Bong Joon-ho Reveals First Animated Movie, ‘Ally’

Bong Joon-ho, the Academy Award-winning director, creates films that often explore unsettling futures, whether through science fiction, monster stories, or dark depictions of society.

So his next project is a bit unexpected: A cute-looking animated movie??

Director Bong Joon-ho recently shared details about his upcoming animated film, titled Ally. He unveiled the official title, a brief summary of the story, and the first image from the movie (pictured above).

Via The Hollywood Reporter, here is the film’s official plot synopsis:

The story centers around Ally, a charming and inquisitive piglet squid who lives in the unexplored depths of the South Pacific. She longs to see the sun and become famous in a nature documentary. When a mysterious plane crashes into the ocean, her quiet life is disrupted, and she’s thrown into a thrilling adventure to reach the surface. Joined by a group of colorful and devoted, but surprising, friends, Ally embarks on an incredible journey. Inspired by amazing real-life sea creatures, the film highlights the power of friendship and bravery, and how interactions between humans and the ocean’s inhabitants can change everything. It’s a fun and heartwarming family adventure filled with stunning visuals and exciting action.

This doesn’t immediately seem like the kind of film I’d anticipate from the director of Snowpiercer and Mickey 17, but he’s a truly exceptional filmmaker, so he should absolutely pursue his vision!

Director Bong first mentioned his animated film about sea creatures in spring 2021. He’d actually been developing the project since 2018, meaning it will have taken him almost ten years to complete by its expected release in 2027.

Some critics have noted a similarity between this film and Bong Joon-ho’s The Host, which also featured family and sea creatures. While this new movie is a charming animated story about a squid who dreams of being in nature documentaries, and The Host was a dark thriller about a monster born from pollution tearing a family apart, the core ideas are surprisingly similar.

Overlooked ’90s Movies That Should Have Been Bigger

The Paper (1994)

With a box office total of $48.4 million, The Paper is perhaps the most overlooked film directed by Ron Howard in the 1990s – a decade that also brought us hits like Backdraft, Apollo 13, and Ransom. However, it could also be his strongest work from that period. The film is a fast-paced story about the daily chaos inside a major city newspaper. Michael Keaton plays the editor of a New York tabloid, and his relentless pursuit of a story puts both his job and his marriage at risk. For those who enjoy films about investigative journalism, The Paper is a standout, featuring a fantastic cast including Robert Duvall, Glenn Close, Jason Alexander, Marisa Tomei, and Jason Robards.

Guilty As Sin (1993)

The film Guilty As Sin earned $22.8 million at the box office. Director Sidney Lumet, famous for realistic crime dramas like Dog Day Afternoon and 12 Angry Men, teamed up with exploitation film expert Larry Cohen – an unlikely pairing that somehow worked. The movie starts with a clever idea: it’s like a flipped version of Basic Instinct, where a lawyer (Rebecca De Mornay) finds herself attracted to the main suspect (Don Johnson) in his wife’s murder. Lumet largely lets the story unfold naturally, following his actors’ performances. The film really becomes a platform for Don Johnson to play a charming but utterly reprehensible character, and he’s incredibly entertaining as someone you really want to see get what’s coming to him. (There’s a scene where he lets a woman pay for his drink, then immediately leaves her with the empty glass and the bill!) You’ll be rooting for him to face consequences.

The Quick and the Dead (1995)

With a box office total of $18.6 million, Sam Raimi is now considered one of the most talented filmmakers of his generation. However, back in the early 1990s, many critics dismissed his work as being all flash and no depth. They underestimated films like his Western, The Quick and the Dead, which was arguably the most visually striking Western since Sergio Leone’s films. It also boasted an incredible cast, including Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, Pat Hingle, Keith David, Lance Henriksen, Tobin Bell, Gary Sinise, and a pre-fame Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio. Despite its strengths, The Quick and the Dead didn’t resonate with audiences at a time when Westerns weren’t popular, and it received a lukewarm response. It’s surprising that such a visually exciting film could be met with so little enthusiasm – audiences in the 90s really didn’t appreciate what they had.

Devil in a Blue Dress (1995)

The film earned $16.1 million at the box office. But beyond the numbers, Devil in a Blue Dress is memorable, largely thanks to Denzel Washington’s captivating performance – arguably one of the best leading roles of the 1990s. He plays Easy Rawlings, a down-on-his-luck man who gets pulled into a complex mystery when he searches for a missing person. The supporting cast, including Tom Sizemore, Jennifer Beals, and a standout Don Cheadle, is excellent. Director Carl Franklin’s script powerfully explores the racial tensions in 1940s Los Angeles, and Denzel Washington is simply mesmerizing throughout the entire film.

Trial and Error (1997)

The movie earned $14.5 million at the box office. While many sitcom stars from the 90s didn’t succeed in film, this movie stands out as a charmingly unusual comedy. It’s similar in spirit to Kindergarten Cop, and stars Michael Richards (from Seinfeld) as a man who pretends to be a lawyer when his best friend (Jeff Daniels) is unable to attend court due to a wild bachelor party. This screwball comedy is a rare treat, and it also features an early film role for Charlize Theron.

Lone Star (1996)

The film Lone Star earned $12.4 million at the box office. Director John Sayles was a highly respected independent filmmaker in the 1980s and 90s, but his output slowed down in the 2000s – his last movie was released in 2013 – which may have caused him to be less known to newer film fans. Lone Star, released in 1996 and featuring an early role for Matthew McConaughey, tells the story of a Texas sheriff and the investigation into human remains discovered years after his death. The sheriff’s son (played by Chris Cooper) leads the inquiry, which uncovers hidden truths about the town. Lone Star is a compelling mystery that realistically challenges common ideas about small-town life.

