Studio 4°C has released a new 54-second clip from its highly anticipated anime feature film, ChaO, directed by Yasuhiro Aoki, offering a glimpse into the unique world where humans and mermaids coexist. The release of the new footage comes as the film, an Annecy International Animation Film Festival Jury Award winner, prepares for its theatrical debut in Japan on August 15, 2025.
A Deeper Look into the World of ChaO
The newly streamed clip reportedly features characters Roberta and Maibei engaged in a sudden “fight,” hinting at the dynamic and perhaps unexpected interactions within the film’s narrative. ChaO is described as a 100% pure love story set in a future society where the two distinct species, humans and mermaids, live side-by-side. The central plot revolves around Stefan, an office worker, who unexpectedly receives a marriage proposal from ChaO, a princess of the mermaid kingdom, leading him to live with her.
Stellar Cast and Creative Team Behind the Film
The voice cast for ChaO features Ōji Suzuka, known for his roles in live-action series like silent and Kimi ni Todoke, as the human protagonist Stefan. Anna Yamada, recognized for her portrayal of Asirpa in the Golden Kamuy live-action series, lends her voice to the titular mermaid princess, ChaO, marking her first leading anime feature film role.
Directing the film is the accomplished Yasuhiro Aoki, whose extensive filmography includes contributions to over 40 animation productions, such as PSYCHO-PASS and The Last: Naruto the Movie. Studio 4°C, renowned for its inventive and visually distinctive works like Memories and Children of the Sea, is producing ChaO. The studio has reportedly been working on the film for seven years, hand-drawing over 100,000 animation frames to bring its vision to life.
Key staff members contributing to the film’s artistic direction include Hirokazu Kojima as character designer and chief animation director, and Hiroshi Takiguchi as art director. The musical score is composed by Takatsugu Muramatsu, with the theme song “ChaO!” performed by Koda Kumi.
International Recognition and Release
Prior to its general release, ChaO garnered international acclaim by winning the Jury Award in the feature films category at the prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France. This significant honor highlights the film’s artistic merit and anticipation surrounding its debut.
While the film is set to open in Japanese theaters on August 15, 2025, North American audiences can also look forward to experiencing ChaO, as GKIDS has licensed the film for distribution in the region.
