Bong Joon-ho’s First Animated Feature ‘Ally’ Follows a ‘Piglet Squid’ Dreaming of Stardom
According to the CinemaDrame News Agency, the Oscar-winning director of Parasite and The Host, Bong Joon-ho, is venturing into animation for the first time with his new project titled “Ally.”
Bong, who is writing and directing the film, has had this project in development since 2019. He co-wrote the screenplay with Jason Yu, the director of the 2023 mystery-horror film Sleep.
According to today’s announcement, the story centers on Ally, a “curious and endearing little piglet squid living in the uncharted depths of the South Pacific Ocean. She dreams of seeing the sun and becoming the star of a wildlife documentary. However, when a mysterious aircraft crashes into the ocean, her peaceful world is suddenly thrust into danger. Alongside a colorful and loyal—yet unexpected—group of companions, Ally embarks on an extraordinary journey that will take her all the way to the surface.”
Today’s press release also notes that the film is “inspired by actual, wondrous marine life and explores themes of friendship and courage, as the encounter between humans and deep-sea creatures forever alters both worlds. With stunning underwater visuals and epic action sequences, the film is a family adventure that blends humor and heart.”
The film is expected to be completed in the first half of 2027, with a worldwide theatrical release planned for later that same year. Ally will be Bong’s first follow-up to his 2025 sci-fi film, Mickey 17.
Financing and distribution are being handled by CJ ENM, Penture Invest, and Pathé, while Barunson C&C is overseeing production. Seo Woo-sik serves as producer, marking his third collaboration with Bong after Mother and Okja.
This creative endeavor brings together top talent from 12 countries. Key contributors include:
- Jae-hyung Kim: Animation Supervisor (Toy Story 4, Inside Out)
- David Lipman: Supervising Producer (Shrek)
- Marcin Jakubowski: Production Designer (Klaus)
- DNEG: The world-renowned studio behind Inception and Dune, contributing advanced 3D animation.
Pathé will handle distribution in France, Benelux, Switzerland, and West Africa, while CJ ENM and Penture are responsible for South Korea, Vietnam, Turkey, and Indonesia. Pathé will also manage international sales, excluding Japan, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, which will be overseen by CJ and Penture.
