Mubi's Biggest Hidden Anime Gem Is This 2025 Movie That Was 9 Years in the Making
This colorful fairy tale transforms into a multifaceted story about choosing between a career and personal happiness.
In 2025, one of the most technically impressive animated movies was released – the feature-length anime titled ChaO.
The project attracts attention not only for its unusual plot about the love between a human and a mermaid, but also for its production time of nine years, seven of which were spent solely on animation.
What Is 'ChaO' About?
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The anime is set in a near-future version of Shanghai where humans and mermaids coexist. Watercraft are now designed without propellers, and sea creatures navigate through special transparent tunnels.
The main character Stefan is an engineer working on a project to make shipping safer for mermaids, who sees his life change dramatically when Princess ChaO, the daughter of Sea King Neptune, suddenly declares her love and desire to marry him.
Pressured by his superiors and the public, Stefan agrees to the marriage despite having no memory of meeting his bride before.
'ChaO' Is a Unique Animated Project That Took Nine Years to Create
The production of ChaO was a true marathon for the entire crew. Of the nine years of work, seven were dedicated exclusively to animation. The studio team hand-rendered approximately 100,000 keyframes – three to four times the standard volume for a feature-length animated film.
The director of the movie is Yasuhiro Aoki, a 30-year industry veteran – for him ChaO was the feature-length debut.
Beneath Its Fairytale Facade Lies a Profound Exploration of Human Relationships
Despite its fantasy setting, ChaO offers a serious psychological exploration of relationships. The comical premise of a mermaid falling in love with a human gradually unfolds into a series of awkward situations rooted in cultural and physiological differences.
ChaO struggles to please her husband and embrace human customs, while Stefan patiently endures an arranged marriage imposed by corporate interests.
The anime explores harmful tropes such as the Manic Pixie Dream Girl and forced marriage, using them to analyze the main character's inner world in depth.
The mermaid ChaO essentially becomes a conduit for Stefan's spiritual longings. She helps him sort through his repressed memories of his parents' death and understand what he truly wants from life.
What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'ChaO'?
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On IMDb, ChaO has a score of 7.2/10.
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On Letterboxd, ChaO scored 3.6/5.0.
Where to Watch 'ChaO'?
ChaO is available to stream on Mubi.
