Now the fun really starts!
A colorful gang of forgotten imaginary friends defy the gloomy portents of reality in the energetic and fanciful new trailer for The Imaginary, coming to Netflix on July 5. Produced by Japan’s Studio Ponoc (Mary and the Witch’s Flower, Modest Heroes), the hand-drawn animated adventure is based on the award-winning novel of the same name by English poet and author A.F. Harrold, illustrated by Emily Gravett (Bloomsbury Publishing).
Alongside the trailer debut (which you can watch below), Netflix also released new imagery from the film.
Synopsis: Studio Ponoc’s The Imaginary portrays the depths of humanity and creativity through the eyes of young Amanda and her imaginary companion, Rudger, a boy no one 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.
Directed by renowned animator Yoshiyuki Momose (Spirited Away), The Imaginary is an unforgettable adventure of love, loss, and the healing power of imagination.
Momose, who previously directed the Life Ain’t Gonna Lose segment for Ponoc’s Modest Heroes anthology and the Tokyo Olympics short Tomorrow’s Leaves, directs from a screenplay by two-time Oscar-nominee Yoshiaki Nishimura (The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, When Marnie Was There), who also serves as producer.
The English-language voice cast features Louie Rudge-Buchanan as Rudger, Evie Kiszel as Amanda, Hayley Atwell as Lizzie, Sky Katz as Emily, Jeremy Swift as Mr. Bunting, Kal Penn as Zinzan, LeVar Burton as The Old Dog, Jane Singer as Granny Downbeat, Ruby Barnhill as Aurora, Roger Craig Smith as Snowflake, Courtenay Taylor as Cruncher-of-Bones and Miles Nibbe as John.
The Imaginary also features a theme song performed by A Great Big World featuring Rachel Platten, “Nothing’s Impossible.”