'ChaO' is not your typical anime. We sat with the geniuses to discuss their creative vision behind the new film
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Reel Perspectives
March 27, 2026
In a world where animated storytelling continues to push boundaries, few films arrive with the kind of originality and quiet confidence as ChaO. The new film is directed by visionary filmmaker Yasuhiro Aoki, whose inspiration dates back 15 years, with Supervising Animation Director and Character Designer Hirokazu Kojima. The Japanese film, recognized at the prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival, follows humans and mermaids in a fantastical future, sharing a troubled coexistence.
Set in a futuristic Shanghai, the film follows Stephan, an anxious employee at a ship building company, who has big ideas to save the sea. But his life explodes into ecstatic chaos when bubbly mermaid princess Chao proposes marriage out of the blue. Between shopping sprees, giant robots, and actual fireworks, the unlikely pair flounder through their new romance and unlock their true feelings.
Distributed by GKIDS and produced by Studio4°C, one of Japan's leading animation studios, acclaimed for its diverse storytellin in cinematic art, ChaO is an introspective, visually daring exploration of connection, identity, and the strange beauty of love across worlds, blending romance, comedy, and futuristic fantasy into something that feels refreshingly unpredictable.
In an era dominated by sleek CGI, ChaO stands out for its commitment to hand drawn animation, with vibrant enriched colors and meticulous design adding artistic texture and unique personality to every frame. The film's visual style is bold and unconventional, echoing the unpredictable nature of its story with Ouji Suzuka and Anna Yamada lending their voices as Stefan and ChaO, respectively.
At the heart of ChaO are a reserved office worker and an eccentric mermaid princess, and it's anything but conventional, exploring how people connect when they don't fully understand each other. It's this emotional core that grounds the film in beauty, as it leans into surreal comedy and imaginative world-building.
Rather than leaning into traditional mermaid folklore, Aoki flips expectations. His version of the myth is quirky, futuristic, and layered with humor and surprising emotion in a richly detailed world.
ChaO proves that animation can still surprise us. It can be strange, funny, emotional, and above all, deeply human. In a landscape filled with formulaic storytelling, ChaO dares to be different. And that might be its greatest strength.
Tickets for ChaO are currently on sale, with a theatrical release set for April 10th.
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