Bong Joon Ho is officially ready to dive back into our hearts, and this time, he is doing it with a little help from a piglet squid. The Oscar-winning mastermind behind “Parasite” has officially partnered with Neon once again to bring his debut animated feature, “Ally,” to North American audiences, and the internet is already losing its mind over the news.
After making history with “Parasite,” which took home four Academy Awards including Best Picture, Bong is shifting gears for a project that sounds as heartwarming as it is visually stunning. Neon has snagged the rights for a wide theatrical release set for , marking a massive homecoming for the director and the studio that helped him conquer Hollywood.
A Hero Like No Other
The story follows Ally, a “curious and endearing” piglet squid living in the South Pacific Ocean. Unlike her fellow deep-sea dwellers, Ally has a big dream: she wants to see the sun and become the star of a wildlife documentary. However, her peaceful life is turned upside down when a mysterious aircraft sinks into her habitat, forcing her on a high-stakes journey.
On X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok, fans are already drawing comparisons to “Finding Nemo,” but with that signature Bong Joon Ho twist. “If Bong Joon Ho is making a movie about a squid, I am prepared to cry for three days straight,” one fan posted in a viral thread. Others are already calling Ally the “new icon of .”
A Creative Dream Team
This isn’t just a solo mission. Bong has a track record of mentoring rising stars, and for “Ally,” he co-wrote the screenplay with -year-old filmmaker Jason Yu. Yu is a protégé of Bong and recently directed the buzzy Korean horror hit “Sleep.”
This partnership mirrors Bong’s previous collaboration with Han Jin Won on “Parasite,” proving that the director loves to bring fresh, younger perspectives into his storytelling. The film also reunites Bong with producer Seo Woo-sik, who worked with him on the fan-favorites “Mother” and the Netflix creature-feature “Okja.”
Why Everyone Is Talking About Ally
While Bong has explored themes of nature and human interference before in “Okja” and “The Host,” “Ally” marks his first-ever foray into D animation. The film is being described as an exploration of friendship and courage, making it a true family adventure that fits perfectly into the director’s eclectic filmography, which includes hits like “Snowpiercer” and the upcoming “Mickey .”
“Neon and Bong Joon Ho is the duo we needed,” shared another movie buff on Instagram. “They always deliver something that isn’t just a movie, but a total cultural moment.”
The deal was negotiated by Neon senior VP of acquisitions Sarah Colvin and WME, ensuring that Ally’s journey to the big screen will be one of the most anticipated cinematic events of the decade.
While we have to wait until late to see Ally reach for the sun, the buzz is already at a fever pitch. Between the high-concept plot and the legendary team behind it, “Ally” is already swimming toward “must-see” status. The question is: are we ready for a Bong Joon Ho movie that might actually be… cute? Only time will tell!
