The highly anticipated anime feature film ChaO, directed by Yasuhiro Aoki and produced by the acclaimed Studio 4°C, is set to compete for the prestigious Grand Prize for Feature Animation at the 2025 Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF). The festival, a significant event in the global animation calendar, will run from September 24 to September 28, 2025, with the awards ceremony scheduled for September 27 at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Canada.
ChaO arrives at OIAF with considerable buzz, having recently secured the “Jury Award” in the Feature Film category at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June 2025. This prior recognition at a leading international animation festival underscores the film’s artistic merit and establishes it as a strong contender in Ottawa. It stands as the sole Japanese film among the five animated features selected for the OIAF’s official competition.
A Visionary Creative Team
At the helm of ChaO is director Yasuhiro Aoki, known for his work as a co-character designer on Psycho-Pass: The Movie and a unit director for SAMURAI NOODLES “THE ORIGINATOR”. His direction for ChaO is a debut feature that has garnered significant anticipation. Studio 4°C, the animation powerhouse behind critically acclaimed works like Mind Game and Children of the Sea, is responsible for the film’s animation production, ensuring a distinctive visual style and high-quality craftsmanship.
The creative team further includes Hirokazu Kojima, serving as both character designer and animation director, and Hiroshi Takiguchi, who takes on the role of background art director. The film’s music is composed by Takatsugu Muramatsu.
Synopsis and Cast
ChaO presents a unique “fish out of water” romantic comedy set in a futuristic world where humans and mermaids coexist. The narrative centers on Stephan, a mild-mannered office worker employed at a shipbuilding company, whose ordinary life takes an extraordinary turn when he receives a sudden marriage proposal from Chao, a princess from the mermaid kingdom. The story delves into their unexpected romance as Chao’s sincere love begins to break down Stephan’s emotional barriers, navigating their cultural differences and an unfolding, touching relationship.
The main voice cast features Oji Suzuka as Stephan and Anna Yamada as Chao. Other notable cast members include Yuichiro Umehara as Roberta, Kavka Shishido as Mai Bei, and Ryota Yamasato as President Shi, among others. Kumi Koda performs the film’s opening theme song, “ChaO!”.
International Festival Circuit and Release
Beyond its competitive screening at OIAF, ChaO has been making rounds on the international festival circuit. Following its premiere and award win at Annecy, the film was also slated to be screened at the JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film in New York City on July 10, 2025, and at the 29th Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, Canada, on July 27, 2025. The film is scheduled for its official theatrical release in Japan on August 15, 2025. GKIDS has acquired the distribution rights for ChaO in North America.
Other Contending Films at OIAF 2025
ChaO is one of five animated features vying for the Grand Prize. The other films in contention are:
- Olivia and the Invisible Earthquake (L’Olívia i el terratrèmol invisible), directed by Irene Iborra (Spain/France/Belgium/Switzerland).
- The Great History of Western Philosophy (La gran historia de la filosofía occidental), directed by Aria Covamonas (Mexico).
- Death Does Not Exist (La mort n’existe pas), directed by Félix Dufour-Laperrière (Canada).
- Tales from the Magic Garden (Pohádky po babičce), directed by David Súkup, Patrik Pašš, Leon Vidmar, and Jean-Claude Rozec (Czech Republic/Slovakia/Slovenia/France).
The selection for this year’s competition has been lauded by Chris Robinson, OIAF’s Artistic Director, as a testament to the evolution and experimentation within animated features, moving beyond formulaic studio productions. The Grand Prize winner will be decided by a distinguished jury comprising Chris Lavis (Canada), Dr. Magdalena Zira (Cyprus), and Honami Yano (Japan).
