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The program of the 25th Nippon Connection Film Festival is complete! From May 27 to June 1, the world’s largest platform for Japanese film will be celebrating its 25th anniversary in Frankfurt am Main, offering six days of immersion in Japan’s film and cultural scene. Around 100 short and feature-length films will be screened at ten venues, including 67 premieres of current Japanese films. In addition, over 60 filmmakers and artists from Japan will travel to Frankfurt am Main to present their works to the public. Around 70 cultural events and a free Japanese market with various food and craft stalls round off the program. Detailed information and tickets for all films and events are available at NipponConnection.com.

This year’s film selection presents a diverse cross-section of current Japanese cinema. The Nippon Connection Film Festival will open on May 27 at 7:00 p.m. at the Künstler*innenhaus Mousonturm with Tetsu Maeda’s comedy 90 Years Old – So What?...

Later this month, New York City's Paris Theater will host screenings of several popular anime films and shorts. This lineup includes Chie the Brat: Downtown Story, a film directed by Studio Ghibli's late co-founder, Isao Takahata.

As detailed on GKIDSFilms' official X (formerly Twitter) account, Chie the Brat will have its first-ever slate of East Coast theatrical screenings at the Paris Theater on Dec. 26-30. While the anime and its titular manga series are relatively well-known in Japan, the franchise is significantly more obscure among Western audiences. Chie the Brat: Downtown Story is a condensed version of the television series, which initially aired from October 1981 to March 1983.

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Studio Ghibli spotlights Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle and more in a new special feature available to fans internationally.

Studio Ghibli Fans Are Treated to Some Rare U.

The Imaginary, a Netflix original anime, follows an imaginary friend named Rudger and his creator, Amanda, facing challenges from an adult who consumes imaginary friends. Studio Ponoc, the creators of The Imaginary, have a history in the industry and have produced other notable titles like Mary and the Witch's Flower and Modest Heroes. The Imaginary stands out among other 'imaginary friend' films this year due to its balance of childhood wonderment, emotional elements, and exceptional animation.

Children's playful imagination has been celebrated in media, films, books, music, etc, and it has led to some classic stories about kids indulging in harmless activities like playing with imaginary friends. This has been used for comedic effect, as a way to explore coming of age, and, in some cases, to terrify audiences. This year, though, has given fans of fantasy films a very special treat in the Netflix original animation, The Imaginary.

We...

Axel Foley returning to Beverly Hills, an animated feature from former Studio Ghibli talent, a jaw-dropping doc about love-struck “rooftoppers” and final seasons from three big shows — a Spanish teen drama, a viking saga and Daniel Larusso’s last hurrah — are some of the highlights on Netflix in July.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, Netflix’s high profile feature release for this month, arrives on July 3. The fourth installment in the Eddie Murphy-led action-comedy franchise, sees Detroit detective Axel Foley return to Beverly Hills, thirty years after his last visit. This time, Foley must team up with a new partner — played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt — when his daughter’s (Taylour Paige) life is threatened. Franchise fans will be happy to see regulars Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold), John Taggart (John Ashton), Jeffrey Friedman (Paul Reiser) and Serge (Bronson Pinchot) make appearances and series newcomer Kevin Bacon is also part of the action as Captain Grant.

A decade ago, legendary director Hayao Miyazaki retired, sending Studio Ghibli’s team of animators to seek employment elsewhere. Those were dark, uncertain times for the industry, which explains why veteran Ghibli producer Yoshiaki Nishimura picked the word “ponoć” (which means “midnight” in Croatian) for his new studio: He wanted to convey a new dawn for some of the medium’s most talented artists.

No question, the spirit survived in Studio Ponoc’s first feature, “Mary and the Witch’s Flower,” as well as a series of shorts bundled under the title “Modest Heroes.” Anime fans breathed a collective sigh of relief. The magic they’d associated with Studio Ghibli would live on. And then Miyazaki changed his mind and made “The Boy and the Heron”. In an unexpected twist, the artists who’d come up working alongside Miyazaki now found themselves competing with him.

Studio Ponoc’s second feature, “The Imaginary,...

In the world of The Imaginary (Yaneura no Rajâ), every child has a secret friend, an invisible being with whom they create fictional scenarios and share their deepest secrets. For Amanda (voiced in the English-language version by Evie Kiszel ), the protagonist of this sweet but sprawling Studio Ponoc film, that person is a sprightly and protective blond being named Rudger (Louie Rudge-Buchanan). When Amanda comes home from school, they begin their adventures, flying across a grassy expanse populated by an industrious giant and a chatty squirrel or riding a musk ox through a snowy tundra. In the words of Rudger, “Amanda always imagines the most splendid worlds.”

