Summary
- Studio Ponoc’s
The Imaginary
is a gorgeous showcase for brilliant storytelling and hand-drawn animation, and comes to Netflix July 5, 2024. - The film is an adventure for the whole family, but it delves into extremely serious themes of mortality and loss.
-
The Imaginary
features one of the most despicable villains in any animated movie, adding depth to the story. It’s a must-watch for families.
Renowned Japanese animator Yoshiaki Nishimura makes a stunning Netflix debut with The Imaginary. The longtime former lead producer for Studio Ghibli and now founder of Studio Ponoc continues to deliver cinematic greatness. He adapts author A.F. Harrold’s award-winning children’s novel with boundless creativity, entrancing storytelling, and spectacular hand-drawn 2D animation. The journey of an imaginary friend trying to escape death and return to a beloved little girl is both magical and terrifying. The film addresses mortality and loss in a way that never masks the existential dread of a finite existence, or the tooth and nail fight to preserve life’s fleeting moments.
Rudger (Louie Rudge-Buchanan) chases a star with unfettered joy. The scenery around him morphs into incredible environments with amazing creatures. Rudger proudly announces he’s just three months old. He was created by his best friend, Amanda Shuffleup (Evie Kiszel), with three baseline rules: protect each other, never disappear, and never cry. Rudger can’t wait for Amanda to come home from school for another awesome adventure. He’s proud that she has a vibrant imagination.
Best Friends Forever?
The Imaginary (2024)
4.5/5
Studio Ponoc’s The Imaginary portrays the depths of humanity and creativity through the eyes of young Amanda and her imaginary companion, Rudger. Their fantastical adventures launched from her attic, lead them to discover a magical world of creatures and places never before seen until a sinister force threatens to destroy their imaginary world and the friendship within it. Directed by renowned animator Yoshiyuki Momose (Spirited Away), The Imaginary is an unforgettable adventure of love, loss, and the healing power of imagination.
- Release Date
- July 5, 2024
- Director
- Yoshiyuki Momose
- Cast
- Kokoro Terada , Rio Suzuki , Sakura Andō , Riisa Naka , Takayuki Yamada , Atsuko Takahata , Issey Ogata , Akira Terao
- Runtime
- 1h 48m
- Writers
- A.F. Harrold , Yoshiaki Nishimura
- Gorgeous hand-drawn animation and high production values elevate The Imaginary.
- The film manages to tackle extremely difficult and dark themes of death and loss while still being enjoyable for kids and families.
- A truly despicable villain creates high stakes and is unforgettable.
Amanda gets on the bus in the pouring rain to go home, which also serves as her mother Lizzie’s (Hayley Atwell) bookstore. She grabs the attention of a strange old man who just happens to be walking on the roadside. Mr. Bunting’s (Jeremy Swift) nose twitches with villainous excitement. He must find the source of that intriguing aroma, and follows his nose to the bookstore, where Amanda makes a wet mess as she plays with Rudger.
Lizzie, exasperated by the rain-soaked Amanda and the store’s imminent closure, tries to clean up after her darling daughter. She sighs when Amanda reminds her to say hello to the invisible Rudger.
The downstairs doorbell rings to announce a potential customer. Mr. Bunting’s creepy mustache and flaring nostrils make Lizzie uneasy. What does this man want? Amanda and Rudger peek from the staircase to see something truly shocking — a ghostly little girl with long black hair and sullen eyes stands beside the odd stranger. Their curiosity turns to abject fear as Mr. Bunting looks directly at Rudger with evil intent.
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The Imaginary Creates Real Stakes for Its Fantasy
Nishimura’s brilliant script skillfully reveals the limitations faced by imaginary friends as the story progresses. They are not impervious to harm and able to roam around freely. Rudger is always left in the place where Amanda imagined him last. He’s basically stuck in her room unless she sees him outside. Then he’s not confined and can go anywhere. These boundaries become extremely important when trying to escape Mr. Bunting’s clutches.
An imaginary friend can only exist as long as their child remembers them. Rudger’s horrified to learn that he will disappear if forgotten. This is the fate of every imaginary that’s linked to a child who grows up and doesn’t need them anymore. But drum roll please, because there are extraordinary ways for an imaginary to escape nothingness and remain relevant. The plot then takes an astonishingly dark second act turn that further draws the audience in to Rudger’s plight.
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A Despicable Villain & Spectacular Hand-Drawn Animation
The idea of an imaginary friend eventually understanding death, feeling pain, and suffering humanistic loss is absolutely fascinating. Other films on this subject, like John Krasinski’s IF, treat fantasy beings as impervious to real harm. That’s certainly not the case here. Mr. Bunting is the stuff of your worst nightmares. It’s not hyperbole to say he’s one of the most despicable, ruthless, and formidable antagonists in a children’s film. His awful abilities and gluttonous agenda will send shivers down your spine.
Director Yoshiyuki Momose, a key animator on Spirited Away and Tales from Earthsea, and Nishimura, a producer on Hayao Miyazaki’s Howl’s Moving Castle and the first Studio Ponoc film, Mary and the Witch’s Flower, don’t sugarcoat the terror faced by Rudger and the other imaginaries he discovers along the way.
To be clear, The Imaginary isn’t a horror film for kids. There are just as many jaw-dropping marvels to accompany the serious themes. Momose and Nishimura show the splendor of innocence with dazzling animation. Words can’t really do justice to the film’s fantastic imagery. There’s a primary lesson taught with a deft touch. Imagination is needed to cope with life’s inevitable tragedies. Amanda and her mother face crises that are very real for many families. Rudger is a needed response to shield from an aching hurt, but also a fountain of pure happiness.
The Imaginary is superb across the board. The story’s depth, artistry, and meaning resonate. Families can watch this film together, enjoy it on a pure entertainment level, but also honestly discuss what happens. Children aren’t immune from suffering and have deeper questions about losing loved ones. The Imaginary enables that conversation in a truly original way.
The Imaginary is a Studio Ponoc production. It will premiere July 5th in the US exclusively on Netflix. You can watch it through the link below:
Watch The Imaginary
