New Trailer for Sayonara Lara Anime: Ikimonogakari and New Voice Cast Announced!
There is exciting news from the original anime project Sayonara Lara (Goodbye, Lara), which is being prepared to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Kinema Citrus studio! The second main promotional video for the series, released today, both captivated with its visual quality and shared the long-awaited music details. According to the official announcement, the anime's opening theme song, which shares the same name as the series, "Sayonara Lara," will be performed by the famous band Ikimonogakari, known for legendary productions such as Naruto and Bleach.
Along with the new trailer, four new names joining the voice cast were also announced. Tomohiro Ōno will bring Mari's older brother Yoshihiro Otsu to life, while Mitsuaki Madono will voice the father of the family, Makoto, and Nanae Sumitomo will voice the grandmother, Ema. Additionally, Masaki Terasoma has joined the cast as the character Rowan. In the lead role, we will see Hana Hishikawa as the mermaid Lara.
Offering a modern take on Hans Christian Andersen's classic "The Little Mermaid" fairy tale, Sayonara Lara tells the story of the mermaid Lara, who turns into sea foam after a tragic love. Lara, who fell in love with a human prince in her first life but could not be with him, is reborn 200 years later in present-day Japan at Lake Biwa. Determined to find "true love" this time, Lara's process of adapting to the modern world promises viewers both an emotional and fantastic adventure.
The team behind the anime is also quite ambitious. Kinema Citrus studio, which has produced successful works such as Made in Abyss and The Rising of the Shield Hero, blends the nostalgic anime aesthetic of the 90s with modern techniques in this project. Sitting in the director's chair is Takushi Koide, who previously served as assistant director on Revue Starlight and will be experiencing his first directorial role with this series. The screenplay is written by Anna Kawahara.
Scheduled to hit screens in July 2026, Sayonara Lara aims to bring together both old-school anime fans looking for nostalgia and the new generation who enjoy modern fantasy stories. This rebirth story, set in the peaceful atmosphere of Lake Biwa, is a candidate to be one of the most remarkable productions of the summer season. Will Lara be able to find the true love she has been searching for after 200 years this time?
