by The original TV anime “Sayonara Lala” has announced three special summer projects as the story approaches Episode 7. Along with the new campaign details, the preview and advance cuts for Episode 7 have been revealed, giving fans a glimpse of Lala and Mari’s next adventure.
The anime has also unveiled the package design for the first Blu-ray & DVD BOX, which will be released in September. With the story moving deeper into Lala’s new life in Shiga Prefecture, the latest announcements are giving fans even more ways to experience the world of the series beyond the weekly broadcast.
“Sayonara Lala” is an original TV anime created to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Kinema Citrus, the studio behind popular productions such as Made in Abyss, My Happy Marriage, The Rising of the Shield Hero, and Shoujo☆Kageki Revue Starlight. The series began airing in July 2026 and is directed by Takashi Koide, who is making his directorial debut with the project.
What Is Sayonara Lala About?
“Sayonara Lala” is a fantasy story inspired by the classic tale “The Little Mermaid,” but it gives the familiar premise a distinctly Japanese setting.
Long ago, there was a mermaid princess named Lala. Loved by her father, the King of the Sea, and her sisters, she grew up surrounded by affection.
However, Lala eventually falls in love with a human prince living on land.
Because relationships between mermaids and humans are forbidden, Lala chooses to leave her underwater world and venture into the human world.
She receives a magical potion from the witch Grace, allowing her to transform into a human. However, the transformation comes with a terrible condition: unless Lala finds “true love,” she will eventually turn into foam and disappear.
Lala’s dream does not come true.
She eventually becomes foam and disappears into the sea.
Two hundred years later, however, something unexpected happens.
Lala is resurrected in Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture.
This time, she has another opportunity to find the love that eluded her in the past.
Her new life brings her into contact with high school student Mari Otsu, and their meeting becomes the starting point for the story’s modern-day adventure. The official anime materials identify Hana Hishikawa as Lala and Nana Kawaishi as Mari.
Three Major Summer Projects Announced
To celebrate the ongoing broadcast of “Sayonara Lala,” three major summer projects have been announced.
The projects combine fan participation, a special screening and a real-world exhibition connected to the story’s Lake Biwa setting.
Together, they highlight one of the anime’s biggest strengths: its connection to Shiga and the culture and scenery surrounding Lake Biwa.
- Sayonara Lala Summer Free Research Project
The first project is the “Sayonara Lala Summer Free Research” campaign.
Fans are invited to create their own works inspired by the anime and share them on X using the designated hashtag:
SayonaraLalaSummerFreeResearch
The project is designed to encourage a wide variety of creative submissions.
Fans can participate through:
- Photography
- Videos
- Crafts
- Illustrations
- Cooking
- Research projects
- Other creative works inspired by “Sayonara Lala”
The entry period runs from August 11 through August 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Several awards will be presented, including the Director’s Award, Character Design Award, Lala Award, Mari Award, and Sayonara Lala Award.
The winners are scheduled to be announced around September through the anime’s official website and official social media accounts.
This campaign is particularly fitting for “Sayonara Lala,” because the series itself emphasizes exploration, discovery, and the experience of seeing the world from a new perspective.
Rather than simply watching the anime, viewers are being encouraged to create something of their own and connect it to the series.
- Episodes 1–6 Retrospective Screening on Nico Nico Live
The second summer project will allow fans to catch up on the story before Episode 7.
A special “Sayonara Lala Episodes 1–6 Retrospective Screening” will be held on Nico Nico Live on August 16 at 7:00 p.m.
The screening will feature the first six episodes of the series.
Adding to the event, Hana Hishikawa, the voice of Lala, and Nana Kawaishi, who voices Mari Otsu, will participate in a special cast talk.
A live cast talk will also be available through X in connection with the screening.
For viewers who started the series late—or anyone who simply wants to revisit Lala and Mari’s journey—this provides a convenient opportunity to experience the opening half of the season in one sitting.
It is also a good way for international and new viewers to understand the relationship between Lala and Mari before the story moves further into its second half.
