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Japan Cuts Film Festival Screens Studio 4°C's ChaO Anime Film on Opening Night
posted on by Alex Mateo
The film will open in Japanese theaters on August 15.
GKIDS has licensed the film. The film premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France, which will run from June 8 to June 14. The film will then screen at the 29th annual Fantasia International Film Festival, which runs from July 16 through August 3 in Montreal.
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 (live-action 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. Takatsugu Muramatsu (Mary and The Witch's Flower, Phoenix: Eden17) is composing the soundtrack. Toei will distribute the film.
JAPAN CUTS will take place on July 10-20.
JAPAN CUTS will also host award-winning actress Yūmi Kawai (voice of Fujino in Look Back anime film) for a Q&A panel for the film A Girl Named Ann on July 13, and for the She Taught Me Serendipity film on July 12. The event will screen the North American theatrical premiere of the Gridman Universe anime film and the world premiere of the upcoming live-action film adaptation of Jun Mayuzuki's Kowloon Generic Romance manga.
Sources: Japan Cuts, Deadline (Sara Merican)
