STUDIO4°C, the creative collective behind acclaimed works like 『Tekkon Kinkuriito』, 『Kaijuu no Kodomo』, and 『Eiga Entotsuchou no Poupelle』, is set to release their latest anime film, 『ChaO』, on August 15, 2025. Ahead of its premiere, the film has just unveiled four dynamic character PVs, showcasing the vibrant performances of its talented cast, including **Suzuka Ouji** and **Yamada Anna**.
STUDIO4°C, founded by Tanaka Eiko, who served as line producer for films like 『Tonari no Totoro』 and 『Majo no Takkyuubin』 (directed by Miyazaki Hayao), boasts a global fanbase thanks to their high-quality visuals and distinctive worldbuilding.
Their newest original anime, 『ChaO』, tells a story of love and miracles that transcends species and cultures. Committed to hand-drawn animation, the film promises breathtaking visuals and beautiful background art to depict a fresh and adorable romance between a human and a mermaid, brought to life with an overwhelming amount of detailed drawing.
Even before its public release, the film is already garnering international attention. It has been nominated in the Feature Film Competition section of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2025, the world’s oldest animation film festival, and also nominated in the competition section of the Fantasia International Film Festival, North America’s largest genre film festival.
■ A Salaryman and a Mermaid… What Awaits Their Love?
This exciting film has just released four character PVs: “Stefan Edition,” “Chao Edition,” “Maibei Edition,” and “Roberta Edition.”
The “Stefan Edition” shows Stefan utterly flustered by Chao’s sudden marriage proposal.
Meanwhile, the “Chao Edition” features the earnest Chao, seemingly oblivious to Stefan’s confusion, straightforwardly expressing her love with lines like, “If we can be together forever, let’s get married!”
The protagonist Stefan and the heroine, Princess Chao, are voiced by **Suzuka Ouji** and **Yamada Anna**, respectively, both highly sought-after young and talented actors. Suzuka describes Stefan as “a slightly unreliable young man who lacks decisiveness in some ways, but he possesses a strong core and powerful feelings stemming from his childhood memories, which makes him a very charming character.” True to his words, the released footage highlights his flustered and mumbling reactions to the mermaid princess (Chao)’s unexpected proposal.
Yamada, who plays the adorable Chao, mentioned consulting closely with the staff to fully express her character’s cuteness. “To bring out Chao’s charm, I tried incorporating onomatopoeia-like sounds into my lines to match her movements,” she commented. “It was challenging but also fun.” Through her rich expressiveness, she delivers a delightful mermaid princess who is impossible not to love, opening up a new frontier in her acting career.
■ The Supporting Characters Are Just as Unique
Shishido, who revealed she had “always wanted to try voice acting,” uses her husky voice to embody a seductive and alluring older sister type. She affectionately commented on her character, saying, “She’s a lovable character that I’d want to have around me.”
The “Roberta Edition” allows us to see Roberta dispensing advice on “love” with a somewhat flamboyant flair to Stefan, who is struggling to accept marrying Princess Chao.
Umehara described his character as “intelligent, romantic, and passionate – a person who shows various sides throughout the film.” He compellingly portrays Roberta as a calm, mature adult male, contrasting with Stefan.
STUDIO4°C’s latest anime film, 『ChaO』, is scheduled for release on August 15, 2025. Be sure to catch this film in theaters and witness the unique characters brought to life with captivating performances by the stellar cast.
【Production Information】
Title: Anime Movie 『ChaO』
Release Date: August 15, 2025 Roadshow
Voice Cast:
| Suzuka Ouji | Yamada Anna |
| Shishido Kafka | Umehara Yuuichirou |
| Miyake Kenta | Oota Shunsuke |
| Tsuchiya Anna | Cookie! |
| Yamasato Ryouta |
Staff:
| Director: | Aoki Yasuhiro |
| Character Design / Chief Animation Director: | Kojima Yamato |
| Art Director: | Takiguchi Hiroshi |
| Music: | Muramatsu Takatsugu |
| Animation Production: | STUDIO4°C |
| Distribution: | Toei |
(C) 2025 “ChaO” Production Committee
《Nakase Koutarou》