The Two Jakes (1990)

With a box office total of $10 million, The Two Jakes initially seems like an unnecessary sequel to Chinatown. However, once you watch it, you realize it cleverly answers a question you didn’t even know you had. The film picks up long after the events of Chinatown, with private investigator Jake Gittes (played and directed by Jack Nicholson) embroiled in a complex case. He’s hired by a client (Harvey Keitel) who may be using him to conceal a murder. As Gittes investigates, he uncovers a connection to his own history. Despite a difficult production and initial failure, The Two Jakes, penned by the original Chinatown writer Robert Towne, is a beautifully sad story about being haunted by the past. While the ending of Chinatown is famous, the final line of The Two Jakes – “It never goes away” – is arguably even more powerful.

The Red Violin (1999)

With a box office total of $10 million, “The Red Violin” is a fantastic, yet often forgotten, film. It tells the story of a centuries-old violin, following its journey from its creation in the 17th century to its appearance at a Montreal auction in the late 1990s. The movie unfolds through a series of short stories, showcasing the violin’s travels through cities like Vienna, Oxford, and Shanghai. Samuel L. Jackson plays a quiet appraiser who uncovers a key secret about the violin’s history.

Dirty Work (1998)

I’m a huge Norm Macdonald fan, and it’s a shame he didn’t get the recognition he deserved while he was alive. He was famously fired from SNL for being too funny, and even after that, he kept working consistently, though a lot of his stuff didn’t get much attention. I recently looked up his one big movie role, Dirty Work, and it’s kind of a forgotten film. It only made $10 million at the box office and has a pretty low score on Rotten Tomatoes. Honestly, the movie isn’t great – the plot is thin and some of the humor is definitely edgy. But it’s genuinely hilarious, way funnier than a lot of the comedies that critics loved back then, and Norm is fantastic in it. Plus, it’s a fun, silly movie. Seriously, someone needs to explain Norm’s shirt sizes in that movie – they’re enormous! I’m definitely adding Dirty Work to my rewatch list for this weekend.

Night Falls Over Manhattan (1996)

With a box office total of $9.8 million, Night Falls on Manhattan is a classic Sidney Lumet film. It follows a promising young lawyer, played by Andy Garcia, who discovers the corruption within New York City’s political and legal systems. While the plot is a bit complex, the film avoids sensationalism, quickly resolving the expected courtroom drama to instead focus on the damaging effects of ambition and politics on justice. Notably, the cast features several actors who would later star in The Sopranos, including Dominic Chianese, Frank Vincent, and James Gandolfini, who plays a police officer with a troubled side.

Matinee (1993)

With a box office total of $9.5 million, Matinee offers a heartwarming look at 1960s B-movies, but also acknowledges the difficult realities of the time. The film centers on Gene (Simon Fenton), a teenager living on a military base with his mother and brother, while his father is away at sea during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Gene often takes care of his younger brother, Dennis, and they find escape and joy in going to the movies. However, Matinee is more than just a nostalgic trip down memory lane. Director Joe Dante uses classic films to examine the difference between genuine fear and the manufactured thrills created by schlocky filmmakers like Lawrence Woolsey (played by John Goodman). Surprisingly, this movie about a low-class producer is actually quite insightful.

The Spanish Prisoner (1997)

The film The Spanish Prisoner earned $9.5 million at the box office. This clever and complicated con man story features sharp dialogue by David Mamet and a great cast including Campbell Scott, Ben Gazzara, Ricky Jay, Ed O’Neill, and Steve Martin. The plot centers around Joe, played by Scott, who has invented a potentially valuable process. When Steve Martin’s character, a rich businessman, suddenly shows interest, Joe begins to wonder who he can trust. Is everyone trying to trick him? And what’s the meaning of the “Spanish prisoner”? (It’s actually the name of an old scam, not a real person.)

Serial Mom (1994)

With a box office total of $7.8 million, John Waters’ darkly comedic take on America’s fascination with true crime feels surprisingly relevant—and much funnier than real life. Kathleen Turner stars as a seemingly normal suburban mom who secretly has a murderous side, punishing anyone who breaks her personal rules. (A word of advice: if you make plans with Serial Mom’s daughter, don’t cancel!) While now a cult classic, Serial Mom received mixed reviews and didn’t perform well at the box office when it was released in the mid-1990s. However, the intense media coverage of the O.J. Simpson trial a few years later made John Waters seem even more like a visionary director.

The Man in the Moon (1991)

With a box office total of $2.8 million, Reese Witherspoon’s early work showcased her talent. While films like Election and Cruel Intentions launched her to stardom, she first demonstrated her skills in the indie drama The Man in the Moon. In this debut role, the 14-year-old Witherspoon plays a young girl navigating her first crush in 1950s Louisiana. Even then, she performed with the poise of a seasoned actor, and audiences who saw the film in the early 90s likely predicted her future success.

Household Saints (1993)

With a box office total of $751,233, Nancy Savoca’s Household Saints is a unique film that skillfully blends humor and sadness while exploring spirituality with honesty and a touch of doubt. Its unconventional nature likely contributed to it being overlooked, as it proved difficult to categorize for marketing purposes. It’s too spirited for purely religious audiences, but it doesn’t mock Catholicism either. This makes it a film worth seeing, as it offers a fresh perspective on these themes and the people within them. Lili Taylor delivers a particularly compelling performance as the central figure in this multi-generational story about an Italian American family – a character unlike any I’ve encountered on screen before.

2026-04-02 19:29