Kanojo live-actiond rama co-writer)
• Music composer: yuma yamaguchi (Undead Murder Farce)
• Animation production: Kinema Citrus
Cast
• Hana Hishikawa as Lara
• Nana Kawaishi as Mari
• Rika Fukami as Grace
• Ayumu Murase as Luca
Source: Anime Central
