Studio 4°C has unveiled a new one-minute preview clip for its highly anticipated original anime film, ChaO, directed by Yasuhiro Aoki, offering a fresh glimpse into the fantastical world where humans and mermaids coexist. The new footage highlights key character interactions and action sequences, building excitement for its theatrical debut in Japan on August 15, 2025.
A Glimpse into the World of “ChaO”
The recently released clip, described as a “main video” or “preview,” showcases interactions between some of the film’s unique characters. Viewers are treated to scenes involving MyBey, portrayed as a caring older sister figure, and Roberta, Stefan’s friend and an inventor. Notably, the preview features an unexpected battle between MyBey and Roberta, demonstrating “incredible action” and hinting at the film’s dynamic sequences. The footage also captures the mermaid princess ChaO’s fascination with the human world as she visits Roberta’s robotics laboratory.
“ChaO”: A Futuristic Romantic Comedy
ChaO is set in a future society where the lives of humans and mermaids intertwine. The story centers on Stefan, a mild-mannered office worker at a shipbuilding company, whose life takes an unexpected turn when he receives a sudden marriage proposal from ChaO, a princess from the mermaid kingdom. Without fully understanding the circumstances, Stefan finds himself living with the pure-hearted and unpredictable ChaO. The film is touted as a “pure love story” and a “wild romantic comedy” that explores a “fish out of water” narrative as Stefan’s emotional barriers are gradually broken down by ChaO’s sincere affection.
Visionary Team and Stellar Voice Cast
The film is brought to life by the acclaimed animation house Studio 4°C, known for its distinctive visual style in works such as Tekkonkinkreet and Children of the Sea. Yasuhiro Aoki, recognized for his work as a character designer on Psycho-Pass – The Movie and directing Kimagure Robot, helms ChaO. The production boasts a talented crew, including Hirokazu Kojima (The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie) as character designer and chief animation director, and Hiroshi Takiguchi (Weathering With You) as art director. The musical score is composed by Takatsugu Muramatsu.
The leading roles are voiced by a notable cast. Ouji Suzuka, known for his roles in live-action series and the anime film The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes, plays the human protagonist, Stefan. Anna Yamada, a prominent figure in live-action productions such as Golden Kamuy, takes on her first main character voice role in an anime feature film as ChaO, the mermaid princess. Additional voice talent includes Yūichirō Umehara as Roberta, Kavka Shishido as MyBey, Ryota Yamasato as President Shi, and Kenta Miyake as King Neptunus, among others.
International Recognition and Distribution
Even before its general release, ChaO has garnered international attention and accolades. The film secured the Jury Prize at the prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June 2025. It is also slated to compete for the Grand Prize for Feature Animation at the Ottawa International Animation Festival.
Toei will handle the distribution of ChaO in Japan, while GKIDS has acquired the North American distribution rights, signaling a wider release for the film beyond its home country. Studio 4°C revealed that the film has been in secret production for seven years and features over 100,000 hand-drawn frames, underscoring the dedication and artistry invested in its creation.
