What happens when children forget their imaginary friends?
This question has been at the heart of three 2024 movies so far: Creepy Teddy Bear Horror Movie imaginaryFamily comedy directed by John Krasinski if (short for Imaginary Friends) and Netflix’s animated adventure imaginary. But only this last one can transport viewers into a glorious world of fantasy and emotion, with a unique Studio Ghibli atmosphere.
imaginary Director Yoshiyuki Momose was certainly influenced by this, as the animator had worked on Hayao Miyazaki’s works Porco Rosso, the whisper of the heartand Spirited Away. Additionally, the film’s writer and producer Yoshiaki Nishimura also produces Studio Ghibli films The Story of Princess Kaguya and when marnie was thereboth nominated for Oscars.
This Studio Ponoc film offers a softer color palette, based on soft gray shades with enhanced depth. Despite this seemingly sweet aesthetic, imaginary Delving into some dark topics including loneliness, grief and death. A creepy villain whose partner seems to have been snatched away Lingu, this cartoon is not suitable for all ages. But this is sensational.
what is imaginary about?
Amanda and Ruggie in “Imagine.”
Image source: Netflix
Judging from the opening voiceover of a young boy marveling at a world invisible to most, imaginary It centers on Ruggie (voiced by Louis Luckey-Buchanan in the English dub), a skittish blonde and loyal best friend to Amanda (Evie Kizer). With the bulky physique of a Miyazaki heroine and crisp, short bangs that suggest an impromptu DIY hairstyle, she’s a spark plug of impulsiveness and excitement. Of course, this is both a blessing and a curse for her single mom, Lizzie (Hayley Atwell), who’s balancing parenting with running a failing bookstore.
Piecing together toys, props and her trusty umbrella, Amanda creates an epic adventure for herself and Ruggie, leaving behind a pile of dripping and fallen knick-knacks for her mother to clean up. But the trio run into real trouble when the eccentric Mr. Bunting (Jeremy Swift) sticks his rosy nose into their shop.
He was an aggressive stranger with a thick beard, and he was accompanied by a pale girl with long dark hair and heartless eyes. Strangely, Lizzie couldn’t see her. Shortly after this unsettling invasion, shocking events separate Ruggie and Amanda, forcing him to venture into the wider world. Now the timid sidekick must venture out to become his own hero, not only to reconnect with his best friend, but also to save his “imaginary companions” from the evil Mr. Bunting and his fellow Japanese terror.
imaginary Embrace the weird transformations and deeper importance of playtime.
Image source: Netflix
While the visual style is cute and endearing, Nishimura’s script acknowledges that kids will dream up all kinds of dark and crazy things. As Ruggie wanders into other imaginary communities, he encounters a group of eccentric characters, including Emily (Skye Katz), a girl who wears goggles and is full of the protagonist’s energy, and a pink cat named Snowflake. A giant hippopotamus (Roger Craig Smith), a gray cat (Penn), a smoky old dog (LeVar Burton), and A small but energetic skeleton called “Bonechewer” (Courtenay Taylor). They make a chaotic team, but as they’re thrown into scenarios of space travel and high-pressure ballet performances, Momos unifies them through a cohesive and captivating aesthetic.
In these surreal scenes, Nishimura hints at the problems Amanda faces when playing with Ludger. First, she makes him promise: “Never disappear. Protect each other. Never cry.”
Popular stories that can be mixed and matched
What happened that this confident girl needed such reassurance? Why would she name a mythical imaginary beast after the “green beer” her mother loved to drink at the end of a hard day? Why did she have a keepsake box with a note on it telling Ruggie not to come in? As Ludger runs blindly just to reunite with her, viewers are left wondering what he’s missing in the hectic heroics.
How old is your age? imaginary Suitable?
Image source: Netflix
Rated PG, imaginary Might need some parental guidance for younger viewers. You know your child better than anyone, so instead of giving a number, let me give you a hint: imaginary Enter – no spoilers.
For much of the film, Ruggie’s greatest fear is that Amanda will forget about him, which will cause him to disappear. So there are some existential fears that come across in a way that kids can relate to – as illustrated by the other characters. But there are greater issues of loss, as Amanda faces a health crisis and the traumatic events in her past that inspired her to dream of Ruggie in the first place. Basically, if you’re not willing to talk to your kids about death, maybe your family isn’t a good fit. imaginary-Are you ready?
Another factor I would point out is targeting fear-sensitive children. While Momos is careful to keep key moments of violence off-screen, Mr. Bunting and his children are pretty terrifying. Both have the ability to use their imaginations to twist themselves into nightmares. Even as an adult I cringed at some of these scenes. Although most imaginary Whimsically, these bites – albeit brief – arrive Coraline-Disturbing level.
The voice actor is of the illusory The English dub is divine.
Image source: Netflix
Sometimes, dubbing for animated films is more of a grab for prestige than actually finding a vibe match – looking at you, super mario bros movie and garfield movie! Studio Ponoc wisely chose talent active in voiceover work rather than favoring flashy names. Sure, Atwell’s voice is easily identifiable, but not distracting. She’s perfect for the role of a mother who’s warm but also understandably frustrated with her thrill-seeking child.
Child actors Evie Kizer and Louis Luckey-Buchanan bring a real sense of youth to their characters. The former imbues Amanda with a mischievous and fake ambivalence that immediately defines the strong exterior of this wounded little girl. The latter was nervous at first, but his speech slowly stabilized as Ruggie became more autonomous. Essentially, these talented kids really portrayed the evolution of their characters through their vocal performances alone.
Elsewhere, Swift is lively but menacing as Mr. Bunting, bringing a flavor of evil that echoes the best of Disney’s villains. Katz is as bubbly and charming as Emily, and it’s easy to hope for a spinoff of the punk self-enhancer. Taylor provided the Pokémon power for Bonecrusher, making sure the creepy name and design wouldn’t be too off-putting for small children. Payne brings a smoky calm to the intelligent feline Xinzan. But my personal favorite is Burton’s performance as the old dog.
In the interest of full transparency, my brain is wired to hold my breath and listen when I hear LeVar Burton, the former host of “LeVar Burton.” Reading Rainbow. whether i rewatch him or not StarCrafthearing his voice as Bubble adventure timeor listen to his podcast LeVar Burton Readinghis creamy tone immediately gave people a sense of comfort. imaginary Making the most of Burton in a small but crucial role. It almost didn’t matter what his old dog said, because the mere presence of that voice assured us that no matter what happened, we would be okay.
In Momos’ rich world of reality, anything can be dreamed of, and the imaginative and shocking realities Ruggie and Amanda encounter are a gorgeous spectacle. Nishimura’s script depicts an adventure that reflects the hardships of growing up, learning about the wider world, and facing harsh truths. Using a familiar animation style and a softer color palette, Momose gives us a steady hand to hold on to imaginary A dark turn takes place. His stellar voice cast brings vibrant life to an eclectic cast of characters.
If you love Studio Ghibli, you won’t want to miss a film that feels like a cousin to its fantasy family. If you like animations that make you gasp, giggle, and cry, you won’t want to miss it imaginary. And there are young people who are sensitive to fear and the inevitable fear of death, well, imaginary It will be available on Netflix when it is ready. Ruggie would be there waiting patiently.
imaginary Reviewed by the Annecy Festival. The film will premiere on Netflix on July 5.
