Bong Joon Ho's animated feature, 'Ally', is set to be a groundbreaking venture, marking his first foray into 3D animated filmmaking. The film, set deep beneath the South Pacific, follows a curious piglet squid on an adventure from the ocean's uncharted depths to its surface after a mysterious aircraft sinks into her habitat. The project has already garnered significant attention, with a star-studded voice cast and a potential budget of $60 million, making it the most expensive feature ever produced in South Korea.
The voice cast includes Bradley Cooper, Ayo Edebiri, Dave Bautista, Finn Wolfhard, Rachel House, and the legendary Werner Herzog. Cooper, a 12-time Oscar nominee, returns to animated voice work after his role as Rocket Raccoon in the Marvel franchise. Edebiri, who rose to fame with 'The Bear', will be premiering the drama 'Clarissa' at the Cannes Film Festival. Bautista, known for his role in 'Dune', and House, who voiced Moana, bring further franchise familiarity to the cast. The involvement of Herzog, with his distinctive Bavarian baritone, is sure to delight international film enthusiasts.
The film's release is handled by Neon, the indie label that previously collaborated with Bong on the Oscar-winning 'Parasite'. Neon will release 'Ally' in North American theaters in 2027, a significant reunion for the director and the label. Outside North America, Pathé will distribute the film in France, Benelux, Switzerland, and West Africa, while CJ ENM and Penture Invest will manage South Korea, Vietnam, Turkey, and Indonesia.
The 3D animation on 'Ally' is being handled by DNEG, the VFX studio behind 'Inception' and 'Dune'. The creative team includes animation supervisor Jae Hyung Kim, Shrek franchise veteran David Lipman as supervising producer, and Klaus production designer Marcin Jakubowski. Bong co-wrote the screenplay with Jason Yu, the filmmaker behind the 2023 horror feature 'Sleep'. The film is produced by Seo Woo-sik, a frequent collaborator of Bong, who also produced 'Mother' and 'Okja'.
The budget of $60 million, as rumored, would make 'Ally' the most expensive feature ever produced in South Korea, a significant financial commitment for the project. The film is targeting completion in the first half of 2027, followed by a global theatrical release later that year.
In my opinion, 'Ally' is a bold and ambitious project that showcases Bong Joon Ho's versatility and creativity. The film's unique setting, combined with a star-studded voice cast and a significant budget, positions it as a potential blockbuster in the animated film genre. The involvement of renowned artists and technicians, such as Herzog and DNEG, further adds to the film's allure and potential for success. I am particularly excited to see how Bong's storytelling prowess translates into this new medium, and I am confident that 'Ally' will be a groundbreaking and memorable addition to his body of work.
