The Imaginary a spellbinding Japanese animated fantasy film directed by Yoshiyuki Momose and brought to life by Studio Ponoc, is one film that promises to captivate audiences with its enchanting narrative and mesmerizing hand-drawn animation.
Scheduled for a theatrical release on December 15, 2023, in Japan (with a global release slated for 2024), “The Imaginary” is an adaptation of A.F. Harrold’s 2014 novel of the same name. The story unfolds in a world where imagination takes tangible form, but the catch is, these Imaginaries can be devoured by others. At the center of the tale is Rudger, an Imaginary boy created by Amanda, a girl grappling with emotional loss. Rudger’s existence is known only to Amanda, and their adventures are confined to the attic of her home, a space brimming with her vivid imagination.
However, the plot thickens when Imaginaries face an inevitable fate – dissolution with human forgetfulness. Rudger, bewildered by this prospect, embarks on a clandestine odyssey after the arrival of Mr. Bunting, a hunter of Imaginaries, at Amanda’s doorstep. This journey leads Rudger to “The Town of Imaginaries,” a sanctuary for forgotten Imaginaries, setting the stage for a monumental exploration of familial bonds and cherished connections that will shape their destinies.
Originally slated for a release between June and August 2022, “The Imaginary” encountered production delays, prompting a rescheduled release. Now, with the anticipation reaching its peak, we anticipate a journey like no other, where imagination knows no bounds, and the lines between reality and fantasy blur into a tapestry of wonder and emotion!