The ChaO anime film from STUDIO4°C releases its main trailer and poster

Studio 4°C is taking a bold step this summer with ChaO, its first anime film about a shipwright and a mermaid princess whose worlds intersect. With a theme song by J-pop sensation Kumi Koda, today's big reveal offers fans their first taste of this fish-out-of-water romance by teasing both the main trailer and a colorful poster image.

First Look: Trailer & Poster Visual:

The new main trailer plunges viewers into ChaO’s near-future setting, where humans and merfolk coexist uneasily. We follow Stephan, a mild-mannered shipping engineer in Shanghai, as the mermaid princess Chao abruptly proposes marriage—upending his orderly life. Sweeping underwater vistas give way to moments of genuine humour and awkward tension, while the trailer’s crisp animation highlights Studio 4°C’s signature fluid artistry.

Alongside the PV, the key visual positions Chao and Stephan back-to-back in a floodlit harbour, their figures framed by glimmering neon reflections. It’s a striking invitation into a world where love literally crosses species—and seas.

Poster Visual:

A Theme Song Worth the Hype

Riding on the trailer’s final beat is “ChaO!,” the film’s upbeat theme by Kumi Koda. Known for her dynamic vocals and chart-topping hits, Koda brings just the right mix of energy and warmth to the soundtrack. Though details on the full song remain under wraps, fans can expect a catchy pop-R&B fusion—perfect for underscoring Chao’s exuberant spirit.

Release & International Outlook:

ChaO will world-premiere next week at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival before its nationwide theatrical debut in Japan on August 15, 2025. GKIDS has already secured North American rights, promising a subtitled and dubbed release in 2026.

Annecy’s festival synopsis captures the film’s heart:

“In a near-future world where humans and mermen coexist, Stephen… develops a propeller harmless to marine life to promote peace between the races. When Chao, a mermaid princess, suddenly proposes, their cultures clash—leading to an unexpected, touching romance amid tragic obstacles.”

Cast & Staff

Studio 4°C has assembled a standout crew and voice cast:

• Director: Yasuhiro Aoki (Batman: Gotham Knight, Kimagure Robot)

• Character Design & Animation Dir.: Hirokazu Kojima (Deadman Wonderland)

• Background Art Dir.: Hiroshi Takiguchi (Weathering With You)

• Production: STUDIO 4°C

Japanese Theatrical Cast:

• Anna Yamada as Chao (the mermaid princess)

• Oji Suzuka as Stephan (the engineer)

• Cookie! as Ambassador Omede

• Anna Tsuchiya as the Editor-in-Chief

• Shunsei Ota as Juno

• Kenta Miyake as King Neptune

• Kavka Shishido as Maibei

• Yūichirō Umehara as Robert

• Ryōta Yamasato as Sea President

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Source: GKIDS

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