Neon has picked up the North American rights to writer-director Bong Joon Ho’s debut animated feature film, Ally.

The South Korean filmmaker returns to Neon after the release of Parasite, which earned four Oscar trophies, including for best picture. Ally is scheduled to be completed in the first half of 2027, with Neon giving the film a wide theatrical release across North America later next year.

In the works since 2019, Ally marks Bong’s first foray in 3D animation. He co-wrote the screenplay with 36-year-old filmmaker Jason Yu, a protégé who directed the well-received Korean horror feature Sleep from 2023.

Bong has partnered with younger screenwriters before, most notably his former production assistant Han Jin Won, with whom he co-wrote his 2019 history-making Oscar winner, Parasite. 

Ally will capture a curious and endearing piglet squid in the south Pacific Ocean who dreams of seeing the sun and becoming the star of a wildlife documentary. But when a mysterious aircraft sinks into the ocean, Ally’s peaceful world is suddenly thrown into danger and is thrust into a journey real-life marine creatures as the film explores themes of friendship and courage.

Financing and distribution on the family adventure movie are handled by CJ ENM, Penture Invest and Pathé, with Barunson C&C overseeing production. Seo Woo-sik is producing Ally, marking his third collaboration with Bong after Mother and Okja.

Pathé will handle distribution of Ally in France, Benelux, Switzerland and West Africa, while CJ and Penture will distribute in South Korea, Vietnam, Turkey and Indonesia. Pathé represents international sales, excluding Japan, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, for which CJ and Penture are handling sales.

Sarah Colvin, Neon senior vp of acquisitions, negotiated the deal with WME on behalf of the filmmakers.

Bong Joon Ho’s credits include Snowpiercer, Memories of Murder, The Host, Okja, Mother and most recently Mickey 17.