- Special Collaboration With the Lake Biwa Museum
The third project brings “Sayonara Lala” directly into the real world through a collaboration with the Lake Biwa Museum.
The museum cooperated with the production of the anime, making it a natural partner for an exhibition celebrating the series’ connection to Lake Biwa.
The exhibition will feature production materials from Episode 6, which includes the Lake Biwa Museum.
Life-size character panels of Lisa and Kota will also be displayed.
The collaboration will begin with a special talk event on August 29, the first day of the exhibition.
The event, titled “Seeing ‘Sayonara’ with Biwa Expo,” will feature:
- Director Takashi Koide
- Creative Producer Natsuki Moriyama
- Curator Takahito Suzuki
- Chief Curator Ryoichi Tabata
The event is expected to provide fans with a deeper look at how the real Lake Biwa environment and scientific or cultural elements were incorporated into the anime.
For fans interested in visiting locations connected to “Sayonara Lala,” the collaboration offers an opportunity to experience the setting beyond the television screen.
Episode 7 Preview: Lala Wants to Practice Dating
Along with the summer projects, the Episode 7 preview and advance cuts have been released.
Episode 7 is titled:
“Saturday at 10 a.m., at Biwako Terrace”
The episode is scheduled to air on August 17 at 12:30 a.m.
The preview hints at a lighter and more romantic side of Lala and Mari’s relationship.
Lala is eager to move into a castle with her prince as soon as she meets him.
Mari, however, immediately tries to bring her back to reality.
She suggests that living together would be far too soon and that the two should go on dates first.
Lala becomes excited by the idea.
She decides that she needs to learn how dating works and asks Mari to act as the prince so they can practice together.
Mari is understandably confused by the request and wonders why she has suddenly been assigned the role of the prince.
The exchange gives the preview a playful tone and highlights the contrasting personalities of the two characters.
Lala approaches human life with an almost fairy-tale-like innocence, while Mari is much more familiar with ordinary teenage life.
Their differences continue to create some of the series’ funniest and most charming moments.
Biwako Terrace Becomes the Next Important Location
The title of Episode 7 also puts Biwako Terrace at the center of the next chapter.
This continues the anime’s approach of using real locations around Shiga Prefecture as part of the story.
The Lake Biwa setting is not simply background scenery.
It is closely connected to Lala’s resurrection and her new life.
The contrast between Lala’s memories of the sea and her experience of Lake Biwa also gives the series a distinctive visual identity.
As the story progresses, viewers can expect more opportunities to see how Lala interprets ordinary locations through her unique perspective as a mermaid princess who has suddenly entered the modern human world.
First Blu-ray & DVD BOX Reveals New Artwork
The package design for the first “Sayonara Lala” Blu-ray & DVD BOX has also been unveiled.
The cover features newly drawn artwork by character designer Shiori Tani.
The design uses a vibrant blue color scheme and a delicate floral motif, with Lala shown in profile.
The overall presentation reflects the series’ combination of fantasy, water imagery, and youthful atmosphere.
The first Blu-ray & DVD BOX will be released on September 25, 202,6 and will contain Episodes 1–6.
According to the official product information, the Blu-ray edition is priced at 19,800 yen, while the DVD edition costs 17,600 yen, both including tax.
The first volume will also include several special features.
First-press production bonuses include:
- A box featuring an original illustration by character designer Shiori Tani
- A newly illustrated digipak
- The storyboard for Episode 1
- A booklet featuring a discussion between director Takashi Koide, character designer Shiori Tani, and creative producer Natsuki Moriyama
- A special sticker sheet
The regular bonus features include the complete version of the “Sayonara Lala – Behind the Scenes – OP Production Edition”, web previews for Episodes 1–6, and non-credit opening and ending sequences.
A Second Blu-ray BOX Is Also Planned
Fans looking ahead to the second half of the series will also have another release to anticipate.
The second Blu-ray & DVD BOX is scheduled for October 28, 2026, and will contain Episodes 7–12.
