The Imaginary

The Imaginary paints a colorful and sometimes mournful picture of what happens to our imaginary friends. Centering around young Amanda and her fictional pal Rudger (not to be misspelled Roger), we follow along a charming but sometimes fraught journey setting up their lives.

Things take a very quick turn with the introduction of dark forces arise. Bringing a much needed yin to the world of imaginary yang is the character of Bunting, voiced by Ted Lasso nice-guy Jeremy Swift. Bunting is accompanied by a spooky girl who feels like she walked right out of the television in The Ring. The two are perpetually hunting the imaginary denizens of the world. Their terror inducing presence is likely to give younger viewers at least a few nightmares. 

The Imaginary proceeds to weave a tale of what happens to the Imaginary when their creators forget them, and follows Rudger as he tries to navigate between two worlds. Conceptually at times it might be a little over-complicated, and a little overly expository when it comes to setting up the world, there are certainly clever aspects at play. 

Visually, the influence of Momose and many of the creative team’s Studio Ghibli roots are apparent. Character designs are more evocative of Ponyo and My Neighbor Totoro than the designs of the book’s original illustrator, Emily Gravett. Backgrounds are bursting at the seams with details, giving a distinct The Secret World of Arrietty feel. None of these comparisons are meant to diminish the Studio Ponoc film. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. 

The Imaginary will likely make quite the impression on folks, with its willingness to tackle mature themes against a beautiful background.

More about The Imaginary:

Studio Ponoc’s The Imaginary portrays the depths of humanity and creativity through the eyes of young Amanda and her imaginary companion, Rudger, a boy no one can see imagined by Amanda to share her thrilling make-believe adventures. But when Rudger, suddenly alone, arrives at The Town of Imaginaries, where forgotten Imaginaries live and find work, he faces a mysterious threat. Directed by renowned animator Yoshiyuki Momose (Spirited Away), The Imaginary is an unforgettable adventure of love, loss, and the healing power of imagination.

Starring: Louie Rudge-Buchanan (Rudger), Evie Kiszel (Amanda), Hayley Atwell (Lizzie), Sky Katz (Emily), Jeremy Swift (Mr Bunting), Kal Penn (Zinzan), LeVar Burton (The Old Dog), Jane Singer (Granny Downbeat), Ruby Barnhill (Aurora), Roger Craig Smith (Snowflake), Courtenay Taylor (Cruncher-of-Bones), Miles Nibbe (John)

The film premieres on Netflix on July 5, 2024.