The main cast of the film has also been announced.
Japanese animation company STUDIO4°C is bringing their new anime film project to the screens this summer. On 26 March, the official website and X (formerly Twitter) account of the film ChaO revealed that it will be released in Japanese cinemas on 15 August, 2025. A brand new trailer and a teaser visual were also released, which revealed the main cast of the film.
ChaO movie cast and staff details
The whimsical love story of the film revolves around a human guy and a mermaid named ChaO. The voice cast of the movie includes:
- Stefan voiced by Ōji Suzuka (Shōta Kazehaya in Kimi no Todoke live-action series, Paru in Eiga Doraemon: Nobita no Esekai Monogatari)
- ChaO voiced by Anna Yamada (Asirpa in Golden Kamuy: The Hunt of Prisoners in Hokkaido live-action series, Ai Kamura in Unlock Your Heart live-action movie)
The STUDIO4°C production is being directed by Yasuhiro Aoki (The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, Sailor Moon). Hirokazu Kojima (Dokyusei: Classmates, Flip Flappers) is the chief animation director and character designer. Hiroshi Takiguchi (Your Name, Weathering with You) is the art director while Takatsugu Muramatsu (When Marnie Was There, Lu Over the Wall) is the composer. Toei is distributing the movie.
ChaO movie story and other details
The new key visual of the movie shows Stefan and ChaO, in her fish form, standing side by side. The text describes their encounter and love as a miracle. As per STUDIO4°C, the story takes place in a world where humans and mermaids co-exist. Stefan is a tired salaryman working at a ship-making company. One day, he is asked to marry ChaO, a princess from the mermaid kingdom. The hilarious and warm love story is perfect for those who are looking for a magical movie to delve into.
The beautiful trailer for the film shows Stefan and ChaO going on many adventures together in the human world. The unique art style also adds to its charm. It was previously revealed that this original project has been 7 years in the making and producer Eiko Tanaka said that the film has more than 100, 000 hand-drawn illustrations. STUDIO4°C has made waves with their anime movies before, namely Princess Arete and Children of the Sea. They also produced the Berserk: Golden Age Arc trilogy, and Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox movie.
