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Asia Pacific Screen Awards Nominate ChaO Anime Film
posted on by Alex Mateo
The film opened in Japan on August 15. The film will screen in 16 countries and regions around the world
GKIDS licensed ChaO, and it 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.
The film also stars:
- Yūichirō Umehara as Roberta
- Nankai Candies comedy duo member Ryōta Yamasato as President Shi
- Kavka Shishido as Maibei
- Yasei Bakudan comedy duo member Cookie! as Ambassador Omede
- Kenta Miyake as the King Neptunus
- Octpath idol group member Shunsei Ōta as Juno
- Anna Tsuchiya as Editor-in-Chief
Yasuhiro Aoki (Kimagure Robot, Tweeny Witches) directed the film at Studio 4°C, and Hirokazu Kojima (Deadman Wonderland, Coyote Ragtime Show) was the character designer and chief animation director. Hiroshi Takiguchi (Ajin, The Case of Hana & Alice, The Garden of Words) was the art director. Takatsugu Muramatsu (Mary and The Witch's Flower, Phoenix: Eden17) composed the soundtrack. Toei is distributing the film.
Kumi Kōda performs the opening theme song "ChaO!," written specifically for the film.
The film premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, which ran in France from June 8-14, and also won the Jury Prize. The JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film screened the film on its opening night at New York on July 10. The film then screened at the 29th annual Fantasia International Film Festival, which ran from July 16 through August 3 in Montreal. The film competed for the Grand Prize for Feature Animation at this year's Ottawa International Animation Festival, which will be held from September 24-28. The Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival, which takes place from October 9-19 in Sitges, Spain, is screening the film. GKIDS, Annecy International Animation Film Festival, and Variety's Animation is Film festival is screening the film in competition, and it takes place at Los Angeles on October 17-19.
Sources: Asia Pacific Screen Awards, Deadline (Zac Ntim)
