Anime Limited Unleash 'ChaO' On UK and Irish Cinemas This December

Some classic Fairy Stories seem to have inspired generations' worth of storytellers. One such tale is The Little Mermaid, with Hans Christian Andersen's novel spawning numerous artists in animation alone. Of course, there are several direct adaptations like Disney's classic and the 1975 Japanese adaptation (although they often take liberties with the source material). But there are also those that were more indirectly inspired, like Ponyo, Lu Over the Wall, and Goodbye Lara. Now, a distinctly modern mermaid tale (or tail) approaches: ChaO.

ChaO is directed by veteran animator Yasuhiro Aoki, who is set to direct DC's upcoming anime Joker: Laugh Riot. The screenplay was penned by Hanasaki Kino, screenwriter of Children Of The Sea. The film is produced by Studio 4°C, the world renowned studio known for their cutting edge animation (Children Of The Sea, All You Need Is Kill, The Animatrix). Anime Limited has announced that the film will come exclusively to cinemas in the UK and Ireland from Friday, December 4, 2026.

The film has screened at numerous festivals around the world. It won the Jury Award at the 2025 edition of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. It was also nominated for Best Animated Feature at Annecy,  The Festival Européen du Film Fantastique de Strasbourg (FEFFS) and the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. It was released in Japan in August of 2025, and screened at the BFI London Film Festival in 2025. GKIDS Films released it in US cinemas in April 2026, with a digital and Blu-Ray release following in September of this year. The UK release is a little behind, but it's nearly time to get caught up with this quirky romantic comedy.

In a possible future where humans coexist with merpeople, Stephan, an anxious employee of a ship-building company, has dreams of saving the sea. Life takes an unexpected turn when he bumps into Chao, a bubbly mermaid princess. The next thing he knows, she's proposing marriage. The unlikely couple must navigate the world of fishy romance and try to ensure the future of human-merfolk relations.

The film boasts colourful and vibrant 2D animation, with a highly stylised look to the character designs. It took seven years for Aoki to develop, showcasing Studio 4°C's commitment to groundbreaking animation. It's not as pretty as Children Of The Sea, but it embraces a quirkier style, similar visually to All You Need Is Kill, which was also released by the studio in 2025.

The film will be screened in Japanese language with English subtitles. It features the voices of Oji Suzuka, Anna Yamada, Kenta Miyake, Ryôta Yamasato, Yûichirô Umehara and Anna Tsuchiya. Tickets go on sale at a Box Office near you soon. You can sign up for updates at the official (oFISHal) website.