GKIDS
Movie review can be read here.
Just when it seems summer is over, GKIDS is offering a second chance to anime fans who missed ChaO during its theatrical release, bringing the film home on September 22, 2026. The release is perfectly timed for anyone longing for a breezy return to those fondly remembered summer days under the boardwalk. That isn’t quite the film’s plot, of course, but ChaO does offer plenty of colour, energy and romance. For those who prefer streaming, a digital release is also planned specifically for Canadian residents.
Plot Summary:
In a fantastical future, humans and mermaids share a troubled coexistence. Stephan, an anxious employee at a shipbuilding company, has big ideas about saving the sea. But his life explodes into ecstatic chaos when bubbly mermaid princess Chao proposes marriage out of the blue. Between shopping sprees, giant robots and actual fireworks, the unlikely pair flounder through their new romance and unlock their true feelings.
Crafted over seven years by acclaimed STUDIO4°C and veteran animator Yasuhiro Aoki, ChaO is an inventive, genre-defying delight bursting with colour and character. Equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking, its singular narrative is an ode to boundless love.
ChaO Trailer:
Special Features:
- Storyboards & Animatics
- Teasers & Trailers
- Ending Credits