Disney Remakes Flop, Anime Offers Fresh Twist

Disney's recent live-action remakes have encountered significant box office struggles, with the "Moana" redo grossing only $43 million in its debut. This follows a mixed performance in 2025 for similar adaptations. In response, the company has implemented corporate streamlining, leading to hundreds of job cuts at Pixar, despite recent successes there.

The approach of Disney's live-action adaptations, which often rely heavily on nostalgia without offering substantial new narrative justification, has been questioned. In contrast, the new anime series "Goodbye, Lara" is being lauded for its inventive approach to Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid."

"Goodbye, Lara" quickly moves through the foundational elements of the story, including Lara's romance with a prince, and retains the original bitter ending. The series then pivots to an original plotline where Lara is sent to modern-day Ōtsu, Japan, to find love and save her people.

The anime's art style, inspired by early '90s anime, is visually appealing and creates a warm sense of familiarity. The series explores themes of self-discovery and challenges conventional fairy tale endings, including a potential same-sex romance between Lara and a character named Mari.

This bold narrative direction, particularly its potential exploration of queer themes, is seen as a refreshing departure from Disney's handling of such elements. "Goodbye, Lara" is noted for weaving these themes into the story authentically, offering a spiritually true yet boldly new interpretation of a well-known tale.