Jun 13, 2024

Studio Ponoc's "The Imaginary" Debuts First English Trailer on Netflix

Netflix has released the first trailer for the highly anticipated film "The Imaginary," the first installment of an exclusive streaming deal with Japanese producer Studio Ponoc. The film, adapted from the novel of the same name written by A.F. Harold and illustrated by Emily Gravett, is described as "an unforgettable adventure about love, loss, and the healing power of imagination. The film tells the story of Amanda and her imaginary companion, Rudger. Rudger is an invisible boy whom Amanda imagines to share her imaginary world. But when Rudger, suddenly alone, arrives in "Imaginary Town," where forgotten imaginaries live and find work, he faces a mysterious threat.

"Imaginary" is directed by Yoshiyuki Momose, a veteran of Studio Ghibli who has storyboarded and animated films such as "Grave of the Fireflies," "Porco Rosso," "Princess Mononoke" and "Spirited Away. Momose also directed the "Life Ain't Gonna Lose" segment of Ponoc's anthology film "Modest Heroes" and the studio's official Olympic short "Tomorrow's Leaves" He directed the 2019 feature film "Ni No Kuni," which will be released in 2019.

Studio Ponoc was founded in 2015 by former Studio Ghibli producer Yoshiaki Nishimura, who was twice nominated for Academy Awards for "The Tale of Princess Kaguya" and "Marnie: A Memoir".

The English dub for Imaginary includes Louis Rudge-Buchanan, Evie Kiszel, Hayley Atwell, Sky Katz, Jeremy Swift, Kal Penn, LeVar Burton, Jane Singer, Ruby Barnhill, Roger Craig Smith, Courtenay Taylor, Miles Knibb, Ian James Corlett, A.F. Harold, Cassandra Lee Morris, Colleen O'Shaughnessy, Christopher Swindle, Fred Tatasciol and Kari Walgren.