South Korean director Bong Joon Ho‘s filmography isn’t exactly filled with family-friendly pictures. But that’s what makes his next film, “Ally,” so alluring. Bong’s first animated film of his career is a hard pivot for the auteur in both form and content, and now fans of him have their first look at the picture, viewable below.
“Ally” follows a piglet squid living in the South Pacific Ocean who dreams of starring in a wildlife documentary, but instead gets thrust into an extraordinary journey after an aircraft crash-lands in her natural habitat. “Inspired by remarkable real-life marine creatures,” as per the press release, “the film explores themes of friendship and courage, as encounters between humans and the creatures of the deep reshape both worlds. Set against visually stunning underwater worlds and epic action sequences, the film is a family adventure blending humor and emotion.” Expect a ensemble voice cast full of A-List talent for this one.
Whil “Ally” is Bong’s first animated film, it’s also a project he’s had in development for a long time; he first started work on it in 2019, providing updates on it occasionally since then. The film is also his third collaboration with producer Seo Woo-sik, after “Mother” and “Okja.” Bong Joon Ho also co-writes the movie’s script with Jason Yu. Producers for “Ally” include CJ ENM, Penture Invest, Pathé, and Barunson C&C. Post-production on the film should wrap in early 2027, setting it up for a Fall/Winter 2027 theatrical release, and possibly a festival world premiere.
Bong Joon Ho is coming off of last year’s “Mickey 17,” his first feature film since 2019’s critical favorite “Parasite.” “Parasite” is Bong’s biggest career success, winning Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film at the Oscars; it was the first South Korean film to win an Academy Award. “Parasite” also won the coveted Palme d’Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. Other notable films for Bong Joon Ho include “Snowpiercer” and “Memories Of Murder.”
Stay tuned for more details about “Ally” soon, but don’t expect a theatrical release date to be announced until 2027. And for those who want Bong Joon Ho to return to his genre roots, fear not: his next project after his animated feature is a horror movie, and John Carpenter really, really wants to score it.
