THE FIRST trailer has been released for a new animation based on a book by a Reading author.
AF Harrold’s The Imaginary will be released in Japan just before Christmas, with an English language version following next year.
It tells the story of Rudger, a boy no one can see but imagined by Amanda. When she forgets him, Rudger is lost without hope … until he arrives at The Town of Imaginaries.
The hand-drawn animation features some innovative techniques that creators Studio Ponoc promise will be honour heritage of the medium while creating exquisite storytelling.
As well as the trailer, which is subtitled in English, the Japanese cast have been announced: Kokoro Terada, Rio Suzuki, Sakura Ando, Riisa Naka, Takayuki Yamada, Atsuko Takahata and Issey Ogata.
AF Harrold is no stranger to these pages: a poet, author, and genius, he created the Fizzlebert Stump series in 2012, based on a boy who ran away from a circus.
The Imaginary, which was illustrated by Emily Gravett, followed in 2014, while Greta Zargo and the Amoeba Monsters From The Middle of Earth followed in 2018.
He has also created numerous collections of poetry which have delighted all ages.
He is delighted that work on the movie version of The Imaginary is progressing well ahead of its Japanese release date of Friday, December 15.
“My friends at Studio Ponoc have released a new full-length trailer with English subtitles for #TheImaginary, and I think it looks pretty good,” he said.
“It’s a very odd thing for this strange little book that I handed in to my editor at Bloomsbury, not knowing whether she would take it as it wasn’t the next Fizzlebert Stump that she was expecting, has found its way across the world and been worked on by hundreds of complete strangers to make their own vision of a version.
“It’s good to know that the version of the story by myself and Emily Gravett now (or shortly) has a sibling sitting alongside – not in competition, but as a complement – a Rashomon-ish second take.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the whole thing.”
To see the trailer, or find out more about the film, log on to: www.ponoc.jp/Rudger/en
