The Imaginary Parent Guide

Amanda (Rio Suzuki) spends hours every day playing with her imaginary best friend, Rudger (Kokoro Terada). But after a terrible accident, Rudger finds himself separated from Amanda and travels to the Town of Imaginaries, where other forgotten and lost Imaginaries go. As Rudger tries to adjust to his new life while still trying to get back to Amanda, he soon discovers a looming threat to all Imaginaries.

Imaginary friends are a fantastic conduit for storytelling because they open up unending creative possibilities, as does the medium of animation. What The Imaginary does fabulously well is embrace those possibilities and create a world teeming with life, color, and fantastical creations. I cannot speak highly enough of the animation and design of this film, which enriches and enhances the story far beyond what words alone could ever do.

Unfortunately, the story is where the film falters. It starts out well, with a great premise and character development, but somewhere in the second act it becomes increasingly convoluted and confusing. The plot itself is relatively simple, but the world building is complicated. There are all sorts of rules around the Imaginaries, which aren’t always followed and don’t make much sense. I had a hard time maintaining my focus because it felt like every few minutes there was a new rule introduced, which just made the world hard to follow.

That said, the writers tackle some important and mature themes around grief, growing up, loyalty, and finding your place in the world. I think it’s handled well, but perhaps too seriously for young audiences. My seven-year-old said the movie was “too sad” and some parts were boring. It’s not that this production is inappropriate for young children - in fact it’s one of the cleanest films I’ve seen in recent memory. It’s just focused on big ideas and character development, which doesn’t always provide the most exciting experience for younger viewers. For children who aren’t easily bored, there are great messages to be imparted, and adults will appreciate the artistry. I’m just not sure if those two things are enough to make this an enduring classic.