Weekend OTT movie The Imaginary review: Beautifully mounted Japanese anime for children, and grown-ups

The Imaginary on Netflix review: Four imaginary friends in the library - the only place they can survive without help from their human creators. (Image via X/NetflixAnime)

The Imaginary, a Studio Ponoc film based on a story of the same name by British children's author AF Harrold, dropped on Netflix this Friday. Gorgeously mounted with hand-drawn animation, this feature-length film revels in the imaginative and wonderous.

The Netflix movie is rated 7+ with mild horror and violence. But the movie also gives a shout-out to grown-ups who used to be more imaginative as children - perhaps as an entry point for adults who want to escape the boxy glass cabins of work momentarily to watch this film.

So if you can, watch it when you have time away from chores and office work and other grown-up distractions - despite the exquisite animation and story, it can feel childish unless you choose to get immersed in it. And if the Japanese anime stokes some nostalgia in you around how you used to play as a child, that's a bonus, right?

The Imaginary review

Studio Ponoc founder Yoshiaki Nishimura used to be a film producer at Studio Ghibli. And you can see some of the influences in his cinema. Nishimura has adapted AF Harrold's story for the film which is available in both English and Japanese.

The story of 'The Imaginary' centres around a girl, Amanda, and her imaginary friend, Rudger (not Roger). Rudger and Amanda go on imaginary adventures, with Amanda conjuring fantastical worlds for them to play in. Crisis strike when a Mr Bunting - eater of imaginary friends - knocks on their door. Amanda meets with an accident trying to avoid Bunting, and Rudger has to find his way back to Amanda.

Director Yoshiyuki Momose builds entire worlds as the characters' imaginations run wild and conjure places that embody their respective, desires, fears and worldviews. If Amanda's worlds are green and gorgeous, Bunting's spew smoke from industrial chimneys and Amanda's friend John's dreams take the imaginary friends to space.

It's one of the hardest things in the world to think like a child would. Studio Ponoc has done it before - with 'Mary and the Witch's Flower' (also on Netflix). 'The Imaginary' builds on that triumph, with animations that are as rich as they are awe-inspiring.

The Imaginary plot

A little girl Amanda invents an imaginary friend Rudger when her father dies. Amanda and Rudger go on many imaginary adventures where - naturally - they always emerge on top.

The challenge to their happy worlds takes the form of a Mr Bunting, whose own imaginary friend is so old now she looks and acts like a ghoul. Bunting has been prolonging his life by eating imaginary friends - usually those who have been forgotten by their human creators as the latter age out or simply find other distractions. In the case of Rudger, however, Bunting can't resist. He tries to eat Rudger while Amanda is pretty invested in her friend still. A parking lot chase leads to an accident and a hospitalization. Rudger is left to fend for himself, and is on the brink of perishing when Zinzan - an imaginary cat with one red and one blue eye finds him. Zinzan takes Rudger to the only place where Imaginaries can live with their human creators: the library.

With a lot of help from other imaginary friends, Rudger finds Amanda and is reunited with her. It should come as no surprise that Bunting is defeated, but how he is defeated is a different story and one that should be yours to discover when you see the film or read the book.

The Imaginary director and writer

A Studio Ponoc film, The Imaginary is based on writer AF Harrold and illustrator Emily Gravett's 2014 book of the same name. They are both credited as writers on the Netflix film, along with Studio Ponoc founder Yoshiaki Nishimura.

The film is directed by Yoshiyuki Momose, who also worked on the animation for Studio Ghibli classic Porco Rosso (1992) and the visual effects for Hayao Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke (1997).

The Imaginary performances

The film is voiced in both Japanese and English. Here are the key voice performers: Rudger is voiced by Kokoro Terada in Japanese and Louie Rudge-Buchanan, while Rio Suzuki and Evie Kiszel have voiced Amanda in Japanese and English respectively. Mr Bunting is brought to life in Jeremy Swift's voice in the English version and Issey Ogata in Japanese.

The Imaginary trailer

While Netflix's English language trailer begins with the imaginary adventures; Studio Ponoc's Japanese trailer starts with the real-world threat Mr Bunting poses to the imaginaries. Watch both trailers here:

The Imaginary released in Japan in December 2023. The worldwide release on Netflix was on July 5, 2024.