A.F. Harrold
Description
A. F. Harrold is the original creator behind the anime film The Imaginary, known in Japanese as Yaneura no Rudger. He is credited as the author of the original 2014 children’s novel of the same name, which served as the source material for the 2023 animated movie produced by Studio Ponoc and directed by Yoshiyuki Momose.
Born Ashley Francis Harrold in Horsham, West Sussex, in 1975, Harrold is an English poet, writer, and performer who has maintained a long-standing presence in the UK literary scene. He began writing poetry as a teenager and later studied philosophy at the University of Reading, where he became involved in performance poetry and poetry slams. After a period working in a bookshop, poetry and educational workshops became his full-time occupation, eventually leading to his career as a children’s author.
Harrold’s work in children’s literature includes several distinct series and standalone novels. He first gained recognition with the Fizzlebert Stump series, a collection of comic novels about a boy who leaves the circus to join a library. He later created the Greta Zargo series, which features a young girl saving the world from alien threats. His more serious, critically acclaimed works form a thematic trio of novels that includes The Imaginary (2014), The Song from Somewhere Else, and The Afterwards. These books, often illustrated by prominent artists such as Emily Gravett and Levi Pinfold, explore themes of loss, memory, and the power of imagination.
The creation of The Imaginary was deeply personal for Harrold, who has stated that he wrote the novel while processing the death of his mother from cancer. He has noted that he did not initially realize the book was about his grief until after he had finished writing it. The story follows a young girl named Amanda and her invisible friend, Rudger, navigating a world where imaginary beings can be threatened and consumed. The novel received critical acclaim, winning the British Book Design and Production Awards for Children’s Trade Book and Book of the Year in 2015.
When Studio Ponoc, a studio formed by former Studio Ghibli animators, announced its adaptation of The Imaginary in 2021, Harrold expressed his delight and honor, stating that he was excited to see the studio’s interpretation of his and Emily Gravett’s novel. The film, which premiered in Japan in December 2023, represents his most significant involvement with anime and manga production.
Throughout his career, Harrold has maintained that he identifies primarily as a poet, describing his work in prose as an extension of his poetic sensibilities. He frequently cites the influence of poets such as Brian Patten and the writers Douglas Adams and Neil Gaiman. His writing is characterized by a blend of humor and darker, more reflective themes, and he often collaborates closely with illustrators, considering their visual contributions integral to the finished books.
Born Ashley Francis Harrold in Horsham, West Sussex, in 1975, Harrold is an English poet, writer, and performer who has maintained a long-standing presence in the UK literary scene. He began writing poetry as a teenager and later studied philosophy at the University of Reading, where he became involved in performance poetry and poetry slams. After a period working in a bookshop, poetry and educational workshops became his full-time occupation, eventually leading to his career as a children’s author.
Harrold’s work in children’s literature includes several distinct series and standalone novels. He first gained recognition with the Fizzlebert Stump series, a collection of comic novels about a boy who leaves the circus to join a library. He later created the Greta Zargo series, which features a young girl saving the world from alien threats. His more serious, critically acclaimed works form a thematic trio of novels that includes The Imaginary (2014), The Song from Somewhere Else, and The Afterwards. These books, often illustrated by prominent artists such as Emily Gravett and Levi Pinfold, explore themes of loss, memory, and the power of imagination.
The creation of The Imaginary was deeply personal for Harrold, who has stated that he wrote the novel while processing the death of his mother from cancer. He has noted that he did not initially realize the book was about his grief until after he had finished writing it. The story follows a young girl named Amanda and her invisible friend, Rudger, navigating a world where imaginary beings can be threatened and consumed. The novel received critical acclaim, winning the British Book Design and Production Awards for Children’s Trade Book and Book of the Year in 2015.
When Studio Ponoc, a studio formed by former Studio Ghibli animators, announced its adaptation of The Imaginary in 2021, Harrold expressed his delight and honor, stating that he was excited to see the studio’s interpretation of his and Emily Gravett’s novel. The film, which premiered in Japan in December 2023, represents his most significant involvement with anime and manga production.
Throughout his career, Harrold has maintained that he identifies primarily as a poet, describing his work in prose as an extension of his poetic sensibilities. He frequently cites the influence of poets such as Brian Patten and the writers Douglas Adams and Neil Gaiman. His writing is characterized by a blend of humor and darker, more reflective themes, and he often collaborates closely with illustrators, considering their visual contributions integral to the finished books.
Works
- Topics: Anime overview