Bong Joon Ho Animation Ally: First Look and 2027 Release

Bong Joon Ho Reveals First Look at ‘Ally,’ the Most Expensive Korean Film Ever

The Oscar-winning ‘Parasite’ director dives into animation with a 2027 family adventure about a deep-sea piglet squid’s journey to the surface.

Sofia Chen

Apr 2, 2026, 7:03 PM PT · 2 min read

Bong Joon-ho — Photo: Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

THE RUNDOWN

Director Bong Joon Ho's first animated film Ally is set for a 2027 release.
The story features a piglet squid journeying from the deep sea to the surface.
At $52 million, it is the most expensive production in South Korean history.
Jason Yu co-wrote the script with Bong; 4th Creative Party handles animation.
Sony Pictures will distribute the film internationally following its Korean debut.

Oscar-winner Bong Joon Ho is diving into uncharted waters with his first-ever animated feature, Ally. The director, celebrated for Parasite and Okja, has officially unveiled the first look at this ambitious family adventure. Co-written by Bong and Jason Yu, the film follows the journey of a curious "piglet squid" who embarks on a trek from the deep sea to the ocean surface following an aircraft crash.

This project is much more than a simple career pivot; it is a record-breaking production. With a reported budget of approximately 70 billion KRW (roughly $52 million), Ally stands as the most expensive film production in South Korean history. The film has been in active development since 2019, with the visual effects and animation spearheaded by 4th Creative Party, the same studio that collaborated with Bong on The Host and Snowpiercer.

Bong Joon-ho Robert Pattinson Mickey 17 — Photo: 티비텐 TV10 / CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Audiences will have to wait until 2027 for the film’s worldwide theatrical release. While Bong is currently finalizing his upcoming live-action sci-fi thriller Mickey 17, he is simultaneously overseeing the intricate animation process for this deep-sea tale. Sony Pictures is reportedly set to handle the international distribution, ensuring the record-breaking film reaches a global audience.