'Bad Girl: Run, Hani' Revives Iconic Korean Animation as Trilogy Roadmap

In a highly anticipated move, the iconic 1988 Korean animation 'Bad Girl' is set to return to the big screen as 'Bad Girl: Run, Hani.' Slated for an early October 2025 release, the film marks the first act of a planned trilogy that aims to revive the beloved franchise for modern audiences.

At the heart of the new film is the character of Na Ae-ri, who previously served as the rival to the protagonist Hani. However, the creators have chosen to position Na Ae-ri as the lead this time, delving into the "unfinished margins" of her backstory to unlock fresh dynamics with Hani and her friends. This shift positions the duo less as fixed opposites and more as catalysts for mutual growth, resonating with intergenerational fans who grew up on the original rivalry.

Notably, the film trades the traditional track lanes for the urban sprinting sport of 'S-Run,' which transforms cityscapes, stairs, and alleys into a kinetic arena. This shift aims to fuse nostalgia with contemporary spectacle, keeping the run-in-your-veins spirit of the original while updating the canvas. The music has also been rebuilt to lodge scenes in memory, with long-form sequences structured almost like a music video to sustain adrenaline and uplift.

As producers frame this outing as the first part of a trilogy, the next chapter is already drafted, teasing nationwide cityscapes and a marquee stretch on Busan's waterfront for a sea-breeze sprint. This franchise plan signals confidence that Hani and Na Ae-ri's rebalanced journey can sustain an arc that honors the legacy while sprinting into new narrative terrain.