The film is set for completion in the first half of 2027, with a worldwide theatrical release planned later that year.
Bong Joon Ho’s next big project finally has a name. The Oscar-winning Korean filmmaker has revealed the title of his first animated feature, Ally, along with a first look at its lead character, a piglet squid living deep in the South Pacific Ocean.
This makes Ally another major new step in Bong’s career. After Parasite in 2019 became a global landmark and an Oscar winner, he returned with Mickey 17 in 2025 and now, the director seems to be shifting gears again with his first full-length animated feature.
Related story: DreamWorks’ ‘Forgotten Island’ brings Filipino folklore to the big screen this September
Related story: The first trailer of HBO’s Harry Potter Series is here and it feels like magic again
A piglet squid leads Bong’s first animated feature
Ally follows a wide-eyed piglet squid with one big dream: reach the surface, feel the sun, and land the starring role in a wildlife documentary. When a strange aircraft plunges into her underwater world, she finds herself swept into an unexpected adventure alongside an unlikely crew of ocean misfits. Drawing from the real wonders of marine life, the story revolves around friendship, the courage to venture into the unknown, and the moment two very different worlds meet.
The project has been years in the making
Reports say Bong has been developing the film since 2019, and he co-wrote the screenplay with Jason Yu, the filmmaker behind Sleep. Producer Seo Woo-sik, who previously worked with Bong on Mother and Okja, is back for this one as well.
The project is also shaping up to be a large-scale international production. Deadline reported that Ally brings together creative talent from 12 countries, including South Korea, with several big names in animation joining the team. Among them are animation supervisor Jae Hyung Kim, whose credits include Toy Story 4 and Inside Out; supervising producer David Lipman of the Shrek franchise; and production designer Marcin Jakubowski, who worked on Klaus. DNEG, the studio known for Inception and Dune, is also contributing to the film’s 3D animation work.
Bong’s filmography has always moved between genres. He made his feature debut with Barking Dogs Never Bite in 2000, then followed it with Memories of Murder in 2003, The Host in 2006, Mother in 2009, Snowpiercer in 2013, Okja in 2017, Parasite in 2019, and most recently Mickey 17 in 2025. Now, with Ally, he is stepping into feature animation for the first time.
Related story: Moana moves to live-action: Disney debuts first look with familiar faces and fresh framing
Related story: Spider-Man: Brand New Day—what we know, fan theories, and what to expect