The Imaginary, which premiered in competition at the Annecy Animation Festival, is the second feature-length production from Studio Ponoc, following 2017’s Mary and the Witch’s Flower. It’s directed by Studio Ghibli alum Yoshiyuki Momose (Modest Heroes, Tomorrow’s Leaves) from a script...

The Imaginary has beautiful animation and characters, but falls short with a weak script and lackluster storytelling. Studio Ponoc struggles to break away from Studio Ghibli connections, hindering originality. Despite stunning visuals, The Imaginary lacks depth, with a slow narrative and an underdeveloped villain.

The Imaginary comes from an incredibly talented team of creatives, but fails to spark the imagination. While the animation and storytelling appear very similar to the renowned Studio Ghibli movies, The Imaginary has an ambitious premise that is severely let down by a weak script and looser story threads. Yes, it is beautiful, and there is potential for some of the meaning to be lost in translation, but Studio Ponoc's second attempt to deliver a feature-length animated movie is a far cry from Spirited Away.

The Imaginary (2024)

Director Yoshiyuki MomoseRelease Date July 5, 2024Writers Yoshiaki Nishimura, A.F. HarroldCast Issey Ogata, Kokoro Terada, Atsuko Takahata, Riisa Naka, Rio Suzuki,...

Netflix's latest anime, The Imaginary, directed by Studio Ghibli alum Yoshiyuki Momose, premieres July 5, 2024. The English voice cast includes LeVar Burton and Kal Penn, showcasing the Ghibli influence in this magical film. The movie's delay from 2022 to 2024 was due to pandemic-related production issues, promising a compelling adventure.

Anime on Netflix continues to thrive, and with this latest project by former Studio Ghibli members, The Imaginary, viewers will get their most magical glimpse yet. Netflix recently released the English dub trailer for the Studio Ponoc production, set for a July 5, 2024 release date while featuring the same Studio Ghibli-style visuals from previous projects.

Thanks to a trailer from Netflix, not only is The Imaginary's July 5 release date confirmed, but the English voice cast is revealed with impressive screen talent featured, alongside a preview of the film's plot.

It features Yoshiyuki Momose, longtime Ghibli and Ponoc key animator, in the director's...

The new trailer for The Imaginary imagines what would happen if the world’s imaginary friends end up without their best pals. The hand-drawn animated film arrives July 5 on Netflix after first bowing theatrically in Japan, where it grossed $919,000 last year.

The film centers on Amanda and a boy named Rudger, who is her imaginary companion whom no one but she can see. One day, Rudger finds himself alone in The Town, a place for discarded imaginary friends, where he must face a mysterious threat. It is based on the 2015 book from writer A.F. Harrold and artist Emily Gravett.

Yoshiyuki Momose directs from a script by Yoshiaki Nishimura. The English-language cast includes Louie Rudge-Buchanan (Rudger), Evie Kiszel (Amanda), Hayley Atwell (Lizzie), Sky Katz (Emily), Jeremy Swift (Mr Bunting), Kal Penn (Zinzan), LeVar Burton (The Old Dog), Jane Singer (Granny Downbeat), Ruby Barnhill (Aurora), Roger Craig Smith (Snowflake), Courtenay Taylor (Cruncher-of-Bones...

Founded in 2015 by Yoshiaki Nishimura, former lead film producer of Studio Ghibli and two-time Academy Award nominee for producing “The Tale of Princess Kaguya,” “When Marnie Was There”), Studio Ponoc has quickly emerged as a Japanese animation studio to watch. Known for “Mary and the Witch’s Flower” (2017) and 2018’s “Modest Heroes,” their latest is the animated fantasy film “The Imaginary.”

Read More: ‘Paddington In Peru’ Trailer: The Beloved Bear Goes On A Jungle Adventure Later This Year

Released last year in Japan, Netflix is premiering the Studio Ponoc film in North America and other territories this summer, giving it the global exposure it deserves.

Continue reading ‘The Imaginary’ Trailer: ‘Spirited Away’ Animator Directs New Fantasy Studio Ponoc Film Coming To Netflix In July at The Playlist.

Netflix dropped the trailer for “The Imaginary,” the hand-drawn fantasy from Japan’s Studio Ponoc (streaming July 5), currently in competition at the Annecy Animation Festival. The Oscar hopeful is adapted from the A.F. Harrold novel (illustrated by Emily Gravett) and is told through the eyes of young Amanda (Evie Kiszel) and her imaginary companion, Rudger (Louie Rudge-Buchanan), a boy who introduces her to make-believe adventures that turn dangerous when he encounters forgotten Imaginaries in a mysterious town.

