Make-believe and reality collide in the new animated feature The Imaginary. The story follows a girl named Amanda and her companion, Rudger – a boy no one else 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.
The new film from Studio Ponoc is based on the award-winning novel of the same name by author A.F. Harrold and illustrator Emily Gravett. The screen adaptation uses hand-drawn animation to bring The Imaginary to life. Check out the trailer for the film below, which will stream soon on Netflix.
If the animation style in the trailer reminds you of a Studio Ghibli film, it’s for a good reason. The Imaginary comes from Studio Ponoc, founded in 2015 by former Ghibli producer Yoshiaki Nishimura. Nishimura received two Academy Award nominations during his years at Studio Ghibli, for The Tale of The Princess Kaguya and When Marnie Was There. He wrote and produced The Imaginary. The film also comes from director Yoshiyuki Momose, an animator on Ghibli’s Spirited Away.
You can get a closer look at the film’s animation in the stills below. According to distributor Netflix, the feature’s hand-drawn style also relies on first-of-their-kind techniques of light and shadow to give The Imaginary its specific visual style.
The Imaginary’s voice cast includes 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), and Miles Nibbe (John).
The film also features the main theme “Nothing’s Impossible,” performed by A Great Big World featuring Rachel Platten.
You can stream The Imaginary on Netflix starting July 5.
