AceShowbiz - Acclaimed Korean filmmaker Bong Joon Ho has officially revealed key details about his upcoming 3D animated feature, Ally, marking his debut in animation. After years of secrecy surrounding the project, Bong and his producers announced the film’s title, story synopsis, production timeline, and shared the first-look image on Thursday.

Ally is scheduled to be completed in the first half of 2027, aiming for a worldwide theatrical release later that same year. Bong co-wrote the screenplay with his protégé, 36-year-old director Jason Yu, known for the 2023 Korean horror film Sleep. This collaboration follows Bong’s pattern of working with younger writers, as he did with Han Jin Won on the Oscar-winning Parasite (2019).

The film’s financing and distribution are managed by CJ ENM, Penture Invest, and Pathé, while production is overseen by Barunson C&C. Seo Woo-sik produces the project, marking his third partnership with Bong after their collaborations on Mother (2009) and Okja (2017).

The producers have shared a detailed premise for Ally. The story centers on Ally, a curious and lovable piglet squid living in the unexplored depths of the South Pacific Ocean. She dreams of one day surfacing to see the sun and becoming the star of a wildlife documentary. However, her peaceful life is disrupted when a mysterious aircraft crashes into the ocean. With the help of her diverse and loyal companions, Ally embarks on an extraordinary journey to the ocean’s surface. The narrative draws inspiration from real marine creatures and explores themes of friendship and courage. It highlights the interactions between humans and deep-sea life, which alter both worlds. Visually, the film promises breathtaking underwater environments paired with thrilling action sequences, blending humor with heartfelt moments in a family-friendly adventure.

Bong Joon Ho has described Ally as a passion project that has been nearly a decade in the making. The director cited inspiration from Claire Nouvian’s photo book The Deep: The Extraordinary Creatures of the Abyss. Staying true to his creative process, Bong personally hand-drew the entire storyboard for the film. He has called the production “a very wild and tough job,” often working between festival jury duties and press tours for his live-action film Mickey 17.

While Ally marks a departure from Bong’s live-action work, it continues his tradition of genre experimentation. His past films include the serial killer thriller Memories of Murder (2003), the creature feature The Host (2006), psychological thriller Mother (2009), dystopian sci-fi Snowpiercer (2013), and the Oscar-winning social satire Parasite (2019).

The animation team for Ally is an international collective from 12 countries. Key creatives include animation supervisor Jae Hyung Kim, known for his work on Toy Story 4 and Inside Out, supervising producer David Lipman from the Shrek franchise, and production designer Marcin Jakubowski, who worked on Klaus. The 3D animation is handled by DNEG, a visual effects company renowned for its work on Inception and Dune.

Distribution plans are split by region: Pathé will manage releases in France, Benelux, Switzerland, and West Africa, as well as international sales excluding Japan, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. These latter territories will be handled by CJ ENM and Penture directly. CJ ENM and Penture will also distribute the film in South Korea, Vietnam, Turkey, and Indonesia. Ally is expected to be a major highlight at the upcoming Marché du Film in Cannes.

The announcement ends months of speculation within the industry and among fans since reports first surfaced about Bong’s animation venture. Korean media has suggested the production budget could reach $60 million, potentially making Ally the most expensive film ever produced in South Korea.

This new film represents a bold step for Bong Joon Ho, combining his signature storytelling with innovative animation, and promises to expand his creative legacy into new territory.