STUDIO Ponoc, a Tokyo-based animation studio that makes beautiful hand-drawn, hand-painted films for children and families to enjoy together, have just released their ambitious new film, The Imaginary.
The studio that produced Mary and The Witch’s Flower, its first feature animated film released in more than 150 countries, returns this summer with a charming fantasy about imaginary friends, now streaming on Netflix.
A visually stunning experience, this poignant adventure is directed by Yoshiyuki Momose, who at Studio Ghibli worked alongside legendary director Isao Takahata on films such as Grave of the Fireflies and The Tale of The Princess Kaguya.
Based on A.F. Harrold and illustrator Emily Gravett’s 2014 novel The Imaginary, a remarkable book that garnered awards for acclaimed children’s literature, this is a tale that will touch the hearts of all generations.
This unique and magical adventure which humans cannot see takes place in a world where reality and imagination intersect.
The lead character is Rudger, a boy no one can see. Rudger is an Imaginary, imagined by Amanda, who only she can see.
The pair spend their days together in the attic of Amanda’s home, jumping into the world of her remarkable imagination and finding joy together. But Imaginaries face a fate that they cannot avoid: when forgotten by humans, they disappear.
Rudger, confused by such fate, grasps a glimmer of hope and embarks on an unseen quest. He arrives at The Town of Imaginaries where Imaginaries once forgotten by humans live together. The encounter between Rudger and the Imaginaries is the beginning of a great adventure that determines the future of families and loved ones. The Imaginary is an unforgettable story of those who will be forgotten.
The animation, reminiscent of Rembrandt, Vermeer, and other artists of light and shadow, powerfully depicts the stories of the Imaginaries. This is an ambitious and joyous family movie.
(3/5)
