The Imaginary

From an animation perspective, The Imaginary is definitely an interesting and well-crafted piece of work. The soundtrack is also solid, and the film is full of imagination and clever ideas. Still, I couldn’t fully connect with its charm. There were moments where I found myself making cynical comments and noticing where the creators had drawn inspiration. The fantasy world was captivating with some well-thought-out rules, but I struggled to believe in how it connected with the "real" world—it didn’t quite mesh for me. The characters didn’t grab me either. The main protagonist didn’t win me over enough to root for him, and I found side characters like the cat, the dog, and even Emily far more engaging. The villains were well done—they were intimidating and commanded respect—but I couldn’t help seeing clear influences from Miyazaki and even elements of a Dementor. One of the villains' partners felt like an anime twist on Sadako from The Ring. Still, it worked, and I can’t complain too much. In the end, The Imaginary is a charming film full of great ideas and a touch of life lessons, wrapped in a vibrant, colorful package. But maybe I’ve grown too old and lost touch with my own sense of wonder, and my imaginary friend has long since disappeared. That might be why it only resonated with me at around 68%. (09/03/2024)