Anime Limited Sets ChaO UK and Ireland Cinema Release for December 4
The Studio 4°C film, directed by Yasuhiro Aoki, screens in Japanese with English subtitles and won the Jury Award at Annecy in 2025.
Anime Limited will release the anime film ChaO exclusively in cinemas across the UK and Ireland from Friday 4 December 2026, the distributor announced. The film screens in Japanese with English subtitles.
ChaO is directed by Yasuhiro Aoki and animated by Studio 4°C. The story follows Stephan, an engineer at a shipbuilding company, and Chao, a mermaid princess who proposes marriage to him.
The film won the Jury Award at the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, according to animeuknews.net. It was crafted over 7 years by Studio 4°C and veteran animator Yasuhiro Aoki.
Aoki was recently tapped to helm DC Studios' upcoming Joker: Laugh Riot.
Quick answers
When does ChaO open in UK and Irish cinemas?
Anime Limited releases ChaO exclusively in cinemas across the UK and Ireland from Friday 4 December 2026.
Is ChaO subtitled or dubbed?
The film screens in Japanese with English subtitles.
Who directed ChaO?
ChaO is directed by Yasuhiro Aoki and animated by Studio 4°C.