The second volume will include newly illustrated packaging and a digipak by Shiori Tani, as well as a setting-material collection and a booklet featuring a conversation between director Takashi Koide and composer Yuma Yamaguchii.
It will also include the complete “Behind the Scenes” feature focusing on the production process of the main story, along with web previews for Episodes 7–12 and a collection of promotional videos and commercials.
This makes the upcoming release particularly interesting for viewers who want to learn more about how the original anime was produced.
Why Sayonara Lala Stands Out Among Summer 2026 Anime
One of the most distinctive elements of “Sayonara Lala” is that it is an original anime, rather than an adaptation of an existing manga or light novel.
That gives the creative team more freedom to establish its own characters, world, and story.
The project was created to celebrate Kinema Citrus’ 15th anniversary, and the studio is handling both the original concept and animation production.
The series also has a strong connection to Shiga Prefecture.
Instead of using a completely fictional setting, it places its fantasy story in recognizable locations around Lake Biwa.
That combination of fairy-tale elements and real Japanese scenery gives the anime a distinctive atmosphere.
The story begins with a classic “mermaid princess” premise, but the setting quickly expands into a contemporary coming-of-age adventure involving friendship, romance, and the challenge of adapting to an unfamiliar world.
Lala and Mari’s Relationship Remains the Heart of the Story
At the center of the anime is the relationship between Lala and Mari.
Lala has a very different understanding of the human world.
She approaches romance with the expectations of someone who has grown up inside a fairy tale, while Mari has to deal with the practical reality of everyday life.
This difference creates both humor and emotional moments.
Mari is effectively helping Lala understand a world she has never experienced before.
At the same time, Lala’s unusual perspective forces Mari to look at ordinary things differently.
Episode 7 appears ready to build on that relationship by introducing the idea of “dating practice.”
The result could provide another entertaining combination of comedy, friendship, and romantic fantasy.
What to Expect From the Second Half of Sayonara Lala
With Episode 7 approaching, the series is moving into an important stage.
Lala’s goal of finding “true love” remains at the center of the story, but her experiences in modern-day Shiga are gradually giving her a much broader understanding of relationships.
The upcoming episodes will likely continue exploring the contrast between Lala’s fairy-tale expectations and the more complicated reality of human relationships.
Meanwhile, the show’s real-world collaborations are making Shiga Prefecture and Lake Biwa an increasingly important part of the “Sayonara Lala” experience.
For fans, this means the anime can be enjoyed in several different ways: through the weekly episodes, location visits, special events, museum exhibitions and behind-the-scenes material.
Final Thoughts
The latest “Sayonara Lala” announcements give fans plenty to look forward to this summer.
From the Summer Free Research Project and the Episodes 1–6 retrospective screening to the Lake Biwa Museum collaboration and special talk event, the series is expanding beyond the television screen.
At the same time, the Episode 7 preview promises another entertaining chapter for Lala and Mari, with Lala preparing to “practice dating” and experiencing another new aspect of human life.
The release of the first Blu-ray & DVD BOX also gives fans a chance to preserve the beginning of Lala’s journey, with the package featuring new artwork and several production-related bonuses.
As an original anime created for Kinema Citrus’ 15th anniversary, “Sayonara Lala” is steadily building its own identity through its fairy-tale story, Lake Biwa setting, and focus on human connections.
With the second half of the 12-episode series approaching, Lala’s search for true love is only getting started.
Sayonara Lala Episode 7 Quick Details
- Episode: 7
- Title: “Saturday at 10 a.m., at Biwako Terrace”
- Broadcast: August 17, 2026, at 12:30 a.m.
- Episode 7 focus: Lala and Mari’s “dating practice”
- Summer project period: August 11–31 for the Summer Free Research campaign
- Episodes 1–6 retrospective: August 16
- Lake Biwa Museum collaboration: Begins August 29
- First Blu-ray & DVD BOX: September 25, 2026
- Episodes included in Volume 1: 1–6
- Second Blu-ray & DVD BOX: October 28, 2026, covering Episodes 7–12
