#New Studio Ponoc Movie The Imaginary Announced For Summer 2022

A new Studio Ponoc-produced movie titled The Imaginary (Yaneura no Rudger) has been announced with a teaser trailer, poster, and a Summer 2022 Japanese release date. Directing the movie is Yoshiyuki Momose, who previously helmed the 2019 Ni no Kuni movie and has credits ranging from character design on the Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom video game to key animation on Studio Ghibli films like Porco Rosso, Pom Poko and Whisper of the Heart.

The Imaginary is based on the 2014 novel by A. F. Harrold with illustrations from Emily Gravett. Ponoc describes the movie as:

The main character of The Imaginary is Rudger. Born from a young girl’s imagination, Rudger is a boy no one can see who lives in a world where imaginations can live and be eaten by others. The Imaginary is an extraordinarily touching and beautiful hand-drawn fantasy film in which Rudger and his new friends in “The Imaginaries Town” embark on an adventure no one can see at the risk of the futures and fates of those they love.

The other announced staff member for The Imaginary is producer Yoshiaki Nishimura, who founded Ponoc and previously produced the studio’s debut film Mary and The Witch’s Flower and the Modest Heroes: Ponoc Short Films Theatre, Volume 1 anthology. Like Momose, Nishimura was previously affiliated with Studio Ghibli, with producer credits on films like The Tale of The Princess Kaguya and When Marnie Was There.

Source: Studio Ponoc Twitter