New Fairytale and Princess Anime for Summer 2026
The Summer 2026 anime season has begun, and with it comes many new fairytale-inspired shows, some more original than others. The broken engagement trope is still a big one, as well as the fake villainess trope, which seems to have a new series every season. One thing we don't see as much in modern anime is shows based directly on well-known fairy tales. That's why one of the most anticipated shows of the new season was Goodbye, Lara, an original take on "The Little Mermaid." There are also two new "Cinderella" inspired shows that offer unexpected twists on the classic tale of the abused maiden.
Goodbye, Lara premiered last week, with its second episode out later today. Although its pilot followed all the major beats of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale about a young mermaid who made a deal with a sea witch to win over a human prince, this show is a far cry from the 1975 anime movie adaptation. Many visual queues set it apart, such as giving Lara red hair like the Disney version of the character, as opposed to the blonde Marina, and the far more modest fashion of the mermaids, who wear long-sleeved shirts that cover even more skin than most human clothing.
In addition to the visual differences, this series takes the story in an entirely new direction. Instead of turning into sea foam without having a chance to tell the prince that she was the mermaid who rescued him, the prince in this story sees Lara transform back into a mermaid in her final moments and outright rejects her as a monster. Lara does not turn to seafoam, nor does she become a daughter of the air after this. Instead, she returns to the sea to learn that her family is in peril, and she is the only one who can free them. To do that, she must live out another life as a human and convince people to accept merfolk, this time in the modern world.
The Ogre's Bride is also inspired by "Cinderella" but takes the exact opposite stance of My Stepmother & Stepsisters Aren't Wicked, giving both shows a chance to shine this season. Its protagonist, Yuzu, is abused by her birth family, and the show focuses primarily on romance. It takes place in a world where demons take on the form of handsome men and form magical bonds with lucky women who become brides who are loved and cared for the rest of their lives, like the popular fated mates trope. Shortly after Yuzu is attacked by her family, a high-ranking demon lord appears and takes her in as his bride, determined to end the toxic cycle of abuse.
This anime season is also dominated by many other noble bright romantasy series following familiar tropes. A Livid Lady's Guide to Getting Even places a new spin on the broken engagement trope, featuring a scorned bride team up with another prince to get revenge on her traitorous fiancé. The Duke's Son Claims He Won't Love Me Yet Showers Me with Affection follows the trope of finding love after an arranged marriage. Though I'm an Inept Villainess puts a Chinese spin on the classic villainess trope with some lovely visuals. Other princess-related shows include Heroine? Saint? No, I'm an All-Works Maid!, which features a reincarnated Magical Girl maid with incredible powers who rejects her role as the heroine of an otome game, and The Oblivious Saint Who Can't Contain Her Power, featuring another abused "Cinderella" trope about a girl who finds love in unexpected places.
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