Netflix forms multi-film partnership to bring Studio Ponoc’s animated films to its service
Netflix announced on Thursday that it has acquired the global streaming rights to Studio Ponoc’s animated adaptation of AF Harrold and Emily Gravett’s novel The Imaginary. The company will release the anime worldwide later this year. Netflix also revealed that it has established a multi-series partnership to bring animated features from Studio Ponoc exclusively to its service.
Image provided by Netflix
© 2023 Ponoc
Image provided by Netflix
© 2023 Ponoc
© 2023 Ponoc
The film’s cast includes:
Studio Ponoc previously announced it would soon announce the English dub cast.
The film opened in Japan on December 15 with the title Yaneura no Rudger (Rudger in the Attic). The film earned 68,169,730 yen (about US$478,300) in its first three days of release.
Studio Ponoc delayed the film last year from its original summer 2022 release date due to “new challenges” stemming from the film’s production methods and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yoshiyuki Momose (“Life Ain’t Gonna Lose” in Ponoc’s Modest Heroes anime anthology, Ni no Kuni, Ponoc’s Olympic short film “Tomorrow’s Leaves”) is directing the film. Yoshiaki Nishimura — producer of many Studio Ghibli films, as well as the Ponoc films Mary and The Witch’s Flower and Modest Heroes — is producing the film.
A Great Big World (“Say Something”) starring Rachel Platten (“Fight Song”) will perform the theme song “Nothing’s Impossible”.
Bloomsbury Publishing released the original novel The Imaginary by AF Harrold in 2001 with illustrations by Emily Gravett. The publisher describes the novel:
Rudger is Amanda Shuffleup’s imaginary friend. No one else can see Rudger—until the evil Mr. Bunting arrives at Amanda’s door. Mr. Bunting hunts the imagination. Rumor has it that he even eats them. And now he has found Rudger.
Rudger is soon alone and chasing his fantasy life. He needs to find Amanda before Mr. Bunting catches him—and before Amanda forgets about him and he disappears into thin air. But how can an imaginary boy stand alone in the real world?
Studio Ponoc’s first feature film Mary and The Witch’s Flower opened in Japan in July 2017. GKIDS and Fathom Events opened the anime in US theaters in January 2018.
Source: Email correspondence