Imagination at its Best
Film
In a wild turn of events, we didn't get just one imaginary-friends-come-alive movie this year, but three! Two live-action features, IF and Imaginary, both U.S. films, and now most recently The Imaginary from Japan's Studio Ponoc.
Founded in 2015 by Yoshiaki Nishimura, a former Studio Ghibli producer, Studio Ponoc put out its first animated film in 2017 with Mary and the Witch's Flower. Fast forward seven years and the studio recently premiered its first of many films on Netflix, due to a deal with the streaming platform for future films, The Imaginary. Directed by Yoshiyuki Momose, another acclaimed former Ghibli employee, with Momose contributing to the animation department for films such as Porco Rosso, Princess Mononoke and Grave of the Fireflies, The Imaginary towers over the other two U.S. films I mentioned in essentially every category. In fact, it might be the best animated film you'll see all year.
Adapted from A.F. Harrold's novel of the same name, The Imaginary follows Rudger (Kokoro Terada), the imaginary friend of Amanda (Rio Suzuki), and their various adventures together. But as an unfortunate accident puts Amanda in the hospital, Rudger begins to experience what all imaginary friends eventually do—being forgotten and disappearing.
If that sounds like doom and despair, rather ominous emotions for an animated film, then I can only retort with the classic "That's why this movie is so damn good." The Imaginary has a delicate balance of fun-loving adventure and mature topics such as forgetting bits of loved ones after they're gone, or even growing out of your childlike imagination as Amanda's mom Lizzie (Sakura Andô) (among other adults) cannot see imaginary friends. These themes of maturation overlayed on stunning animation make for the type of animated films we're used to seeing from Studio Ghibli. But make no mistake, Studio Ponoc's films are wholly original and unique. Not only in their style but all around production from writing to direction to voice acting.
In fact, The Imaginary even goes a step further, reaching out from intrapersonal matters to interpersonal or societal topics. The most noticeable being that lost imaginary friends can prevent themselves from disappearing by finding safety within a local library, guided by the wise cat Jinzan (Takayuki Yamada). Because after all, books allow everyone to imagine and are products of imagination in their own respect. There are even some references to the most imaginative people in history such as William Shakespeare and Wolfgang Mozart whose imaginary friends have found their way to this sanctuary.
The breadth of applicable themes in The Imaginary is wonderful to watch unfold. As if you're seeing something new and exciting around every turn. But at times the more potent and important ones can get lost in the mix. Especially when it comes to the powerful moment between Emily, Rudger, and Lizzie concerning the patriarch of the family. I can't help but feel, that even though that moment was tremendous, it could've been a larger focal point in the heart of the film.
But overall The Imaginary is a triumphant and breathtaking piece of filmmaking. The animation is at its best when we're being zipped through Emily's surreal imagination. Flying alongside her and Rudger across rippling dimensions of childlike wonder and curiosity that causes feelings of nostalgia for your own childish imagination to bubble to the surface. Further enhanced by agehasprings and Kenji Tamai's breathtaking score, every element of The Imaginary fits seamlessly together, allowing you to feel surrounded and comforted by your swathe of loved ones. Real and imaginary.
Froth
Even though the Imaginary boasts some darker, more mature topics, it remains light-hearted and beyond aesthetically appealing through it all. Therefore it deserves an equally light-hearted and aesthetically appealing beer! Lowercase Brewing's Alsatian Pilsner is a crisp, clean, and light beverage that suits our purposes perfectly. Brewed with French hops, the Alsatian and Strisselspalt give this Pilsner its fresh herbal and floral elements that make it a delightfully crisp drink. Lowercase also added in some corn to the brewing process-cue Fat Bastard yelling "I don't remember eating corn"-which adds a mellow sweetness, rounding out the overall flavor.
Given the recent heat wave in Seattle, and the general lack of air conditioning in apartment buildings, you may as well find other means to cooling down. One of which being sitting back, blasting your fan on extra-high, turning on The Imaginary, and enjoying a cool, crisp and refreshing Alsatian Pilsner from the wonderful folks at Lowercase Brewing.
Or, get this. You could theoretically imagine some air conditioning.
Nah, I'd prefer the beer.
