Finally, 2024 is giving us a good imaginary-friends movie

Imaginary friends are having a moment. This year has already seen Blumhouse’s Imaginary, a not-so-great movie about a murderous imaginary friend, and IF, an even-less-great movie about a whole world of imaginary friends, complete with a fairly toxic message about childlike wonder and fantasy. And now there’s The Imaginary, the latest anime movie from Studio Ghibli successor Studio Ponoc, founded by Ghibli veteran Yoshiaki Nishimura shortly after Studio Ghibli announced its planned shutdown in 2014. Much like IF, The Imaginary centers on a world of lost imaginary friends, and on the relationship between a young girl and the friend she created. Unlike IF, though, it looks pretty terrific.

The Imaginary comes to Netflix on July 5 as part of an ongoing deal between Netflix and Ponoc. Based on a 2014 novel by British author A.F. Harrold, and directed by Ghibli animator Yoshiyuki Momose (Spirited Away, Porco Rosso, Whisper of the Heart), the movie follows Amanda and her imaginary friend Rudger, whose playful adventures through Amanda’s imagination are derailed by a predatory interloper. Here’s Netflix’s description:

Studio Ponoc’s The Imaginary portrays the depths of humanity and creativity through the eyes of young Amanda and her imaginary companion, Rudger. Their fantastical adventures, launched from her attic, lead them to discover a magical world of creatures and places never before seen until a sinister force threatens to destroy their imaginary world and the friendship within it. Directed by renowned animator Yoshiyuki Momose (Spirited Away), The Imaginary is an unforgettable adventure of love, loss, and the healing power of imagination.

This is Ponoc’s first feature-length film since its debut, 2017’s Mary and the Witch’s Flower. Interim projects include the compilation movie Modest Heroes (featuring three short stories, one directed by Momose), and promotional material like the lovely 2021 Olympics short “Tomorrow’s Leaves,” also directed by Momose. The Imaginary was released in December 2023 in Japan.