“The Imaginary” is directed by former Studio Ghibli animation vet Yoshiyuki Momose (“Grave of the Fireflies”) and produced by Studio Ponoc founder and former Ghibli producer Yoshiaki Nishimura (the Oscar-nominated “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya” and “When Marnie Was There”).

“The Imaginary” marks the second feature from Studio Ponoc and the first in its multi-film deal with Netflix. The studio was founded in 2015 as a spiritual successor to Ghibli and released its debut feature,...

A team of creatives formerly of Studio Ghibli fame are releasing a new movie out of their own studio this year, The Imaginary, and it's already looking like it may be a sleeper hit.

The new film, titled The Imaginary and based on a British children's book of the same name by A.F. Harrold, is the third film from Studio Ponoc, which was founded by former lead producer of Studio Ghibli, Yoshiaki Nishimura, as well as numerous animators from the renowned studio. The studio's previous films include Mary and the Witch's Flower, a fantasy film that marked their debut, and Modest Heroes, an anthology film made up of the studio's shorts. Both works were praised for their beautiful, clearly Ghibli-influenced style, and it seems that The Imaginary will be continuing that trend based on the new trailer.

The Imaginary Promises the Fun and Heart Ghibli Fans Love

The Imaginary revolves around a young girl,...

Studio Ponoc has released a new trailer for its upcoming fantasy film, The Imaginary.

As detailed on Anime News Network, the film is an adaptation of A.F Harrold and Emily Gravett's 2014 children's novel of the same name. The trailer showcased an animation style reminiscent of Ponoc's legendary predecessor, Studio Ghibli. A host of new cast members have also been revealed; Kokoro Terada, who previously played the role of Selim Bradley in the live-action Fullmetal Alchemist film series, will star as Rudger. Rio Suzuki, who starred as Dororo in the 2019 adaptation of Osamu Tezuka's titular manga series, will portray Amanda. The Imaginary's Japanese theatrical premiere is set for Dec. 15.

Related: The Boy and the Heron Producer Says the Anime Is the Most Expensive Japanese Film Ever Made

While Ponoc unveiled a brief teaser for The Imaginary in 2021, this latest trailer delves deeper into the film's premise. As an "Imaginary," young...

"Humans forget us. There's no getting around that. There is but little time for you." Studio Ponoc in Japan has unveiled an official trailer for their latest fantasy adventure movie called The Imaginary, their second feature after Mary and the Witch's Flower previously (and the anthology project Modest Heroes). Based on the novel "The Imaginary" by A.F. Harrold, this was originally set to release in 2022 - we featured the first teaser trailer back in 2021. After being delayed for a few years, it's now set for open in Japan in December 2023, and sometime in 2024 for the rest of the world. An imaginary friend must return to his creator before he is forgotten or captured by an evil man who can see imaginary friends. "Can a boy who isn't there survive without a friend to dream him up?" The main Japanese voice cast includes Kokoro Terada, Rio Suzuki, Sakura Ando, Riisa Naka,...

Studio Ponoc's upcoming anime film, The Imaginary, will debut in Japan on Dec. 15.

As detailed on Anime News Network, Ponoc recently unveiled the film's official release date along with a new promotional poster. While The Imaginary was originally scheduled to premiere last summer, Ponoc was forced to delay the film due to "new challenges" related to both the production and the Covid-19 pandemic, the latter of which caused delays for many other anticipated releases, including Doga Kobo's Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie TV series. In Japan, the film will be released under the title, Rudger in the Attic.

Related: Everything We Know About Studio Ghibli's How Do You Live?

The Imaginary is based on the 2014 children's novel of the same name. Written by A.F. Harrold and illustrated by Emily Gravett, its story revolves around a young girl named Amanda and her friendship with her imaginary friend, Rudger.

"Birds no one's ever seen... Flowers no one's ever seen..." The next new film from Studio Ponoc! This is the animation studio in Japan that is known as the successor to Studio Ghibli - they already released Mary and the Witch's Flower, Mirai, and Modest Heroes in the last few years. Their next feature film is titled The Imaginary, adapted from the best-selling book "The Imaginary" by A.F. Harrold and Emily Gravett. The story is about a boy named Rudger, created in the mind of a your girl. 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. This sounds quite lovely. No voice cast has been announced yet, and nothing else has been confirmed other than the title. It's being directed by Yoshiyuki Momose, who Isao Takahata once called "the...

Studio Ponoc, the hand-drawn animation specialty outlet led by former Studio Ghibli producer Yoshiaki Nishimura, will team with the International Olympic Committee to create an animated short to be released ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Games.

