Award-winning Korean director Bong Joon-ho, lauded for his masterful thriller “Parasite,” is making waves again with his next project – a feature-length animated film destined to be the most expensive Korean production ever.
Scheduled for worldwide release, the animation boasts a budget exceeding 70 billion won, surpassing previous records. CJ ENM, a long-time collaborator, will handle domestic distribution, while Sony Pictures, known for éxitos like “Spider-Man: Across the Universe,” is reportedly in discussions for international distribution.
This echoes the strategy employed for Bong’s “Snowpiercer,” which similarly held the highest Korean production cost at the time. This venture, however, emphasizes international collaboration and artistic freedom, a point Director Bong prioritizes after facing creative obstacles with a prior distributor.
While ambitious, the budget pales in comparison to Hollywood counterparts – last year’s Pixar animation “Elemental” by a Korean director cost $200 million. Nonetheless, introducing Korean animation to the global market with significantly lower resources presents a thrilling challenge.
The story delves into the relationship between humans and deep-sea life, animated entirely in CG by Force Creative Party, a trusted Korean VFX studio. Renowned cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo from “Parasite” joins the team for visual lighting.
Production initially faced a snag with the delayed release of Bong’s upcoming Hollywood film “Mickey 17.” Consequently, he will juggle post-production between Korea and the US in the first half of 2024. Interestingly, Bong has reportedly chosen to prioritize the animation over a planned live-action Korean film, highlighting his passion for this project.
With Bong’s acclaimed history, including the first Korean Palme d’Or win and four Academy Awards for “Parasite,” this animation, fueled by his long-held dream, is poised to captivate film enthusiasts worldwide.
Key Takeaways:
- Bong Joon-ho’s next animation holds the highest Korean film budget record.
- International collaboration and artistic freedom are prioritized.
- The ambitious project tackles the human-deep sea relationship through CG animation.
- Bong juggles production with his upcoming Hollywood film, prioritizing the animation.
- Global attention is expected due to Bong’s celebrated career.
Image—Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
