What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedOkja
Bong Joon Ho · Film · 2017
If you loved Okja, start with Hilda (Luke Pearson, 2018) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Okja across media.
What hooked you in Okja was the profound, emotional bridge built between human courage and the defense of misunderstood creatures.
Books on the same thread
Ender's Game
Orson Scott Card · Book · 2013
Explores: Child Soldiers, Alien Invasion, Moral Ambiguity.
Much like Mija in Okja, Ender must navigate a world of moral ambiguity and corporate-military interests where the survival of a non-human species rests on a child's choices.
The Windup Girl
Paolo Bacigalupi · Book · 2010
Explores: Corporate Power, Environmental Collapse, Genetic Engineering.
If the critique of corporate exploitation in Okja resonated with you, this look at how genetic engineering and profit-driven environmental collapse impact our world will feel deeply familiar.
Binti
Nnedi Okorafor · Book · 2015
Explores: Cultural Identity, Alien Contact, Xenophobia.
Binti mirrors the intimate coming-of-age journey found in Okja, focusing on the bravery required to bridge the gap between human identity and alien contact in a vast universe.
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Roald Dahl · Book · 1998
Explores: Underdog, Resourcefulness, Family Loyalty.
The bond between a small protagonist and a target of corporate or industrial greed echoes the spirit of Okja, highlighting resourcefulness and family loyalty against powerful, uncaring forces.
Series on the same thread
Squid Game
Hwang Dong-hyuk · Series · 2021
Explores: Economic Inequality, Desperation, Moral Dilemmas.
If you appreciated the sharp social commentary and the dark, desperate stakes within the world of Okja, this exploration of economic inequality and human morality is your next watch.
Hilda
Luke Pearson · Series · 2018
Shares 2 threads with Okja: Friendship, Environmentalism.
Hilda captures the same environmental heart and wonder found in Okja, showcasing a young girl who treats the magical creatures she encounters with profound empathy and protective friendship.
Primal
Genndy Tartakovsky · Series · 2019
Explores: Survival, Unlikely friendship, Human-animal bond.
The central relationship in this series mirrors the bond between Mija and the beast in Okja, emphasizing a wordless, instinctual alliance forged for survival in a hostile landscape.
Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts
Bill Wolkoff · Series · 2020
Shares 2 threads with Okja: Friendship, Environmentalism.
Much like the journey Mija takes in Okja, this story follows a courageous girl navigating a dangerous world, proving that friendship and hope are vital when facing mutant threats.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, experimental storytelling, moral ambiguity.
These cinematic audio stories mirror the moral complexity of Okja, using diverse, short-form narratives to explore the human condition through a lens of suspense and imaginative, speculative fiction.
Sitting with Dogs by Rocky Kanaka
Podcast
Explores: animal rescue, dog adoption, shelter dogs.
If your connection to Okja was rooted in the advocacy for animal welfare, this podcast provides an intimate look at giving a voice to the vulnerable animals needing support.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Okja a movie about a young girl saving an animal?
Yes, Okja is a 2017 film directed by Bong Joon Ho that follows a young girl named Mija. She risks everything to prevent a powerful, multi-national company from kidnapping her best friend, a massive animal named Okja.
Who directed the 2017 movie Okja?
The movie Okja was directed by Bong Joon Ho. The story centers on a young girl named Mija who attempts to stop a multi-national company from kidnapping her massive animal friend, Okja.
What is the primary conflict in Okja?
In the movie Okja, the primary conflict involves a young girl named Mija who must fight against a powerful, multi-national company. The company intends to kidnap her best friend, a massive animal named Okja, forcing Mija to risk everything to save the creature.
Is Okja about a massive animal?
Yes, Okja is about a massive animal of the same name. The plot focuses on Mija, a young girl who goes to great lengths to prevent a multi-national company from kidnapping the animal, who is her best friend.