Underplayed Gems

ChaO (2025)

ChaO poster
Directed by
Yasuhiro Aoki
Genre
fantasy film, romance film
Country
Japan
Runtime
1h 30m
Rated
NR
Rating
8.2 of 10 from 10 voters
Elsewhere
IMDb
The 3D catalogue: film cases on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalogue in 3D

The film shelves have a room of their own that you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real films from the same catalogue when you tell them what you feel like watching. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this film is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A young man meets a mermaid in a seaside town. They develop a romantic connection while navigating their different worlds.

whimsicalromanticupbeatanimatedgentlefantasticallightheartedcozy

What happens

ChaO (Japanese: チャオ, Hepburn: Chao) is a 2025 Japanese animated romantic comedy fantasy film. Produced by Studio 4°C and distributed by Toei Company, the film is directed by Yasuhiro Aoki with music composed by Takatsugu Muramatsu. The film was theatrically released in Japan on August 15, 2025. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

More like this

This page is from Underplayed Gems. Not quite it? You can browse by genre, country and year, or take this one into the 3D catalogue and ask the Catbot for something closer.