Studio 4°C’s latest animated feature, ChaO, directed by Yasuhiro Aoki, is set to compete at the prestigious Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF), following its recent win of the Jury Prize at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. The film’s inclusion in OIAF’s official competition marks another significant international recognition for the Japanese animation studio and its director.
A Visionary Tale from Studio 4°C
ChaO is an original Japanese-animated film produced by the renowned Studio 4°C, known for its distinctive and often experimental animation style. The studio, founded in 1986 by producer Eiko Tanaka and director/animator Koji Morimoto, derives its name from the temperature at which water reaches its maximum density, symbolizing their pursuit of depth and substance in their creative endeavors. Their notable works include Mind Game, Tekkon Kinkreet, and segments of The Animatrix.
Directed by Yasuhiro Aoki, who has a diverse filmography including Batman: Gotham Knight and contributions to Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, ChaO is a romantic comedy set in a futuristic society where humans and mermaids coexist. The story centers on Stephan, 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. The film explores their unlikely romance as Stephan grapples with ChaO’s unpredictable yet pure and wholehearted love.
The film’s visual identity is a compelling blend of traditional hand-drawn animation, 2D, and 3D computer graphics, offering a unique and idiosyncratic aesthetic. Hirokazu Kojima is credited with character design and serving as chief animation director, while Hiroshi Takiguchi handles art direction. The musical score is composed by Takatsugu Muramatsu, and Kumi Koda performs the theme song “ChaO!”. The lead roles are voiced by Ouji Suzuka as Stefan and Anna Yamada as ChaO. ChaO is scheduled for its theatrical release in Japan on August 15, 2025, and GKIDS has secured the North American distribution rights.
Acclaim at Annecy and Beyond
Prior to its selection for the Ottawa International Animation Festival, ChaO garnered significant attention at the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, where it was awarded the Jury Prize. The Annecy Festival, held in France, is one of the most prestigious animation events globally, and receiving such an accolade underscores the film’s artistic merit and impact. Reviewers at Annecy described ChaO as a “wacky mix of zany comedy and heartfelt drama” with a timely ecological parable woven into its narrative. The film was praised for its imaginative storytelling and distinctive visual identity, with its blend of animation techniques creating a visually rich experience. Its success at Annecy positions ChaO as a highly anticipated entry in the international animation circuit.
The Ottawa International Animation Festival
The Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) is recognized as one of the world’s leading and most respected animation events. Founded in 1975, with its first festival held in 1976, OIAF is the largest competitive animated film festival in North America. The annual event, held each September, attracts a diverse audience of artists, producers, students, and animation enthusiasts from across the globe, with attendance often exceeding 25,000 to 30,000 people.
The festival is known for its comprehensive programming, which includes dozens of public screenings of various lengths and styles, industry talks, exhibits, workshops, and networking events. A distinguishing characteristic of OIAF is its practice of pitting both commercial and independent animation projects against one another in competition, fostering a wide breadth of styles and formats. This approach embraces diverse animation techniques, from traditional hand-drawn films to computer graphics and even virtual reality projects. The festival also serves as a significant platform for industry professionals through its concurrently running Animation Conference, offering opportunities for pitching, networking, and staying abreast of industry trends. OIAF is on the prestigious qualifying festivals list of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, meaning its Grand Prize winner for Best Animated Feature can bypass the usual qualification process for the Oscars.
ChaO is one of five animated features selected for the 2025 OIAF Official Competition, vying for the Grand Prize for Feature Animation. Its inclusion highlights the festival’s commitment to showcasing innovative and impactful animated works from around the world. The competition jury for the feature animation category comprises Chris Lavis from Canada, Dr. Magdalena Zira from Cyprus, and Honami Yano from Japan, who will determine the Grand Prize winner at the OIAF Awards Ceremony on September 27, 2025.
The competition at OIAF provides ChaO with another crucial international stage, allowing it to reach a wider audience and further solidify its position as a significant work in contemporary animation. Its participation underscores the growing global recognition for Yasuhiro Aoki’s directorial vision and Studio 4°C’s continued legacy of producing groundbreaking animated cinema.
