The upcoming human-mermaid romance anime film ChaO has received a trailer and main poster, with the former offering various new scenes of the main characters and displays of water animation.
It was also announced that the film’s theme song, which is previewed in the trailer, is “ChaO!” by Kumi Koda.
ChaO is set to premiere in Japan on August 15 JST. It will be screened at Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2025 as part of the feature film official selection and has been picked up by GKIDS for a North American release. GKIDS describes ChaO as:
From acclaimed Japanese animation production house Studio 4°C comes a wild romantic comedy and true “fish out of water” story. In a futuristic world where humans and mermaids coexist, ChaO follows Stephan, a mild-mannered office worker at a shipbuilding company, whose life is upended when he is suddenly proposed to by Chao — a princess from the mermaid kingdom. With no time to make sense of what’s happening, Stephan soon finds himself living with the unpredictable, wholehearted Chao. As her sincere love begins to break down his emotional barriers, an unexpected and touching romance begins to unfold.
Staff
• Director: Yasuhiro Aoki (Psycho-Pass: The Movie co-character designer, SAMURAI NOODLES “THE ORIGINATOR” unit director et al.)
• Character designer and animation director: Hirokazu Kojima (Shoka, More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers ending design and animation)
• Background art director: Hiroshi Takiguchi (Weathering With You)
• Animation production: STUDIO4℃
Cast
• Oji Suzuka as Stephan
• Anna Yamada as Chao
• Yuichiro Umehara as Roberta
• Kavka Shishido as Mai Bei
Source: ChaO website
