The folks at Studio Ponoc revealed back in December 2021 their next anime feature film with The Imaginary, which is based on A.F. Harrold and Emily Gravett’s 2001 novel of the same name. Scheduled for summer 2022, the studio released a subtitled teaser trailer for it below while noting that its Japanese title is Yaneura no Rudger.
That plan fell through back in March 2022 with word that the film had been delayed due to “new challenges” and then in December 2022 it was listed with a planned winter 2023 debut at the end of the year. With a December 15th, 2023 premiere in Japan, we learned in January 2024 that Netflix had closed the deal for the streaming rights to the show as part of a multi-film partnership deal with the studio.
The film was recently set for its Netflix worldwide streaming debut through the streamer with a July 5th, 2024 date and with the film available here, Netflix has now dropped a new clip from it as we go into the world of the imagination and as Rudger introduces himself to us!
The English dub cast includes 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.
Additional voices include Ian James Corlett, A.F. Harrold, Cassandra Lee Morris, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Christopher Swindle, Fred Tatasciore, and Kari Wahlgren.
The film was directed by Yoshiyuki Momose.
The Japanese cast includes:
- Kokoro Terada as Rudger
- Rio Suzuki as Amanda
- Sakura Ando as Lizzie
- Riisa Naka as Emily
- Takayuki Yamada as Jinzan
- Atsuko Takahata as Downbeat Grandma
- Issey Ogata as Mr. Bunting
- Teiya Ichiryusai as Honneko Garigari
- Mitsuaki Kanuka as Koyuki
- Ikue Otani as Doron
- Kokoro Hirasawa as Julia
- Eito Kawahara as John
The theme song is “Nothing’s Impossible” performed by A Great Big World with Rachel Platten. That’s received a lyric video that’s been released below for people to check out.
Check out the official site and Twitter.
Plot Concept: Rudger is Amanda Shuffleup’s imaginary friend. Nobody else can see Rudger–until the evil Mr. Bunting arrives at Amanda’s door. Mr. Bunting hunts imaginaries. Rumor has it that he even eats them. And now he’s found Rudger. Soon Rudger is alone, and running for his imaginary life. He needs to find Amanda before Mr. Bunting catches him–and before Amanda forgets him and he fades away to nothing. But how can an unreal boy stand alone in the real world?
Previous promos and visuals:
