ChaO – A wild, anarchic debut from studio 4°C.
Studio 4°C has a history of creating animation that defies the rules. Movies like Tekkonkinkreet (2006) and Mind Game (2004) are examples of this. Yasuhiro Aoki, an experienced animator who has worked on Neon Genesis Evangelion, Digimon: The Movie, and The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, directs their most recent movie, ChaO.
Studio 4°C is known for telling stories in visually risky ways, and Aoki’s ChaO mixes the ridiculous and the horrifying, introducing a bold new voice in modern Japanese anime. The movie was shown for the first time at the 2025 Annecy Animated Film Festival. It quickly stood out among the Asian entries and won the second-highest award at the festival.
It was an instant hit with audiences thanks to its mix of slapstick humor, silly world-building, and deep emotional themes. Although the idea of a love story between a human man and a mermaid princess has been used before in animation, Aoki’s unique style changes the familiar beats into something wild, colorful, and interesting in its own way.
ChaO doesn’t rely on big words to explain its world, unlike most love fantasy stories. Instead, it drops viewers into a vividly realized near-future Shanghai called “20XX,” where humans and merpeople live together in various degrees of peace.
The city is a character in and of itself; the water tubes are like skyways, and the people who live there come in all shapes and sizes, from humanoids to creatures with tentacles or fins. The backgrounds are full of visual jokes that make you want to watch them again and again. This mix of chaos and careful detail is typical of Studio 4°C’s work; it creates a background where storytelling and visual invention can coexist without any issues.
This is a shockingly chaotic story that introduces a fresh new voice in Japanese anime. It looks amazing and has a lively style.
According to the movie, Stephan is a low-level worker at a shipping company. His boring life is turned upside down when he meets ChaO, a mermaid princess, by chance. Their relationship begins in a very public and chaotic manner, with ChaO appearing as a giant orange fish and proposing marriage immediately.
Stephan’s reluctant acceptance sets the stage for both slapstick comedy and an exploration of how people interact with meerkats, including celebrity culture, societal expectations, and the two leads’ tentative yet growing bond.
A smart way to set the scene for the story is for a junior reporter named Juno to encounter Stephan and listen to his tale of love, growth, and chaos. This approach allows Aoki to seamlessly blend serious information with humorous set pieces and visual jokes, maintaining a steady pace throughout. Stephan wants to design a different kind of airplane called “AirJet,” but his goals are derailed by his boss, President Sea, who is only interested in making a profit.
President Sea’s interference in people’s relationships adds drama to the story and makes satirical comments. ChaO‘s changes in appearance—from a human-sized fish on land to a humanoid underwater—add to the humor and highlight the absurdity of the romantic concept.
Contrasts are what make ChaO funny. Stephan is more like the “fish out of water” idea than the mermaid herself because he is overwhelmed by all the attention and chaos that ChaO brings. ChaO is likeable and awkward, but it’s her antics—damaging furniture, awkwardly navigating human social rules, and making public spectacles—that make the show funny. Underneath the silly plot lies a surprisingly deep story about compassion, selflessness, and how love evolves over time as Stephan learns to appreciate the beauty of his unusual partner.
Along with its romantic and comedic elements, the movie makes subtle comments about celebrity culture, environmental responsibility, and societal hierarchy. However, the environmental themes, especially in the second half, feel a bit forced. The story is still mostly about Stephan’s personal growth and how he comes to accept ChaO and the crazy world around him. It’s a story with a lot of heart, humor, and a bit of coming-of-age feeling.
Aoki creates necessary quirks almost entirely through a silly sense of humor, even as the story beats that are similar to The Little Mermaid stay the same.
ChaO is great at giving characters. Stephan’s journey from a reluctant, self-centered office worker to a more caring and understanding person is filled with humorous setbacks and emotional discoveries. On the other hand, ChaO is a lively tornado of energy and chaos. The story is both cute and unpredictable because she is both a clumsy yet adorable character and a royal mermaid.
Supporting characters, such as the bizarre but memorable President Sea, add variety and fun to the city, contributing to the “lawless” feel of the world without detracting from the main story. The way Stephan and ChaO talk to each other is often sloppy but funny, with a lot of visual comedy to back it up.
Running gags, like ChaO walking on her tail fin in sneakers or Stephan’s over-the-top facial reactions, break up the story and make the romance even funnier and stranger. Some of the jokes may seem old or reminiscent of older studio sitcoms, but the story remains interesting due to its creativity and visual humor.
The way the story goes is also not typical. The movie starts with a crazy comedy, then transitions into romantic tension, and finally builds up to a deeper emotional level, especially when Stephan’s selfishness is called into question and he faces his own limits. This development ensures that ChaO isn’t just a collection of jokes, but a story with a clear plot, satisfying characters, and a humorous ending.
It wasn’t love at first sight for Stephan and ChaO, and their relationship will need work, especially on Stephan’s part.
ChaO is a feast for the eyes. The movie has a textured, densely layered look because it blends hand-drawn art with 2D and 3D digital animation. The designs by art director Hiroshi Takiguchi are filled with intricate details. The city is always in motion, the background characters are amusing, and even small details of people’s faces are subtly watery.
Hirokazu Kojiima, the chief animation director, ensures that character emotions, movements, and over-the-top changes—such as Stephan’s eyes floating off his face in shock—are humorous without detracting from the story’s understanding.
The skyline is a work of art; it mixes surrealist exaggeration with real, everyday details. Water tubes fly through the sky, people who look like fish move through the streets, and every part of the city surprises viewers who pay close attention. The high visual density helps with both storytelling and comedy.
There are often jokes hidden in the scenery, in the way people interact in the background, or in how things change in surprising ways. This makes watching it again and again a rewarding experience. The cutting and camera work make the film’s motion even stronger.
Fast cuts, unusual angles, and sudden visual punches all contribute to the chaos that reflects the story’s central themes. The movie slows down during emotional moments so that viewers can appreciate the subtleties of the characters and the beauty of the world that has been created. This demonstrates that the filmmakers were careful to strike a balance between humorous chaos and poignant stories.
The chaotic visual style goes well with sound design and music. There are energetic themes in the score that punctuate humorous parts, and more thoughtful themes that support emotional beats. Voice acting makes the characters more interesting. For instance, Ota Shunsei’s Juno adds a lively sense of wonder, and Oji Suzuka’s Stephan shows both frustration and eventual growth.
When Anna Yamada plays ChaO, she brings charm and joy to the part, balancing awkwardness with sincerity. The sounds of the environment, such as the bustling rivers and chaotic streets of Shanghai, help the audience feel even more immersed in the movie’s world.
ChaO is a brave, crazy, and surprisingly heartfelt first movie that mixes silly comedy with complex writing. It’s different from most love fantasy stories due to its humor, creative visuals, and a story that focuses on the characters. Aoki’s direction also ensures that the rhythm remains steady and high-energy.
Even though the movie has some forced environmental themes and old jokes, its strengths—its characters, creative visual design, and fast-paced story—make it a hit. ChaO is mostly about learning to care for others, being okay with chaos, and finding beauty in unexpected places. The movie is both a love letter to visual innovation and a silly love story. This makes it a great choice for anime fans seeking something new, humorous, and heartfelt.
