Yasuhiro Aoki’s highly anticipated anime feature, ChaO, produced by the renowned Studio 4°C, has been officially selected to compete at the prestigious Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) in 2025. This inclusion places the film in contention for the coveted Grand Prize for Feature Animation, marking another significant milestone for the romantic comedy that recently garnered acclaim at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
A New Cinematic Vision from Studio 4°C
ChaO emerges from Studio 4°C, a Japanese animation house celebrated for its visually distinctive and often experimental works, including titles like Mind Game, Tekkon Kinkreet, and contributions to The Animatrix. Directed by veteran animator Yasuhiro Aoki, known for his work on Kimagure Robot and Tweeny Witches, ChaO represents a fresh direction with its unique blend of fantasy, romance, and comedy. The film is a testament to traditional artistry, reportedly hand-drawn with over 100,000 individual drawings.
Synopsis: A Mermaid’s Proposal
The narrative of ChaO unfolds in a futuristic world where humans and mermaids coexist. The story centers on Stephan, a mild-mannered office worker employed at a shipbuilding company, whose ordinary life takes an extraordinary turn when he receives an unexpected marriage proposal from Chao, a princess of the mermaid kingdom. The film delves into their “fish out of water” romance as Stephan navigates living with the spirited and unpredictable mermaid princess, exploring how her sincere love gradually breaks down his emotional barriers, leading to a touching and unforeseen love story. Director Yasuhiro Aoki has described ChaO as a love story that highlights “the importance of understanding different cultures in today’s world, where conflicts continue to rage.”
Voice Talent and Key Production Team
The film features a talented voice cast bringing its unique characters to life. Ōji Suzuka takes on the role of Stefan, the salaryman, while Anna Yamada voices the pure mermaid princess, ChaO. Supporting cast members include Yūichirō Umehara as Roberta, Ryōta Yamasato as President Shi, Kavka Shishido as Maibei, Cookie! as Ambassador Omede, Kenta Miyake as King Neptunus, Shunsei Ōta as Juno, and Anna Tsuchiya as Editor-in-Chief.
Beyond Aoki’s direction, the production team includes Hirokazu Kojima as the character designer and chief animation director, with Hiroshi Takiguchi serving as the art director. The film’s musical score is composed by Takatsugu Muramatsu, and its theme song, “ChaO!”, is performed by Koda Kumi.
A Festival Darling: From Annecy to Ottawa
ChaO‘s journey through the international festival circuit has already been met with considerable success. In June 2025, the film made its world premiere as an Official Selection in Competition at the prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival, where it was honored with the Jury Award. This win at Annecy, a leading global event for animation, underscores the film’s artistic merit and its appeal to international audiences and critics.
Following its Annecy success, ChaO has now been selected as one of five animated features to compete in the Official Competition at the Ottawa International Animation Festival 2025. The OIAF, recognized as North America’s largest competitive animated film festival and one of the world’s most respected forums for animated art, provides a significant platform for the film. The festival is scheduled to run from September 24 to September 28, 2025, in Ottawa, Canada, transforming various venues across the city into a hub for animation enthusiasts and industry professionals. All five competing films will be judged by an international jury vying for the Grand Prize for Feature Animation, with the winners announced at the OIAF Awards Ceremony on September 27, 2025.
ChaO is slated for its theatrical release in Japan on August 15, 2025, distributed by Toei Company. For North American audiences, GKIDS, a prominent distributor of award-winning animated features, has acquired the licensing rights for the film, ensuring its wider reach after its festival engagements.
