‘Ally’: First look, release date of Bong Joon-Ho’s debut animated feature unveiled

Bong Joon-Ho will be making his debut animated feature with Ally. Its first look and plot were unveiled by the makers on April 2, 2026.

Written by Bong Joon-Ho along with Jason Yu, the film revolves around Ally, a curious piglet squid living in South Pacific Ocean, who dreams of seeing the sun and starring in a wildlife documentary. After a mysterious aircraft sinks in the ocean, Ally’s everyday world is disturbed as she embarks on a journey to the surface, accompanied by her companions. The film is inspired by real-life marine creatures, exploring themes of friendship and courage.

The film, which has been in development since 2019, is produced by Barunson Entertainment, marking their third collaboration with Bong Joon-Ho after Mother and Okja. Work on the animated feature is set to complete in 2027 with the film planned to be released in the same year.

Ally brings together a global team from 12 countries including, animation supervisor Jae Hyung Kim (Toy Story 4, Inside Out), supervising producer David Lipman (Shrek) and production designer Marcin Jakubowski (Klaus). The film’s visual effects and animation are designed by DNEG, the 8-time Oscar winning studio.

Bong Joon-Ho’s last release was Robert Pattinson starrer Mickey 17, which was released in March 2025.