Kadokawa has released a fresh promotional video for its original anime Goodbye, Lara (Sayonara Lara), and it gives fans two big updates in one shot: a first preview of the opening theme and four newly announced cast members.
The new opening song is "Sayonara Lara" by Ikimono-gakari, and the latest trailer uses it to set the mood for the series’ emotional fantasy story. If you’re the type who likes anime with a more dramatic, poetic vibe instead of pure action noise, this one already looks like it’s aiming for that lane.
On the cast side, the newly revealed additions are:
- Tomohiro Ōno as Yoshihiro Otsu, Mari’s older brother and a third-year student at her high school
- Mitsuaki Madono as Makoto Otsu, Mari’s father, who works as a freelance photographer
- Nanae Sumitomo as Ema Otsu, Mari’s grandmother and the pastor of the church next to her home
- Masaki Terasoma as Rowan, king of the sea and father of Lara and her five sisters
They join a main cast led by Hana Hishikawa as Lara and Nana Kawaishi as Mari Otsu. Previously announced cast members also include Rica Fukami as Grace, the witch who turns Lara into a human, and Ayumu Murase as Luca, a boy Lara meets in Shiga Prefecture who strongly resembles the prince she fell for 200 years earlier.
Behind the scenes, Takushi Koide is directing the anime at Kinema Citrus, with Anna Kawahara handling series composition. Shiori Tani is the character designer, while Yuma Yamaguchi is in charge of music under Kadokawa. Additional staff include Mari Fujino as art director, Kazuto Izumita as director of photography, and Yūto Hama plus Mai Yamaguchi for graphic design.
Story-wise, Goodbye, Lara takes clear inspiration from Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid, but it is not just doing a straight retelling. The anime follows a mermaid who makes a forbidden wish to be loved by a human. After her death, she is reborn 200 years later in modern Japan, specifically at Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture, where she has to learn how to live in the human world.
That setting is worth paying attention to. Lake Biwa is not just some random backdrop, it is also tied personally to director Takushi Koide, since Shiga is his hometown. That usually gives an anime a bit more texture, especially when the staff has a direct connection to the place being shown. For SEA fans, that kind of grounded regional setting can make an original title feel more memorable, especially in a season packed with adaptations fighting for attention.
For Malaysian and wider Southeast Asian anime fans, the interesting part here is that Goodbye, Lara looks like it could land in that sweet spot between fantasy romance and modern character drama. An original anime always carries a bit more mystery because there is no manga roadmap for fans to spoil in advance, and that alone can make it easier to follow week to week if you want something fresh.
It is still early, but between the expanded cast, the emotional fairy-tale setup, and an opening by Ikimono-gakari, Goodbye, Lara is shaping up as one of those shows that could quietly build a loyal following if the execution lands.
Source: Anime News Network