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Animated drama

The Imaginary (2024): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

The Imaginary (2024) movie poster

The Imaginary is a 2024 animated drama directed by Yoshiyuki Momose, starring Kokoro Terada as Rudger, Takayuki Yamada and Hayley Atwell. It runs 1 hour 45 minutes and earned $43.8 million worldwide on a $13 million budget. Critics gave it 66 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.8/10.

IMDb rating
4.8/10
worldwide gross
$43.8M
Echo Score
70
Metascore
66
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The Imaginary (2024) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 45m (105 min)
Director
Yoshiyuki Momose
Original language
Japanese
Budget
$13M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Imaginary About?

The premise of The Imaginary without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

In the whimsical realm of "The Town of The Imaginaries," a young girl's imagination creates Rudger, a boy who is invisible to others. As he experiences this world where fantasies can be consumed, Rudger forms meaningful connections with new friends during a visually stunning adventure that explores friendship and the power of imagination.

The Imaginary Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • teddy bear
  • imaginary friend
  • psychological horror
  • evil entity
  • old woman
  • older sister younger sister relationship
  • sister sister relationship
  • stepmother stepdaughter relationship
  • dream sequence
  • child's drawing
  • old home
  • grindhouse film
+38 more
  • nightmare
  • evil teddy bear
  • basement
  • drawing
  • nightmare sequence
  • evil imaginary friend
  • spider
  • former babysitter
  • fear
  • swearing
  • profanity
  • self harm
  • female protagonist
  • teddy
  • man kisses a woman
  • kiss
  • attempted self harm
  • drugs
  • drug taking
  • supernatural power
  • being called a scaredy cat
  • reference to chatty cathy the doll
  • listening through a vent
  • reference to pixar
  • scavenger hunt
  • stabbing oneself in the hand
  • drawing on a wall
  • hide and seek
  • looking under a bed
  • house on fire
  • title spoken in dialogue
  • 15 year old girl
  • 5 year old girl
  • reference to chuck e. cheese
  • stepmother
  • allergy medicine
  • waking up from a nightmare
  • assisted living
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Cast & crew

The Imaginary Cast & Characters

Kokoro Terada leads the cast as Rudger, with Takayuki Yamada as Jinzan and Hayley Atwell as Lizzie. Directed by Yoshiyuki Momose; 20 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Imaginary

· 16 more
From the director

More from Yoshiyuki Momose

More films directed by Yoshiyuki Momose: NiNoKuni, Modest Heroes: Ponoc Short Films Theatre, Volume 1, Modest Heroes and Life Ain’t Gonna Lose.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Imaginary Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Imaginary 66 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 70/100, strongest in art & craft (90) and weakest in story & flow (50).

70 /100

The Imaginary Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, The Imaginary stands out for its striking hand-drawn visuals and imaginative world-building, yet it struggles to maintain narrative coherence and emotional momentum. Critics frequently note the exquisite dreamscapes and intricate artistry that evoke a rich magical realism. However, intermittent pacing lags and occasional logic lapses can weaken audience engagement. On balance, the film offers a visually compelling experience that is somewhat undermined by its uneven storytelling.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 90

    In terms of art and craft, The Imaginary excels with vibrant hand-drawn animation and intricate design that rival major studio productions. Reviewers highlight the film’s detailed dreamscapes and tasteful color palette, which convey a visionary spark beyond conventional digital offerings. The production design and elegant line work consistently draw praise. Overall, its artistic execution represents a clear strength throughout the film.

  • Character & Emotion 65

    When it comes to character and emotion, responses are mixed due to uneven depth and resonance. Some praise the charming imagined personalities and heartfelt moments, while others note a lack of emotional connection and superficial portrayal of grief. Dialogue occasionally feels expository rather than nuanced. Ultimately, the film’s emotional impact remains moderate rather than fully immersive.

