Yasuhiro Aoki’s ChaO, produced by the acclaimed Studio 4°C, has captured the Jury Prize at the prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2025. This win marks a significant achievement for Aoki and the studio, solidifying their reputation for innovative and visually stunning animation. The film, a wild and unpredictable sci-fi fantasy, tells the story of an unlikely romance between a shipbuilder and a mermaid princess in a futuristic Shanghai.
Annecy Celebrates Animation Excellence
The Annecy International Animation Film Festival, held annually in Annecy, France, is one of the world’s leading events dedicated to animation. The 2025 edition, which ran from June 8 to June 14, drew a record 18,200 badge holders from 118 countries. The festival showcases a diverse range of animated films, from feature-length productions to shorts, TV series, and student projects. Awards are given out in various categories, recognizing excellence in animation technique, storytelling, and artistic vision.
This year, the top prize, the Cristal for a Feature Film, went to Arco, a French film directed by Ugo Bienvenu and produced by Natalie Portman. Arco is a time-traveling fantasy about a young boy who gets trapped in the year 2075. However, ChaO‘s Jury Prize win is a major recognition of its unique artistic merit and storytelling.
What is ChaO About?
ChaO is set in a richly realized fantasy Shanghai where humans and merpeople coexist. The film focuses on Stephan, a mild-mannered office worker at a shipbuilding company. Stephan’s ordinary life takes a dramatic turn when he is suddenly proposed to by Chao, a princess from the mermaid kingdom. With little time to process the situation, Stephan finds himself living with the unpredictable and wholehearted Chao. As her sincere love begins to break down his emotional barriers, an unexpected and touching romance begins to unfold.
GKIDS, which has secured North American distribution rights for ChaO, describes the film as a “wild romantic comedy” and a “true ‘fish out of water’ story.” The film promises a visually spectacular and energetic experience, embracing the grotesque and absurd elements of human-merperson relations. ChaO is characterized by its anarchic storytelling and gleefully untrammeled spirit.
Yasuhiro Aoki: A Visionary Director
Yasuhiro Aoki is a veteran animator making his feature-directing debut with ChaO. He has previously directed several short films and served as a key animator and animation director on notable projects such as Neon Genesis Evangelion, Digimon: The Movie, and Batman: Gotham Knight. More recently, he contributed to The Lord Of The Rings: The War Of The Rohirrim.
Aoki’s experience and distinctive style have shaped ChaO into a unique and visually stunning film. He is known for his ability to blend various animation techniques and create immersive and imaginative worlds.
Studio 4°C: A Maverick in Animation
Studio 4°C is a renowned Japanese animation studio known for its innovative and visually daring productions. Founded in 1986, the studio has produced a wide range of animated films, shorts, and commercials. Some of their most notable works include Tekkonkinkreet, Mind Game, and Children of the Sea. Studio 4°C is known for its willingness to experiment with different animation styles and techniques, pushing the boundaries of the medium.
ChaO reflects Studio 4°C’s maverick approach to filmmaking, offering a twisted take on a fairytale premise. The studio’s commitment to artistic expression and technical innovation has made them a respected name in the animation industry.
The Making of ChaO
ChaO has been secretly in production for approximately seven years. The film is a blend of classic freehand drawings and CGI, with over 100,000 drawings created for the project. The film’s staff includes:
- Director: Yasuhiro Aoki (Kimagure Robot, Tweeny Witches)
- Character Designer & Chief Animation Director: Hirokazu Kojima (Deadman Wonderland, Coyote Ragtime Show)
- Art Director: Hiroshi Takiguchi (Weathering With You, Children of the Sea)
- Soundtrack Composer: Takatsugu Muramatsu (Mary and The Witch’s Flower, Phoenix: Eden17)
- Producer: Eiko Tanaka
The voice cast includes:
- Anna Yamada as Chao
- Oji Suzuka as Stephen
- Cookie! as Ambassador Omede
- Anna Tsuchiya as Editor-in-Chief
- Shunsei Ota as Juno
- Kenta Miyake as King Neptune
- Kavka Shishido as Maibei
- Yuichiro Umehara as Robert
- Ryota Yamasato as Sea President
Critical Reception and Future Screenings
Ahead of its Annecy win, ChaO has already garnered significant attention. The film is set to screen at the JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film in New York on July 10 and at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal from July 16 through August 3. Toei will release ChaO in Japan on August 15. GKIDS has acquired North American rights, promising a theatrical release later this year.
Early reviews of ChaO praise its visual spectacle, energetic style, and anarchic storytelling. The film’s world-building, described as a vivid and impressionistic combination of animation techniques, has been particularly lauded. Critics note that while the film’s enthusiastic embrace of chaos can sometimes compromise clarity, it is, for the most part, an absolute blast.
Other Winners at Annecy 2025
While ChaO took home the Jury Prize, other notable winners at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2025 include:
- Cristal for a Feature Film: Arco (Ugo Bienvenu, France)
- Jury Special Mention Prize (Paul Grimault Award): Dandelion’s Odyssey (Momoko Seto, France/Belgium)
- Audience Award: Little Amelie or the Character of Rain (Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han, France)
- Cristal for a Short Film: The Night Boots (Pierre-Luc Granjon, France)
- Jury Award for a Short Film: Les Bêtes (Michael Granberry, USA)
The Significance of ChaO‘s Win
ChaO‘s Jury Prize at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival is a testament to the film’s artistic merit and innovative storytelling. The award brings international recognition to Yasuhiro Aoki and Studio 4°C, solidifying their position as leaders in the animation industry. The film’s unique blend of genres, its stunning visuals, and its heartwarming story are sure to resonate with audiences worldwide. With upcoming screenings at major film festivals and a North American release on the horizon, ChaO is poised to become a major success.
