A former creative team of Studio Ghibli fame is releasing a new movie from their own studio this year, The Imaginary, and it looks like it could be a hit.
The new film, titled The Imaginary and based on the children’s book of the same name by AF Harrold, is the third film from Studio Ponoc, founded by former Studio Ghibli chief producer Yoshiaki Nishimura, as well as many animator from Studio Ghibli. famous studio. The studio’s previous films include Mary and the Witch’s Flower, a fantasy film that marked their debut, and Modest Heroes, an anthology made from the studio’s short films. Both works have been praised for their beautiful, clearly Ghibli-influenced styles, and it looks like The Imaginary will continue that trend based on the new trailer.
The Imaginary promises fun and heart that Ghibli fans love
The Imaginary revolves around young Amanda and her imaginary friend, Rudger. The trailer reveals that Rudger may be facing the fate of all his imaginary friends: being forgotten. That left him with a choice, though what exactly that decision should be remains ambiguous for now. There’s a lot of beautiful footage in the trailer, including a beautiful sweep of Rudger flying above a bird. The film also promises all sorts of bizarre and fantasy episodes, as shown by shots of various imaginary creatures and monsters seemingly celebrating in a hall. The style is quite different from the style of a typical anime but still close to the origins of Ghibli.
While Ghibli fans may be glued to The Boy and the Heron’s upcoming film in the West, The Imaginary looks like a movie that shouldn’t be missed. Many of Ghibli’s talented animators, directors, and producers have already started to forge their own paths, and Studio Ponoc is one of the more successful groups formed by these creators. Following on from its previous success, The Imaginary has the potential to put Studio Ponoc on the map as its own entity. While fans will have to wait for the movie to come out to know for sure, at least the trailer has certainly garnered some interest.
Currently, The Imaginary has a Japanese release date of December 15, 2023, while Studio Ponoc promises the film is aiming for an international release in 2024, with no specific date. Fans can watch the trailer above and judge for themselves whether the movie is suitable for the content Studio Ghibli creative genealogy.
Source: Studio Ponoc
