[Edaily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] Director Bong Joon-ho’s first feature-length animated film, “Ally,” will premiere in South Korea and France next July. The film is set to take on the global box office in partnership with international distributors, including Neon, the North American distributor of “Parasite.”

The distributors of “Ally”—CJ ENM, Pencher Invest, and Pathé Films—announced on the 12th, “The animated film ‘Ally,’ directed by Bong Joon-ho and produced by Barunson C&C, has confirmed its release in France on July 14, 2027, and in South Korea later that same month.”

“Ally” tells the story of deep-sea creatures living in an underwater canyon who are curious about the human world. The protagonist, “Ally”—a baby squid who longs to see the sun and dreams of appearing on TV—and her friends are suddenly thrust into danger when an unidentified aircraft crashes into the ocean one day.

As they get swept up in an unexpected grand adventure and embark on a journey to the world above the surface, “Ally” promises to deliver fantastic visuals, thrilling action, delightful humor, and heartwarming moments.

“Ally” marks director Bong Joon-ho’s first foray into feature-length animation and is a global project featuring top-tier production teams from 12 countries, including South Korea, France, and the United Kingdom. Director Yoo Jae-seon of *Sleep* served as co-writer, and the voice cast features Alex Jayne Go, Emmy Award winner Ayo Edebiri, Academy Award nominee Bradley Cooper, Dave Bautista, Finn Wolfhard, and Rachel House, as well as Academy Award nominee Werner Herzog.

In addition, Kim Jae-hyung, who worked on *Toy Story 4* and *Inside Out*, serves as animation supervisor, while Marcin Jakubowski of the Netflix animated film *Klaus* serves as production designer.

Furthermore, David Lipman, known for “Shrek 1 and 2,” is part of the production team. DNEG, a global studio renowned for its VFX work on “Inception” and “Dune” and possessing world-class expertise in 3D animation, has also contributed to enhancing the film’s visual quality.

“Ally” continues its global theatrical release in collaboration with regional partners. In South Korea, investment and distribution are handled by CJ ENM and the Pencher K-Content Investment Fund, managed by Pencher Invest; CJ ENM and Pencher Invest are responsible for distribution in South Korea, Vietnam, Turkey, and Indonesia.

Pathe Films, a major French studio and one of the world’s oldest film companies, is participating as a co-investor and distributor for “Ally,” handling distribution in France, the Benelux region, Switzerland, and West Africa. In the United States, NEON—which has introduced global blockbusters to North America, including director Bong Joon-ho’s *Parasite* as well as other Palme d’Or winners at the Cannes Film Festival and Academy Award-winning Best Picture films—will handle distribution.