ChaO

Shanghai in a near-futuristic world where humans and sea creatures live peacefully side by side. This coexistence is, however, threatened by constant maritime traffic. Stephan, a young and enthusiastic engineer, believes he has the solution and would like to develop an engine that won’t harm the sea creatures: the “Air Jet”. As if that weren’t enough, he is suddenly proposed to by the chaotic mermaid princess ChaO – a proposal he can hardly refuse due to pressure from the shipbuilding company. What is hailed as the salvation of the relations between the two worlds results in an ultimate test for Stephan and ChaO. As their cultures clash and one challenge leads to another, Stephan gradually begins to remember his long-suppressed past. 

“ChaO” is Yasuhiro Aoki’s directorial debut, but he has long been established in other roles in the animation industry: As the key animator, he worked on legendary anime such as “Neon Genesis Evangelion” (1995), “Steamboy” (2004) and Masaaki Yuasa’s bizarre masterpiece “Mind Game” (2004). “ChaO” also shares its production site with the latter, Studio 4°C, where numerous other expressionistic fairy-tale worlds have been created. Not surprisingly, “ChaO” is no exception, bringing to the screen one breathtaking image after another, from colourful city panoramas and illustrious characters to dynamic animations. The visual opulence nearly distracts from the film’s powerful core message: that a future is only possible in harmony with nature. (Dorian Duric)