Latest release garners roaring applause at preview screenings, and now fans want more.
Anime movies have seen a tremendous rise in popularity for several reasons, one being the nostalgia it sells to a new generation of curious viewers. Studio Ponoc, who are stewarded by former Studio Ghibli employees, rumoured to have been disenchanted by how the company is run, began their own.
With two projects under their belt, including ‘Modest Heroes,’ a compendium of short animated features, they are now poised to release a third project – ‘The Imaginary.’ Based on the novel of the same name by A. F. Harrold, it follows a trend of adaptations that prove once again that anime is the best medium for fantasy literature.
What is it about?
Set in the English countryside, the film follows Amanda, a young girl who lives with her mother, Lizzie and friend Rudger. However, Rudger is not your typical boy; in fact, he isn’t real at all – he is her imaginary friend who takes her on wild adventures. But not all is as it seems when she discovers the stark reality that ‘imaginaries’ have short lifespans following their departure from those who dreamt them up.
The trailer offers a window into what we can expect from the film, as it pivots through the hero’s journey, presenting both the darkness Rudger must face and the excitement they share together.
It was originally unveiled in 2021, and made its debut at the international Annecy Animation Festival, and received mostly positive feedback. It has already seen a release in Japan, where it has grossed $478,300 in just 3 days of opening.
When will it be released in the UK?
‘The Imaginary’ is scheduled to be released June 28th 2024, and will be available in cinemas and to stream online.
Stanisland Magazine 
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