by The highly anticipated original TV anime Sayonara Lala officially premiered on July 5, 2026, and its first episode immediately became one of the biggest surprises of the Summer 2026 anime season. What initially appears to be a faithful retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid quickly transforms into an entirely original fantasy set in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, leaving viewers amazed by its unexpected direction.
Social media quickly exploded with reactions such as:
- “I thought I was watching The Little Mermaid, but it’s actually a Shiga anime!”
- “A mermaid in Lake Biwa? I didn’t see that coming!”
- “The first episode completely fooled me—in the best way possible.”
- “One of the strongest premieres of Summer 2026.”
With breathtaking animation from Kinema Citrus, emotional storytelling, and a mystery-filled modern setting, Sayonara Lala is already shaping up to be one of the season’s standout original anime.
A Fresh Original Anime from Kinema Citrus
Sayonara Lala is an original television anime created by Kinema Citrus, the acclaimed animation studio behind hit series including:
- Made in Abyss
- The Rising of the Shield Hero
- Shoujo☆Kageki Revue Starlight
The project marks the directorial debut of Takafumi Koide, who previously worked as an episode director and storyboard artist on several critically acclaimed productions, including My Happy Marriage and Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun.
After attracting attention with its beautifully animated pilot film released in May 2024, the series has finally made its television debut.
Before the premiere, Director Koide shared an emotional message with fans:
“It’s been two years since the pilot film was released and even longer since this project first began. I’m incredibly happy that the day has finally arrived when we can share this story with everyone.”
Episode 1 Begins Like The Little Mermaid
The premiere opens with the words:
“Kinema Citrus 15th Anniversary Project.”
The very first image is a mysterious photograph of two girls—one with black hair proudly holding a boxing trophy, while the other, with bright red hair, smiles beside her holding a certificate.
Behind them are two unexpected words:
Shiga Prefecture. Boxing.
At first, viewers have no idea why these modern elements appear in what seems to be a fantasy fairy tale.
The episode then shifts to 1777, introducing the underwater kingdom ruled by the Sea King.
There, viewers meet Lala, the sixth princess of the royal family, who grows up surrounded by the love of her father and sisters.
A Curious Mermaid Princess
As a young child, Lala discovers a discarded human doll resting on the ocean floor.
Although her older sister immediately warns her:
“That’s something humans made. Throw it away!”
Lala cannot help but become fascinated by the mysterious object.
Even at a young age, her curiosity about the human world is impossible to suppress.
Anime fans quickly noticed the similarities to The Little Mermaid, with comments including:
- “This really feels like Andersen’s fairy tale.”
- “The nostalgic cel-animation style is beautiful.”
- “I’m already hooked.”
The Forbidden Human World
Several years later, Lala officially becomes an adult member of the royal family and receives a ceremonial ring.
She is now allowed to explore deeper parts of the ocean but receives one strict warning:
Never approach the human world.
The Sea King teaches that humans are dangerous, cursed beings who bring only suffering.
However, destiny has other plans.
A Prince Falls from the Sky
When Lala turns fifteen, disaster strikes.
A passing human ship catches fire, causing its cargo—and one young prince—to fall into the sea.
Unable to ignore someone in danger, Lala rescues him.
Viewers immediately recognized the classic fairy tale inspiration:
- “The prince literally falls from the sky!”
- “This is just like The Little Mermaid.”
- “The rescue scene even reminded me of Castle in the Sky.”
The Mermaid’s Forbidden Choice
After secretly saving the prince, Lala’s father discovers traces of sand from the human world inside her room.
Knowing she broke the kingdom’s greatest rule, he confines her within the palace.
Confused about her growing feelings toward humans, Lala begins questioning everything she has been taught.
At this crucial moment, her mysterious aunt Grace, a powerful sea witch, appears.
Grace offers Lala a magical potion capable of turning a mermaid into a human.
However, the spell comes with a terrible price.
Lala must surrender her beautiful singing voice.
Even worse, if she cannot find true love before the magic expires, she will dissolve into sea foam forever.
A Familiar Fairy Tale… Until Everything Changes
For a while, the story follows the familiar structure of Andersen’s classic tale.
Lala becomes human.
She reunites with the prince.
She experiences love.
Yet destiny refuses to grant them a happy ending.
Unable to fulfill the conditions of the spell, Lala eventually disappears into the sea as foam.
At this point, many viewers assumed the story had reached its tragic conclusion.
