STUDIO4°C “ChaO” Trailer & Song

The official trailer and poster for STUDIO4℃’s theatrical animation “ChaO,” in which voice actors Suzuka Oji and Yamada Anna play the roles, have been completed. In addition, “Caho!”, written by Koda Kumi, has been selected as the theme song.

This work, which focuses on hand-drawn animation, is the latest work from STUDIO4℃, which is led by Tanaka Eiko, who served as line producer for “My Neighbor Totoro” and “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” and has worked on “Tekkonkinkreet,” “Children of the Sea,” and “Poupelle of Chimney Town.” Set in a future society where humans and mermaids coexist, this heartwarming story depicts the love story of Stephan, a human office worker, and Chao, the princess of the mermaid kingdom. Stephan, who works at a shipbuilding company, is suddenly proposed to by Chao one day and they end up living together. As they live together, Stephan gradually becomes attracted to Chao, who shows him her honest love.

Stephan, voiced by Suzuka Oji

Prior to its release in Japan, the film has been selected for the feature film competition section of the Annecy International Animated Film Festival 2025 in France and the competition section of the Fantasia International Film Festival, the largest genre film festival in North America, and is attracting attention from overseas.

The trailer begins with a scene in which Stephan is surprised when Chao suddenly proposes to him, saying, “The fish spoke!”. Chao’s tomboyish behavior explodes as she eats electric eels for breakfast, swallows ice cream whole, and sets off fireworks at home, leading Stephan into a frenzy. Chao’s constantly changing emotions are also a highlight. In the second half, a human-like Chao appears, showing the love between Chao and Stephan and the encouraging companions surrounding the two as they face a difficult future. There is also a battle scene set at sea in which Stephan challenges himself to get Chao back.

Chao, voiced by Anna Yamada

The main trailer is colored by the theme song “Chao!” sung by Kumi Koda. Koda had previously sung the theme song for “Even if You Become an Enemy of the World,” an anthology work by Yasuhiro Aoki, the director of this film, and had talked with Aoki about “making a feature film together someday.” Upon receiving an offer from Aoki, Koda expressed her joy, saying, “After 19 years, I feel that it is truly a miraculous and fateful encounter that we have been able to realize this with ‘ChaO.'” She also spoke of the thoughts she put into the song, saying, “I created it hoping that the song would be a number that would gently accompany you after you have finished watching the movie.”

The poster is a dynamic visual that is packed with unique characters surrounding the main characters, including CEO Shi, a strategist who tries to get Stefan and Chao married, Roberta, who watches over the two, MyBey, King Neptune, Chao’s doting father, Juno, a rookie reporter who will be interviewing Stefan, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper where Juno works, and Ambassador Omede, the representative of the parliament. “ChaO” will be released nationwide from August 15th.

Kumi Koda’s full comment is as follows.

■Kumi Koda

I am Kumi Koda, and I wrote the theme song “ChaO!” for the animated film “ChaO”. Actually, in 2006, I collaborated with STUDIO4℃ and Director Aoki on the song “Twinkle,” which was an animated video with the theme song “Even if you become the enemy of the whole world.” At that time, we talked about making a feature film together someday. After 19 years, I feel that it is truly miraculous and fateful that we were able to make this happen with “ChaO.” I am also truly happy and delighted that Director Aoki wanted to work with me again.

As for the theme song for “ChaO!”, I wanted to create a song that was close to the main character, so I watched the movie when it was almost complete and wrote it. I wrote it hoping that the song would be a song that would gently accompany you after watching the movie. I hope you will enjoy this song along with the world of “ChaO.”

The movie “ChaO” is a miraculous love story between a young human man, Stefan, and Chao, the princess of the mermaid kingdom. It’s a super happy song that supports Stefan, who faces his fate, and Chao, who continues to love him wholeheartedly. I hope you will watch it at the cinema. I also want to go to the cinema when the movie is released!

Toei Movie Channel

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Movie “ChaO” trailer / Release date: Friday, August 15th

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A Bold, Psychedelic Vision Powered by Koda’s Electrifying Anthem

STUDIO4°C, known for its boundary-pushing animation, has released the official trailer for its latest original project, ChaO. The trailer showcases a whirlwind of vibrant visuals, fluid motion, and surreal storytelling that the studio has become celebrated for. The theme song, titled “ChaO!”, is performed and written by renowned artist Kumi Koda, whose energetic vocals perfectly match the chaotic and colorful tone of the work.

From the look of the trailer, ChaO seems to embrace a psychedelic aesthetic, blending science fiction and fantasy elements in a way that challenges conventional narrative form. It’s a bold creative move that signals STUDIO4°C’s continued commitment to experimental, art-driven animation. With Koda’s involvement, the project also gains a heightened sense of mainstream musical appeal, potentially reaching broader audiences.

This collaboration is not only a treat for fans of avant-garde anime, but also a notable crossover of pop music and animated storytelling—something increasingly popular in Japan’s contemporary media scene.