Movie Review: THE IMAGINARY (YANEURA NO RAJÂ)

By ABBIE BERNSTEIN / Staff Writer

Posted: July 5th, 2024 / 01:33 AM

THE IMAGINARY (YANEURA NO RAJÂ) movie poster | ©2024 Netflix

Rating: PG
Stars (voices, Japanese-language cast): Kokoro Terada, Rio Suzuki, Sakura Andô, Riisa Naka, Takayuki Yamada, Atsuko Takahata, Issei Ogata, Akira Terao, Hana Sugisaki, Teiyû Ichiryûsai; (voices, English-language cast): Louie Rudge-Buchanan, Evie Kiszel, Hayley Atwell, Sky Katz, Jeremy Swift, Kal Penn, LeVar Burton, Jane Singer, Ruby Barnhill, Roger Craig Smith, Courtenay Taylor, Miles Nibbe
Writer: Yoshiaki Nishimura, based on the novel written by A.F. Harrold and illustrated by Emily Gravett
Director: Yoshiyuki Momose
Distributor: Netflix
Release Date: June 28, 2024 (theatrical); July 5, 2024 (Netflix)

Not to be confused with the live-action horror film IMAGINARY released earlier this year, THE IMAGINARY (YANEURA NO RAJÂ) is a Japanese animated adaptation of the children’s novel written by A.F. Harrold and illustrated by Emily Gravett.

Rudger (voiced by Louie Rudge-Buchanan) introduces himself to us as he’s running to catch a star in a gorgeous pastel night. Although he looks to be a boy about age ten, he tells us he’s three months, three weeks, and three days old.

Rudger was born in lovely, ever-evolving worlds imagined by Amanda (voiced by Evie Kiszel). Rudger loves it here. There are dinosaurs and castles and hard-working giants, and birds that gives Rudger a ride on their backs.

Sometimes Amanda comes into these worlds herself, and she and Roger have adventures together. They promise to never disappear, to protect each other, and never cry. Rudger also visits Amanda in her real-world room, but it’s easy enough to travel into her imagination.

Rudger would like the freedom to visit other kids, even though they can’t see him, when Amanda isn’t available. In fact, since Amanda hasn’t imagined him with the ability to pass through walls and doors, he can accidentally get locked in a closet for hours.

Amanda’s widowed mom Lizzie (voiced by Hayley Atwell) is in the process of closing up the bookstore Amanda’s late dad started. She’s tolerant of Amanda’s imaginary friend, though of course she doesn’t believe in him.

Then a creepy but real man, Mr. Bunting (voiced by Jeremy Swift) comes to the shop, claiming to be doing a survey on children. He is accompanied by a young girl with long black hair who looks a lot like a Japanese ghost. Lizzie can’t see the girl, but both Amanda and Rudger can.

Mr. Bunting turns out to be very dangerous in a way we don’t expect. Rudger winds up on the run.

The talking cat ZinZan (voiced by Kal Penn) guides Rudger to the realm of the Imaginaries, where imaginary friends who have survived being forgotten can enjoy themselves and have their own adventures, when they’re not taking one-day temp jobs for some child’s brief flight of fancy.

But Rudger, despite well-intentioned advice from everyone he meets, is sure he has not been forgotten, which sends him on a quest – and into the malevolent sights of Mr. Bunting.

Perhaps because it is based on a novel, THE IMAGINARY feels very well-thought-out. The plot keeps moving, although there are times that we notice that there’s a lot of it. The film has some gorgeous, charming ideas and characters we easily like or hate.

Director Yoshiyuki Momose, working from the screenplay adapted by Yoshiaki Nishimura, has a beautiful color palette. He does a credible job of depicting small-town English life, albeit in slightly storybook fashion. The animation style is like a less-inflected version of Hayao Miyazaki’s work, with fewer flourishes but still a delightful sense of whimsy.

The English-language voice cast (which is what this reviewer heard) is enthusiastic and emotionally on target. Rudge-Buchanan and Kiszel are delightful, as is Sky Katz as a human-esque imaginary friend.

Mr. Bunting may be scary to small children, so parents of sensitive youngsters should take note.

Otherwise, this is a very enjoyable fantasy about a subgenre that often is mishandled. For those who want a movie about imaginary friends with plot logic, consistency, and talking hippos, THE IMAGINARY is here to satisfy that desire.

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