The Imaginary Trailer: Amanda and Rudger go on a fantastical adventure

Netflix dropped the first trailer for the Japanese anime film The Imaginary from Studio Ponoc earlier today. The hand-drawn animation film will start streaming on Netflix from July 5 onwards, but Studio Ponoc is also planning on running it theatrically until it qualifies it for the Academy Awards. The Annecy International Animation Film Festival will also screen the film, directed by Yoshiyuki Momose and illustrated by Emily Gravett. Momose is known for his animation work on films such as Porco Rosso, Whisper of the Heart, and Spirited Away as well as computer graphics work for Princess Mononoke. The voice cast of The Imaginary includes Kokora Terada, Rio Suzuki, Sakura Ando, Riisa Naka, Hana Sugisaki, Takayuki Yamada, Atsuko Takahata, Akira Terao, and Issey Ogata.

It is an adaptation of AF Harrold's novel The Imaginary and is described as a fantasy film "portraying 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."