The director of Parasite makes a leap into the animated world with Ally, a film about a pig-octopus that longs to see the sun and star in a documentary. With a voice cast that includes Ayo Edebiri, Bradley Cooper, and Werner Herzog, the story promises an oceanic journey full of twists. Its release is scheduled for 2027, and it is already generating expectations due to its unconventional approach.
The animation seeks realistic textures for a digital ocean 🌊
Bong Joon-ho's technical team has developed a specific rendering engine to simulate the bioluminescence of the South Pacific and the slimy texture of the protagonist. A visual style has been prioritized that avoids flat photorealism, opting for brushstrokes reminiscent of marine watercolors. Motion capture was applied only to terrestrial creatures to contrast with the organic fluidity of aquatic beings. The result aims to be functional, not revolutionary.
Werner Herzog lends his voice to a philosophical hermit crab 🦀
Because if there is anyone who can make a crustacean reflect on the existential void of the ocean floor, it's Herzog. His character, a crab with a borrowed shell, will give lessons on nihilism while the octopus Ally just wants to reach the surface. The most ironic part is that, with that cast, the documentary the protagonist dreams of will end up being more dramatic than Parasite. At least there won't be any stairs.