Common Sense Media Review
By Christie Cronan
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
A bit of peril, language in quirky, vibrant mermaid romance.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
ChaO
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In a fantastical version of Shanghai where merfolk and humans coexist, mermaid Princess CHAO (voiced by Anna Yamada) unexpectedly proposes marriage to ordinary human engineer Stefan (Oji Suzuka). Can their unlikely romance survive the rocky seas ahead?
Is It Any Good?
This quirky, vibrant anime movie offers an optimistic take on the classic mermaid love story, but the forced slapstick humor clashes with the sincere tone, resulting in a "fish out of water" feel. ChaO's bold, colorful, hand-drawn animation is a breath of nostalgic fresh air on-screen. But the movie's overdone storyline, lack of narrative cohesion, and over-the-top comedic tangents create rocky seas instead of calm waters, despite earnest character development. Ultimately, ChaO's bold, imaginative spin can't make up for the other flaws.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what ChaO is trying to say about people who stand out from the crowd. Why do people often fear what they don't understand? Why is it important to be kind to those who are different from us?
Why do you think films often use fantasy creatures to address human issues or problems? What real-life lessons could viewers take away from ChaO?
What stereotypes about both humans and merfolk are present in this film? Do you think characters were judged unfairly?
How do characters demonstrate compassion, curiosity, and integrity? Why are those important character strengths?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 10, 2026
- Cast : Anna Yamada , Oji Suzuka
- Director : Yasuhiro Aoki
- Studio : GKIDS
- Genre : Anime
- Topics : Adventures , Animals ( Fish ) , Fantasy ( Mermaids ) , Royalty ( Princesses )
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Curiosity , Integrity
- Run time : 90 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : June 29, 2026
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