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GKIDS Acquires N. American Rights to Studio 4°C's ChaO Anime Film

GKIDS announced on Tuesday it has acquired the North American rights to Studio 4°C's new anime feature film ChaO. The film will premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France, which will run from June 8 to June 14.

The company describes the story:

From acclaimed Japanese animation production house Studio 4°C comes a wild romantic comedy and true “fish out of water” story. In a futuristic world where humans and mermaids coexist, ChaO follows Stephan, a mild-mannered office worker at a shipbuilding company, whose life is upended when he is suddenly proposed to by Chao — a princess from the mermaid kingdom. With no time to make sense of what's happening, Stephan soon finds himself living with the unpredictable, wholehearted Chao. As her sincere love begins to break down his emotional barriers, an unexpected and touching romance begins to unfold.

Ōji Suzuka (Kimi ni Todoke, The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes) plays Stefan, a salaryman at a ship-making company. Anna Yamada (Golden Kamuy, Saki) plays ChaO, the pure princess of the mermaid kingdom.

Yasuhiro Aoki (Kimagure Robot, Tweeny Witches) is directing the film at Studio 4°C, and Hirokazu Kojima (Deadman Wonderland, Coyote Ragtime Show) is the character designer and chief animation director. Hiroshi Takiguchi (Ajin, The Case of Hana & Alice, The Garden of Words) is the art director. Takatsugi Muramatsu (Mary and The Witch's Flower, Phoenix: Eden17) will compose the soundtrack. Toei will distribute the film.

The film will open in Japanese theaters on August 15.

Oricon reported that Studio 4°C had been secretly working on the film for the last seven years. Producer Eiko Tanaka stated in the film's January press conference that the film is hand drawn with more than 100,000 drawings.

Source: GKIDS' X/Twitter account