Kubo and the Two Strings

When it comes to Japanese mythology and art, one wouldn't think of an American studio trying something like this. Well, Laika, the company behind “Coraline” and “ParaNorman”, actually managed to do so. That is “Kubo and the Two Strings”, a gorgeous animated movie that not only pays tribute to Japanese mythology and art, but giving out a unique and original story as well. Sure, there are a few problems, but they are overshadowed by the amazing content that the movie brings forth. “Kubo and the Two Strings” is an outstanding animated film drenched in Japanese folklore, and just might be the best film from Laika.

The story follows Kubo (Art Parkinson), a young boy who lost his eye from his evil grandfather the Moon King (Ralph Fiennes). He protects his mother from harm, and makes a living by telling stories to the villagers near the ocean. One night, Kubo gets attacked by his aunts (Rooney Mara), and his mother dies to protect her son. Kubo is then met with a talking monkey (Charlize Theron), who informs him that they need to get several pieces or armor to defeat his grandfather. Joined by a samurai beetle (Matthew McConaughey), Kubo and his new friends must find the pieces or he will die.

What “Kubo and the Two Strings” excels at is combining animation with an emotional story. In fact, the story itself has a lot of dramatic moments, along with some nice humor thrown in, and delivers something that families can definitely relate to. One cautionary criticism is that the subject material presented here, is intended for much older kids, i.e. kids somewhere around the age of 10 to 12. Aside from that, the story flows fairly easily, and it could be understood by almost anyone.

Another aspect that I can give this movie praise for, is the fact that the direction from Travis Knight is handled very well. There is a great balance between action and dialogue that when one watches the movie,they well be surprised at that are some quiet moments to balance the pacing of the film. In fact, the pacing moves quick, and gives the viewer enough action to keep them interested.

The acting provided here is great. All of the actors and actresses deliver great performances, despite it being their voices only being acted out. Even Matthew McConaughey, despite being somewhat over the top, does a great job at providing some humor into the movie. Each cast member presents themselves as fine candidates for great characters in this animated film.

On the technical side of things, “Kubo and the Two Strings” is solid when it comes to sound design. Everything sounds fantastic, and the way that the team of designers somehow managed to authenticate these sounds, is really clever; most notable example being the wind. Like you could actually hear the wind blowing from the speakers. The music is a huge confidence booster, as there a great orchestrated soundtrack that honors Japanese music, and gives the listener a good cover of 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' over the end credits.

But what really makes the movie stand out is the animation. Considering that this is all done in stop motion, I applaud the animators for their work and dedication. Everything looks great, the characters have a unique design to them, and the backgrounds look like something out of a Japanese painting. The artists at Laika deserve a pat on the back for their work.

In conclusion, “Kubo and the Two Strings” is a marvelous animated film that everyone should at least see once in their lives, in order to see that animation combined with other cultures can turn out something great.