The Imaginary
Theatrical release poster
Japanese name
Kanji	屋根裏のラジャー
Transcriptions Revised Hepburn Yaneura no Rajā
Directed by	Yoshiyuki Momose
Screenplay by	Yoshiaki Nishimura
Based on	The Imaginary by A.F. Harrold
Produced by	Yoshiaki Nishimura
Starring	Kokoro Terada Rio Suzuki Sakura Ando Riisa Naka Takayuki Yamada Atsuko Takahata Issey Ogata
Production company	Studio Ponoc
Distributed by	Toho
Release date	December 15, 2023 (2023-12-15)
Running time	105 minutes [1]
Country	Japan
Language	Japanese
Box office	$478,300 [2]

The Imaginary ( Japanese: 屋根裏のラジャー, Hepburn: Yaneura no Rajā, lit. 'Rudger in the Attic') is a 2023 Japanese animated fantasy film directed by Yoshiyuki Momose from a screenplay written by Yoshiaki Nishimura, who also produced the film, and animated by Studio Ponoc. Based on A.F. Harrold's 2014 novel of the same name, it is Studio Ponoc's first full-length animated film since Mary and the Witch's Flower (2017). ^{[3] [4] [5]} The Japanese voice cast includes Kokoro Terada, Rio Suzuki, Sakura Ando, Riisa Naka, Takayuki Yamada, Atsuko Takahata and Issey Ogata. The narrative focuses on Rudger, a boy who is one of the invisible entities known as Imaginaries, created by a girl named Amanda who is coping with emotional loss.

The Imaginary is produced with hand-drawn animation. It was originally scheduled to be released between June and August 2022, ^[6] but it was postponed due to production delays ^{[7] [8] [9] [10]} and was theatrically released on December 15, 2023, in Japan. ^[6]

Synopsis

In a world where imaginations can live and be eaten by others, Rudger, an Imaginary boy, can be seen by no one but his creator, a young girl named Amanda. Their shared existence is confined to the attic of Amanda's residence, where they delve into her vibrant imagination. However, Imaginaries are subject to an inexorable fate: dissolution with human forgetfulness. Baffled by this eventuality, Rudger clings to a glimmer of hope, embarking on an inconspicuous odyssey after Mr. Bunting, who hunts Imaginaries, arrives at Amanda's doorstep. His journey leads him to the enclave referred to as "the town of Imaginaries", a sanctuary for forgotten Imaginaries. This encounter initiates a monumental voyage that steers the course of familial bonds and cherished connections, shaping their forthcoming trajectories.

Voice cast

Box office

The film grossed 68,169,730 yen (about US$478,300) in its first three days. ^[2]

Home media and streaming

Japan

The film is set to be released on DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD on May 15, 2024, by Walt Disney Japan. ^[11]

Overseas

On January 25, 2024, Netflix announced that they had acquired worldwide streaming rights to the film, which was be added to the platform later in the year. The deal also included global streaming rights to the studio's future feature projects. ^[12]

References

External links

• The Imaginary at IMDb
• The Imaginary (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia