Yasuhiro Aoki’s new anime feature film, “ChaO,” produced by Studio 4°C, has been officially selected to compete at the Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF). The film is among five animated features chosen for the 2025 Official Competition, vying for the Grand Prize for Feature Animation.
“ChaO” is a highly anticipated romantic comedy set in a futuristic world where humans and mermaids coexist, following a mild-mannered office worker whose life is upended by a marriage proposal from a mermaid princess named Chao. The film has already garnered significant attention on the international festival circuit, having premiered as an Official Selection in Competition at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, where it received the Jury Prize.
Directed by Yasuhiro Aoki, known for his work on “Kimagure Robot” and “Tweeny Witches,” the film is produced by Studio 4°C, a renowned Japanese animation house behind titles such as “Mind Game” and “Children of the Sea.” “ChaO” features character designs and chief animation direction by Hirokazu Kojima, with Hiroshi Takiguchi as art director and Takatsugu Muramatsu composing the soundtrack. The film’s theme song, “ChaO!”, is performed by Koda Kumi.
“ChaO” is slated for a theatrical release in Japan on August 15, 2025, and has been licensed by GKIDS for North American distribution. Its selection for the OIAF further solidifies its standing as a significant animated work in 2025, showcasing its unique narrative and visual artistry to a global audience.
