Studio 4°C's 'ChaO' Anime Triumphs with Jury Prize at Annecy Film Festival
Discover the acclaimed 'Dandelion's Odyssey' by Momoko Seto and Ryo Orikasa's 'The Graffiti' short film.
Celebrating Success at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival
The Annecy Festival recently celebrated outstanding achievements in animation, bringing home several prestigious awards.
Awards Highlights
- Ryo Orikasa's "The Graffiti" Short earned the Jury Prize.
- Momoko Seto's French/Belgian film, Dandelion's Odyssey received the Paul Grimault Award (formerly known as Jury Special Mention).
- "The Graffiti" also garnered the Off-Limits Award.
About the Films
"ChaO" - The Star Anime
Produced by Studio 4°C and directed by Yasuhiro Aoki, ChaO is a vibrant 75-minute anime film. It is set in a futuristic world where humans and mermaids coexist. The story follows Stephan, a shipbuilding office worker, whose life turns upside down when he's unexpectedly proposed to by ChaO, a princess from the mermaid kingdom.
Plot overview:
In a world where humans meet mermaids, Stephan’s routine life is disrupted by love. As he moves in with the spirited ChaO, heartfelt romance blossoms, breaking down his emotional barriers.
Cast includes:
- Ōji Suzuka as Stephan
- Anna Yamada as ChaO
- Yūichirō Umehara as Roberta
- Ryōta Yamasato as President Shi
- Kavka Shishido as Maibei
- Shunsei Ōta as Juno
- Anna Tsuchiya as Editor-in-Chief
The film features compelling visuals by character designer Hirokazu Kojima and soundtrack by Takatsugu Muramatsu. Kumi Kōda performs the theme song "ChaO!"
Distribution: Toei
Upcoming Screenings:
- Premiered in France (June 8–14)
- Opening at JAPAN CUTS in New York on July 10
- Screening at Fantasia Festival in Montreal (July 16–August 3)
- Release in Japanese theaters planned for August 15
More about ChaO: GKids site
"Dandelion’s Odyssey" - The Debut Feature
Directed by Momoko Seto, Dandelion’s Odyssey is an inventive, dialogue-free film running 75 minutes. The story follows four dandelion seeds—Baraban, Léonto, and Taraxa—rescued from nuclear explosions destroying Earth. They embark on a cosmic journey to find a new home suitable for survival.
Festival Achievement: Won the International Federation of Film Critics' Award at Cannes 2025.
Synopsis:
Stranded on an unknown planet, these tiny survivors face obstacles posed by the planet's environment, fauna, and flora—all in their quest to avoid extinction.
Additional Content
- "The Graffiti" (13 min black-and-white short) is a poetic piece based on a prose poem by Makoto Takayanagi. Set in a quiet dawn, it captures the gentle emergence of graffiti as a visual expression.
Behind the Scenes
- Seto makes her directorial debut with Dandelion’s Odyssey.
- The film was praised for its visual storytelling and won awards at Cannes.
- The animation team included character designer and chief animation director Hirokazu Kojima, and art director Hiroshi Takiguchi.
- The soundtrack was composed by Takatsugu Muramatsu.
Upcoming Screenings:
- Opening at JAPAN CUTS in New York (July 10)
- Screening at Fantasia (July 16–August 3)
- Scheduled release in Japan theaters (August 15)
Learn more: Official Annecy page
About "The Graffiti"
Annecy describes the short as:
A prose poem by Makoto Takayanagi vividly brought to life, capturing a moment when graffiti first appears, symbolizing awakening and expression.
Sources: Annecy Festival Official Site, Deadline