Studio 4°C has unveiled the main trailer and a striking key visual for their highly anticipated new animated movie, ChaO, directed by veteran animator Yasuhiro Aoki. The film is set for its Japanese premiere on August 15 and will soon make its world debut at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival next week.
GKIDS has secured North American distribution rights, ensuring that fans across the continent will soon experience this captivating story. The movie is described as a wild romantic comedy set in a futuristic world where humans and mermaids coexist, offering a fresh take on the “fish out of water” narrative.
ChaO centers on Stephan, a mild-mannered office worker at a shipbuilding company whose ordinary life is turned upside down when he receives a marriage proposal from Chao, a spirited mermaid princess. Forced to navigate a new life with the unpredictable Chao, Stephan’s emotional barriers begin to crumble as their sincere and touching romance unfolds.
The movie boasts an impressive creative team: Yasuhiro Aoki, known for his work on Batman: Gotham Knight and Kimagure Robot, directs the film; Hirokazu Kojima, who previously worked on Deadman Wonderland and Coyote Ragtime Show, is both the character designer and chief animation director; and Hiroshi Takiguchi, art director for acclaimed titles like Weathering With You and Children of the Sea, shapes the film’s visual style.
The voice cast brings the characters to life with Anna Yamada as Chao, Oji Suzuka as Stephan, and Cookie! as Ambassador Omede. Other notable cast members include Anna Tsuchiya, Shunsei Ota, Kenta Miyake, Kavka Shishido, Yuichiro Umehara, and Ryota Yamasato.
With its unique blend of fantasy, romance, and humor, ChaO promises to be a standout animated feature this year, expanding the boundaries of the movie genre while delivering an emotionally resonant story.
