The new trailer for The Imaginary imagines what would happen if the world’s imaginary friends end up without their best pals. The hand-drawn animated film arrives July 5 on Netflix after first bowing in Japan theatrically in Japan, where it grossed $919,000 last year.
The film centers on Amanda and a boy named Rudger, who is her imaginary companion that no one but her can see. One day, Rudger finds himself alone in The Town, a place for discarded imaginary friends, where he must face a mysterious threat. It is based on the 2015 book from writer A.F. Harrold and artist by Emily Gravett.
Yoshiyuki Momose directs from a script by Yoshiaki Nishimura. The English-language cast includes Louie Rudge-Buchanan (Rudger), Evie Kiszel (Amanda), Hayley Atwell (Lizzie), Sky Katz (Emily), Jeremy Swift (Mr Bunting), Kal Penn (Zinzan), LeVar Burton (The Old Dog), Jane Singer (Granny Downbeat), Ruby Barnhill (Aurora), Roger Craig Smith (Snowflake), Courtenay Taylor (Cruncher-of-Bones) and Miles Nibbe (John).
Studio Ponac is behind the movie, with its other projects including Modest Heroes and Mary and the Witch’s Flower.
The trailer comes as Netflix is touting its animation offerings at the Annecy Film Festival. The streaming service says 130 million of its global subscribers watch animation on a monthly basis.
