& Yoshiyuki Momose

The Imaginary

6.7

Rudger is a boy no one can see, imagined by Amanda to share her thrilling make-believe adventures. When Rudger arrives alone at The Town of Imaginaries, where forgotten Imaginaries live and find work, he faces a mysterious threat.

Director: , Yoshiyuki Momose
Main Cast: Sakura Andô
Soundtrack: , Kenji Tamai
Cinematography: , Susumu Fukushi
Screenplay: , Yoshiaki Nishimura

Original title in Japan is 屋根裏のラジャー.

Cinema Premiere: June 28, 2024

What do English critics think?

English Reviews

8 english reviews of The Imaginary (2023)

1. The AV Club

9.1 / 10

"The Imaginary" is an enchanting tale in which reality clashes with imagination in a battle to determine which is more powerful.
- Cindy White
The AV Club »
2. Slash Film

8.5 / 10

This is a film that demands to be seen by as many people as possible — regardless of age.
- BJ Colangelo
Slash Film »
3. The Guardian

8 / 10

"The Imaginary" may not be a standout in the rich and wide-ranging oeuvre of its makers, but it is a moving and charming testament to the delights of dreaming.
- Rebecca Liu
theguardian.com »
4. Collider

8 / 10

"The Imaginary" is a breathtaking wonder of animation that, while familiar in many regards, also more than stands on its own before leaping into a fantastical world.
- Chase Hutchinson
collider.com »
5. Screen Daily

8 / 10

"The Imaginary" brings a degree of sophistication to its storytelling that at times evokes the kaleidoscopic, constantly evolving worlds of Christopher Nolan’s Inception.
- Wendy Ide
Screen Daily »
6. New York Times

7 / 10

The movie falters periodically under the weight of its own dream logic, which can be hard to follow or flimsily constructed as the story gains momentum. But it’s mostly easy to move past those flaws in a work of such rich magical realism and heart.
- Brandon Yu
nytimes.com »
7. Time Out

6 / 10

But with no Ghibli film in the offing, "The Imaginary" is an often delightful way to fill the anime gap.
- Phil de Semlyen
Time Out »
8. The Playlist

5.8 / 10

There are moments of genuine magic that make you wonder what this movie could have been.
- Gregory Ellwood
The Playlist »