The Imaginary (2023)

While IF has gotten more attention if only via star power, I took more immediate interest in another animation about "imaginary" yet actually existent companions. This is only the third Studio Ponoc feature ever and the second I've seen, once again based on a book.

The protagonist is Rudger (Louie Rudge-Buchanan), the made-up friend of maybe seven-year-old Amanda (Evie Kiszel). He takes the form of a same-age boy, and they have vivid adventures together while half-acknowledging the unreality of it all. Nonetheless, they develop interpersonal conflicts, especially as Amanda starts to feel isolated in sticking with someone even her mother (Hayley Atwell) doesn't believe in. When a car accident puts Amanda in a coma, Rudger fears he'll vanish by being forgotten. Fortunately, a talking cat (Kal Penn) leads him to a thriving secret community of abandoned imaginary friends, feeding off the imagination found in a common library. But unlike the rest, Rudger isn't ready to leave his real friend forever if he can help it, even knowing of an extra danger waiting for him: Mr. Bunting (Jeremy Swift), a real man who senses and consumes the imaginary in order to stay preternaturally youthful.

Yeah, despite the kiddie theme, I hesitate to recommend this movie to children as young as Amanda. Mr. Bunting at first seems merely eccentric, but he's become superhuman and poses a threat even to real people who get in his way. Most of the imaginary regard him as a bogeyman, scary but dubious, rather ironically. If he doesn't intimidate you, his treacherous imaginary assistant might; she resembles a mix of Wednesday Addams and Sadako. Also, it's quite a while before Rudger confirms that Amanda hasn't died yet, and he blames himself for her accident.

Still, I wouldn't go as far as a reviewer I found who called TI horror. Maybe compared with IF, but it mostly vacillates between drama and whimsy, kinda like a Toy Story entry without nearly as much humor. I found myself intrigued at and slightly envious of the imaginary community, who are not only colorful (often literally) in and of themselves but basically party all the time. By day, they take supporting roles in kids' adventures, occasionally gaining a new full-time friendship; by night, the library transforms into a scene from a book.

The possibilities are endless, yet I didn't feel short-changed. At 105 minutes, TI feels neither hurried nor overly long. And the crisp graphics help make up for any deficits.

Presently, TI is tied with Mary and the Witch's Flower on IMDb. I like the former better, partly because it doesn't preach a message I question as much. You may think, "No way should we keep right on believing in unreal things," but I see it more as about staying strong in friendship. I hope Studio Ponoc continues to improve.