According to an ancient Japanese legend, anyone who consumes the flesh of a mermaid has a small chance of gaining immortality.

However, there is a much greater chance that consumption will lead to death or transformation into a damned creature known as a Lost Soul (Deformed Ones in the English dub).

Over the years, he is grown tired of eternal life and throughout the series, he wanders across Japan searching for a mermaid who may be able to turn him back into a normal human being.

The first wideban volume released by Shogakukan was Mermaid's Forest, named after the third story within it and published on April 25, 1988.

[7][8] The second wideban, Mermaid's Scar, was released on December 19, 1992,[9] without two stories (four chapters): "Eye of the Demon" and "The Last Face".

[10][11] In North America, Mermaid Forest began serialization by Viz Media in Animerica's first issue in November 1992.

[25] The first original video animation (OVA), Mermaid Forest, by studio Pastel, was released in Japan in August 1991.

[30] It was marketed as one of the Rumic World anime (along with Maris the Chojo, Fire Tripper, and Laughing Target).