Instead, the anime delivers its biggest surprise.
Two Hundred Years Later…
Rather than ending, the story suddenly jumps forward 200 years.
Lala awakens once again.
Confused, she wonders:
“Wasn’t I supposed to be dead?”
Grace reveals that Lala’s family has fallen into an endless magical slumber following the destruction of the underwater kingdom.
Only Lala has the power to save them.
To do so, she must face an even greater trial than before.
Determined to rescue her loved ones, Lala shatters a magical mirror.
A massive torrent of water erupts.
She is launched through time itself.
Welcome to Shiga Prefecture
When Lala opens her eyes again…
It is 2026.
And she is no longer in the ocean.
Instead, she crashes into Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, near Japan’s famous Lake Biwa.
There she encounters Mari Otsu, a cheerful high school girl wearing boxing gloves.
The unexpected meeting immediately became one of the episode’s biggest talking points online.
Fans reacted with comments including:
- “A girl literally falls from the sky!”
- “So this is where the real story begins.”
- “The meeting between the two girls was perfect.”
- “I never imagined a Little Mermaid story would end up in modern-day Shiga.”
- “This twist completely caught me off guard.”
Why Episode 1 Has Everyone Talking
The premiere cleverly disguises itself as a familiar fairy tale before transforming into something entirely original.
Instead of simply retelling The Little Mermaid, Sayonara Lala asks a fascinating question:
What if the Little Mermaid had another chance to live—200 years later in modern Japan?
That fresh concept, combined with stunning visuals and emotional storytelling, has made the anime one of the most talked-about premieres of Summer 2026.
Many viewers praised:
- Gorgeous animation
- Cinematic direction
- Emotional pacing
- Beautiful background art
- Strong world-building
- An unpredictable story
Several fans even described it as one of the best first episodes of the year.
Music That Perfectly Complements the Story
Episode 1 closes with the emotional song “Sayonara Lala” by Ikimonogakari, which serves as the episode’s ending theme before becoming the opening theme from Episode 2 onward.
Songwriter Yoshiki Mizuno shared his thoughts:
“Choosing your own path, embracing encounters, finding your own words, facing destiny, and eventually saying goodbye—all of these emotions inspired this song. We hope viewers experience both the music and the story together.”
The official ending theme for the series is “Hearts Glow” performed by Hana Hope.
Early Praise from the Anime Industry
Manga artist Akihito Tsukushi (Made in Abyss) also watched the premiere during an advance screening.
He revealed that Episode 2’s opening sequence moved him to tears, saying:
“The opening is overflowing with emotion. I truly believe viewers are about to begin an incredible journey.”
His comments have only increased anticipation for the episodes ahead.
Broadcast & Streaming Information
TV Broadcast
- TOKYO MX: Every Sunday at 12:30 AM
- BS Asahi: Every Sunday at 1:30 AM
- AT-X: Every Monday at 9:30 PM
- Yomiuri TV: Every Monday at 1:59 AM
Streaming
Episodes are released simultaneously with the Japanese television broadcast across multiple streaming platforms.
Main Staff
- Original Work: Kinema Citrus
- Director: Takafumi Koide
- Series Composition: Anna Kawahara
- Character Design: Shiori Tani
- Art Director: Mari Fujino (Studio Pablo)
- Music: Yuma Yamaguchi
- Animation Production: Kinema Citrus
Main Cast
- Lala: Kana Hishikawa
- Mari Otsu: Nana Kawaishi
- Grace: Rika Fukami
- Luka: Ayumu Murase
- Shoya Otsu: Tomoyuki Ohno
- Makoto Otsu: Mitsuaki Madono
- Man Otsue: Nanae Sumitomo
- Rowan: Masaki Terasoma
- Lisa: Minami Tsuda
- Kota: Kazuomi Yamamoto
Final Thoughts
Episode 1 of Sayonara Lala delivers one of the most surprising anime premieres of the Summer 2026 season. What begins as a familiar retelling of The Little Mermaid evolves into an emotionally rich fantasy set in modern-day Shiga Prefecture, blending folklore, mystery, coming-of-age drama, and beautiful animation into a uniquely original experience.
With Lala’s journey only just beginning and her fateful meeting with Mari hinting at even greater adventures ahead, the series has already established itself as one of the most promising original anime of 2026. If the quality of the premiere is any indication, Sayonara Lala is a series that anime fans won’t want to miss.
