O Imaginário

I just watched a new anime kid's movie on Netflix called The Imaginary. It's about a little girl and her imaginary friend who are threatened by someone who has lived for hundreds of years by devouring children's imaginary friends. I think kid's movies can be broken into two types. There are Miyazaki's films, which are the best. They were made because they had to be made. They were a compulsive expression of the artistic mind behind them and are not restricted to a juvenile viewing public. Then there are kid's movies that were made simply to be a kid's movie and make a buck from the kid audience. They range from utter trash like The Goonies to okay movies like The Imaginary. It has some good ideas in it and I guess it is worth a watch.

The sheer number of ideas this film has is, on its own merit, stunning, not to mention the animation and music!

The characters are so vivid and likeable. From scene one, I was grabbed and rooting for the characters. The villain is spine-chilling and has a truly classic dark feel. Mr. Bunting (the villain) has such a great dark mirror side to the story that brings the movie a great edge.

The way the film explores its concepts of imagination rightfully so has its own leaps of imagination poured into them. And wonderfully enough, I never felt like we had an overabundance of world-building or over-explanations... everything fit just right.

A truly captivating movie that I will absolutely be watching again. Genuine animation magic.

The Imaginary is proof that animation is by far the best medium to tell a story like this. Everything runs on imagination and childlike wonder here and the film has more than enough visual beauty, inventive character designs and wonderful adventures to be worthy of its title. It's colourful, emotional and briefly disturbing in ways that all greatest animated films achieve, even if it's not at their level.

Rio Suzuki and Kokoro Terada have all the required energy and childlike innocence, mixed with determination and affecting sadness to lead this with ease. Issey Ogata is surprisingly creepy with an uncomfortable presence that easily matches his character's most disturbing actions and on the other end of the spectrum, everyone else does a great job of being as adorable as the imaginary friends they voice.

Yoshiyuki Momose's direction is endlessly inventive from the very beginning and can handle the bigger tonal shifts in a way that prevents them from feeling jarring. The animation in general is absolutely breathtaking, relishing the opportunity to deliver so much exciting, colourful spectacle. Kenji Tamai's score has the sweeping emotion required to really tug at the heartstrings when necessary.

Studio Ponoc is a studio that have some of the staff from Ghibli studio. The films that they made prior to "The Imaginary" have the essence of the magic that encapsulate the spirit of Ghibli. It's like a love child of Ghibli, growing up and make their own steps. The Imaginary is a testament of that fact. The ratings doesn't do justice to the quality this film exudes: Top tier animation, beautiful sceneries, touching story, and magical sentiment throughout. I watched from start to finish and I cannot think of one thing to complain about this film. Granted, i wasn't expecting anything to top the masterpiece Ghibli delivers over the years prior to watching this, but trust me, just turn off your judgmental brain, let the imagination runs wild, and have fun watching this beautiful film.

Studio Ponic ain't no Studio Ghibli for sure but it's visual atmosphere and interesting concept does wave away a mighty blast and engagement for children and families. Filled with amazing animation, character designs, and colorful structures, the concept about children's imagination and the allegory surrounding them is interesting and while it's writing is convoluted, it's ambitious direction holds up and carries away with magic and some spark.

The characters and settings are interesting but I found myself being more invested with the supporting characters rather than the main lead and I wish the movie had a bit more focus on the supporting characters instead. Alongside with some great voice performances, dialogue, and pacing.

All in all, this isn't going to be the same as Ghibli but I am looking forward to see what Ponic offers next.