Kadokawa has officially announced that Hana Hishikawa will voice the titular character Lara in the upcoming original anime series, Goodbye, Lara (Sayonara Lara). The revelation came alongside the release of a new teaser visual and promotional video for the series. The anime is slated to air in 2026.
The announcement confirms Hishikawa’s role as the central figure in this new anime, which is a project by Kinema Citrus to celebrate its 15th anniversary. The story of Goodbye, Lara is described as a reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid,” following a mermaid who made a forbidden wish to be loved by a human. After her death, she is reborn 200 years later in modern-day Japan, specifically in Lake Biwa, where she endeavors to adjust to the human world. Hana Hishikawa’s voice is noted for its soft and emotional quality, which is believed to suit the character of Lara, described as not loud but deep inside.
Takushi Koide is directing the series at Kinema Citrus, marking his directorial debut. Anna Kawahara is overseeing the series scripts, Shiori Tani is the character designer, and Yuma Yamaguchi is composing the music. The setting of Lake Biwa is significant as it is also director Takushi Koide’s hometown.
