‘The Imaginary’ Review: Terrifyingly Imaginative

Netflix’s The Imaginary has the look and feel of a Studio Ghibli film but underneath the bright eyes and colorful animation is the stuff nightmares are made of. The first makes sense since director Yoshiyuki Momose is an animation veteran of Studio Ghibi and Studio Ponoc itself was formed with several former animators from the acclaimed studio. It’s the second, more terrifying aspect of the film that truly caught me off guard, however. The Imaginary imagines up an existential crisis for its characters, delivering an adventure that is equal parts heartwarming and heart wrenching. Even with some of the animated film’s horrifying imagery, there is beauty in every scene and with a story that’s from the heart, it’s easy to get wrapped up in its wonderfully imaginative world.

Rudger is the imaginary friend created by Amanda who only she can see, and together they go on all sorts of adventures. One day, the mysterious Mr. Bunting shows up at the bookstore owned by Amanda’s mom and to everyone’s surprise he can see Rudger. Not only that, but he also wants to eat him to extend his own life and he has his own imaginary friend to help him. Rudger finds himself on the run, finding safety among a group of forgotten Imaginaries. Suddenly the thought of being forgotten and disappearing from the world terrifies Rudger, but it also pushes him to reunite with Amanda and defeat Mr. Bunting before he can consume any other Imaginaries.

On the surface, The Imaginary is not all that different than another film about imaginary friends that came out earlier this year; IF. Both films revolve around the idea of growing up and losing ones imagination and the impact that has on a child’s imaginary friend. While IF was more from the viewpoint of the child, The Imaginary focuses on the imaginary friend’s perspective. Rudger gains a sense of mortality when he encounters Mr. Bunting. He and all Imaginaries know that they disappear when they are forgotten, but like most things, it doesn’t really sink in until you come face-to-face with that revelation. And nothing is scarier than Mr. Bunting.

The recently released trailer for The Imaginary hides just how terrifying the film can be. Mr. Bunting is a monster out of a horror film. He is able to sniff out Imaginaries, tracking them down one by one in his quest to consume them. He comes close multiple times throughout the film, and his mouth opens wide revealing a horrifying black hole that sucks the life out of whoever he has in his grasp. Speaking of horror films, Mr. Bunting has an Imaginary of his own; a little girl cloaked in shadow who looks as if she was pulled straight from the well in The Ring. I can only imagine what kind of the traumatic childhood Mr. Bunting must have had in order to imagine up this terrifying creature. The subject matter is no walk in the park, either. The Imaginary deals with love, loss, and heartbreak. The relationship between Rudger, Amanda, and her mother Lizzie feels real and complex as the film slowly unravels its layers one by one. It paints a loving family which makes the heartbreak hit that much harder when it does happen.

The Imaginary is a stunningly beautiful film as well. The hand-drawn animation is gorgeous and works extremely well given the subject matter. Scenes flawlessly transition from the real life to the imaginary work as Amanda and Rudger play. The cramped attic transforms piece by piece to an artic wonderland. The environments are rich in detail and give off a sense of warmth like they’ve been lived in for generations. There are a few scenes where the animation feels a bit too computer generated and the movements on screen clash with the hand drawn style of the characters. While a little distracting, it’s never enough to take you away from the deeply imaginative world Momose and the Studio Ponoc team have created.

It’s easy to get lost within the dreamscape of The Imaginary. The worlds of reality and imagination crash upon each other like waves until they’re all mixed together in a sea of stunning animation. It’s a terrifyingly beautiful film that mirrors the loss that naturally comes as we all grow older but also the hope that we can recover our imagination someday as well. Amanda and Rudger have three rules for each other; never disappear, protect each other, and never cry. If you’re anything like me, you’ll have a difficult time not breaking the third rule while watching The Imaginary.

You can stream The Imaginary on Netflix on July 5, 2024.