  • Story & Flow 50

    In terms of story and flow, The Imaginary presents an inventive premise but struggles with pacing and coherence. Critics mention that dream logic can feel convoluted and exposition-heavy, causing momentum to stall at times. While some engagement persists in the film’s imaginative sequences, the narrative’s uneven structure and slow development limit its overall cohesion. The plot’s ambition remains partially unrealized.

  • Sensory Experience 85

    When evaluating sensory experience, the film’s visual and auditory elements deliver a cohesive, immersive atmosphere. The hand-drawn aesthetics and detailed sound design create an engaging magical milieu. Although score and soundtrack details are less discussed, the overall sensory cohesion is reinforced by consistent artistic style and clarity. The sensory execution significantly enhances the viewer’s immersion in the fantasy world.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    When considering rewatch factor, The Imaginary’s rich visuals and imaginative premise offer moments of repeated enjoyment, particularly for fans of hand-drawn animation. However, the uneven pacing and occasional narrative confusion may diminish the incentive to revisit. While its visual spectacle remains appealing on subsequent viewings, the uneven storytelling limits its long-term replay value.

Plot

The Imaginary Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in The Imaginary from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Children’s book author Jessica is happily married to the musician Max, who has two daughters from his previous marriage: the younger Alice and the rebellious teenager Taylor. While Alice adores Jessica and their growing bond, Taylor remains distant, creating a challenging family dynamic. Jessica frequently battles with nightmares involving her mentally unstable father Ben and a fictional character from her stories, Simon the spider. As the family settles into Jessica’s childhood home, Alice stumbles upon an old teddy bear named Chauncey in the basement, forming a quick attachment to him.

Full summary

The whole story of The Imaginary, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

The Imaginary Box Office & Budget

The Imaginary grossed $43.8 million worldwide on a $13 million budget, 3.4 times what it cost. $28 million came from the US and Canada and $15.8 million (36%) from the rest of the world.

2024 box office

Worldwide gross

$43.8M

3.4× its budget

US & Canada
$28M
International
$15.8M
Budget
$13M
US & Canada 64% Rest of the world 36%
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Imaginary?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is Jessica's husband in the movie?

Details

The Imaginary Also Known As

31 alternative titles, including “Yaneura no Rudger” and “Rudger in the Attic”.

Also known as
  • Yaneura no Rudger
  • Rudger in the Attic
  • Yaneura no Rajâ
  • الخيالي
  • 阁楼的拉杰
  • El imaginario
  • L'immaginario
  • L'Imaginaire
  • De spinsels
  • Imaginacja
  • Der Imaginäre
  • 상상
+19 more
  • Hayalî
  • O Imaginário
  • L'imaginari
  • 閣樓的拉傑
  • Imaginarni
  • Vymyšlení
  • Den imaginære
  • Kuvitelma
  • Ο Φανταστικός
  • הדמיוני
  • द इमैजिनरी
  • A képzelmény
  • Воображаемое
  • Låtsasvännen
  • จินตนาการ
  • Уявне
  • Tưởng tượng
  • Имагинарно
  • Irudizkoa

Seen The Imaginary?

FAQ

The Imaginary FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of The Imaginary, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Imaginary?

The Imaginary runs 1 hour 45 minutes (105 minutes).

When was The Imaginary released?

The Imaginary was released on June 28, 2024.

Who directed The Imaginary?

The Imaginary was directed by Yoshiyuki Momose.

More films by Yoshiyuki Momose

Who is in the cast of The Imaginary?

The Imaginary stars Kokoro Terada as Rudger, Takayuki Yamada as Jinzan and Hayley Atwell as Lizzie, among 20 credited actors.

How much did The Imaginary make at the box office?

The Imaginary grossed $43.8 million worldwide ($28 million domestic, $15.8 million international) on a budget of $13 million.

How is The Imaginary rated?

The Imaginary has 4.8/10 on IMDb and 66 on Metacritic.

Does The Imaginary have a post-credit scene?

No. The Imaginary has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is The Imaginary in?

The original language of The Imaginary is Japanese.

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