News of this international collaboration has been timed to mark the opening day of the Annecy Intl. Animation Film Festival, which has made Japan its guest country this year and which will host Ponoc chief Nishimura on its feature film jury.

“From the moment we learned about Studio Ponoc, we were intrigued to work with its creative talent to see how they would reinterpret the Olympic values from a distinct aesthetic and narrative perspective, showcasing the finest hand-drawn and hand-painted animation,” said Francis Gabet, Director of the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage, in a press statement.

“With a focus on universal topics relevant to humanity, this film will contribute not only to the excitement...

Roster includes retrospective of Japan’s Mamoru Hosoda.

Gkids and Beijing Film Panorama will present an animation section within the upcoming Beijing International Film Festival (Bjiff) called Animation Is Film Beijing, featuring selections such as anime hit Dragon Ball Super: Broly and Buñuel In The Labyrinth Of The Turtles.

The roster of 15 non-Chinese animated features from Asia, Europe, North America, and South America is modelled on Gkids’ La-based Animation Is Film festival and includes many of the films appearing in that showcase’s 2018 line-up.

Among the titles are Oscar-nominated Mirai (pictured), European Film Award-winner Another Day Of Life, and This Magnificent Cake.

The list of screenings for the second annual Windy City Horrorama has been revealed and kicking things off is Perry Blackshear's The Rusalka. Also in today's Horror Highlights: the second wave of filmsfor Chattanooga Film Festival 2019 and Terror 5 DVD and VOD release details.

Windy City Horrorama Screenings Unveiled: Press Release: "Get ready to scream, horror fans! We’re announcing the first films of Windy City Horrorama’s creeptastic lineup!

First up, it’s the Chicago premiere of The Rusalka*! Director Perry Blackshear reunites with him They Look Like People (2015) team for this tale of a folkloric water spirit, the vengeful man hunting her, and the handsome stranger caught between them. Stuffed to its gills with doomed longing, The Rusalka is an atmospheric elegy for love touched by the cruel hands of fate.

Also joining our 2019 slate of films is the infamous low-budget vigilante shocker, Robot Ninja! This 1989 thriller about...

Gkids and Shout! Factory will issue Modest Heroes on Blu-ray + DVD and digital download on June 18, 2019. The release, which features both Japanese and English audio tracks and comes complete with bonus features, is available for pre-order now on shoutfactory.com.

From Studio Ponoc (Mary and The Witch's Flower), the acclaimed new studio founded by twice-Academy Award&#174-nominated producer Yoshiaki Nishimura, comes a thrilling collection of stories exploring ideas of heroism in their own unique way.

Modest Heroes is an ambitious collection of three thrilling tales created by some of the greatest talent working in Japanese animation today. Kanini & Kanino is directed by Academy Award&#174-nominee Hiromasa Yonebayashi; Life Ain't Gonna Lose, featuring the voice of Maggie Q, is helmed by Yoshiyuki Momose, who was a key animator on Isao Takahata's films at Studio Ghibli; and Invisible director Akihiko Yamashita was a key animator on many of Hayao Miyazaki's best-known films.

Studio Ghibli may have (temporarily) shuttered its doors five years ago, but its former animators are thriving. Aside from the majority Ghibli-staffed Studio Ponoc, which this year released the acclaimed anthology film Modest Heroes, Ghibli alums are proving that they don’t need the iconic Totoro symbol backing them to deliver quality work. The latest alum to […]

The post ‘Okko’s Inn’ Trailer: Studio Ghibli Veteran Kitaro Kosaka Directs a Cute Ghost Story appeared first on /Film.

Studio Ponoc, the up-and-coming animation studio founded by two-time Academy Award-nominee Yoshiaki Nishimura and featuring many artists from the venerable Studio Ghibli, made an immediate splash with their acclaimed debut film Mary and The Witch’s Flower last year. This year, the studio returns with their follow-up effort, Modest Heroes, an ambitious anthology of three thrilling tales created by some of the greatest talents working in Japanese animation today. Together, the stories--"Kanini & Kanino", "Life Ain’t Gonna Lose", "Invisible"--explore ideas of heroism …...

An underwater fantasy epic. A slice-of-life drama about a kid suffering from an egg allergy. An invisible man who becomes an unlikely hero. All three of these stories are segments from Studio Ponoc‘s Modest Heroes, an anthology film following up the animation studio’s highly anticipated inaugural feature film, Mary and the Witch’s Flower. Modest Heroes comes to […]

The post How Studio Ponoc is Carrying on the Spirit of Studio Ghibli With ‘Modest Heroes,’ According to Producer Yoshiaki Nishimura [Interview] appeared first on /Film.