GKIDS, the Academy Award®-winning producer and distributor of acclaimed, artist-driven animation, is bringing the critically heralded animated feature ChaO to North American audiences for the first time on Blu-ray™ on September 22, 2026. Distribution by Shout! Studios, a Radial Entertainment company. ChaO is also available now in the U.S. on digital platforms, with a forthcoming digital release in Canada.
In a fantastical future, humans and mermaids share a troubled coexistence. Stephan, an anxious employee at a shipbuilding company, has big ideas to save 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 the acclaimed STUDIO4°C and veteran animator Yasuhiro Aoki, ChaO is an inventive and genre-defying delight bursting with color and character. Equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking, ChaO’s singular narrative is an ode to boundless love.
ChaO arrives on Blu-ray™ in 1080p High-Definition (2.35:1) with Japanese DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio. Subtitles available in English, English SDH, Spanish, and French on September 22, 2026.
ChaO Special Features:
- Ending Credits
- Storyboards & Animatics
- Teasers & Trailers