ChaO

We are proud to co-present this screening with our friends from Otakon, held from July 31st to August 2nd at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

In this animated sci-fi fantasy, humans and mermaids share a troubled coexistence. Stephan, an anxious employee at a shipbuilding company, 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.

Crafted over 7 years by the acclaimed STUDIO4°C and veteran animator Yasuhiro Aoki, ChaO is an inventive and genre-defying delight bursting with color and character. Equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking, ChaO’s singular narrative is an ode to boundless love.

Director: Yasuhiro Aoki. Country: Japan. Released: 2025. Length: 90 min. Format: DCP. Language: Japanese with English subtitles. Description courtesy of GKIDS. Image courtesy of GKIDS.