Film recently won Jury Prize at Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June
©2025「ChaO」製作委員会
The Ottawa International Animation Festival announced on July 3 the feature films that will compete for this year’s Feature Competition. Yasuhiro Aoki and Studio 4°C‘s anime feature film ChaO will compete for the Grand Prize for Feature Animation at this year’s festival, along with four other films from different countries around the world.
GKIDS licensed ChaO, and it describes the story:
From acclaimed Japanese animation production house Studio 4°C comes a wild romantic comedy and true “fish out of water” story. In a futuristic world where humans and mermaids coexist, ChaO follows Stephan, a mild-mannered office worker at a shipbuilding company, whose life is upended when he is suddenly proposed to by Chao — a princess from the mermaid kingdom. With no time to make sense of what’s happening, Stephan soon finds himself living with the unpredictable, wholehearted Chao. As her sincere love begins to break down his emotional barriers, an unexpected and touching romance begins to unfold.
Ōji Suzuka (Kimi ni Todoke, The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes) plays Stefan, a salaryman at a ship-making company. Anna Yamada (live-action Golden Kamuy, Saki) plays ChaO, the pure princess of the mermaid kingdom.
The film also stars:
Aoki (Kimagure Robot, Tweeny Witches) directed the film at Studio 4°C, and Hirokazu Kojima (Deadman Wonderland, Coyote Ragtime Show) is the character designer and chief animation director. Hiroshi Takiguchi (Ajin, The Case of Hana & Alice, The Garden of Words) is the art director. Takatsugu Muramatsu (Mary and The Witch’s Flower, Phoenix: Eden17) composed the soundtrack. Toei is distributing the film.
Kumi Kōda performs the opening theme song “ChaO!,” written specifically for the film.
The film premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, which ran in France from June 8 to June 14, and also won the Jury Prize. The JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film will screen the film on its opening night at New York on July 10. The film will then screen at the 29th annual Fantasia International Film Festival, which runs from July 16 through August 3 in Montreal.
The film will open in Japanese theaters on August 15.
This year’s Ottawa International Animation Festival will be held from September 24-28. The Grand Prize winner for Best Animated Feature will be announced at the festival’s Awards Ceremony on September 27, to be held at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.
Source: Press release