Directed by Travis Knight | Written by Marc Haimes and Chris Butler
Featuring the voices of: Art Parkinson, Charlize Theron, Matthew McConaughey, Rooney Mara, Brenda Vaccaro and George Takei.
This latest film from Laika is a 3D stop-motion animated film. It tells the story of Kubo, a boy who comes across the ocean as a baby, adrift with his mother, fleeing some sort of great danger – one that has left him with only one eye. In hiding, he grows into a young boy and demonstrates a magical affinity for storytelling and origami. He uses this gift to mesmerize the townsfolk with tales of great warriors and monsters for a bit of money. Meanwhile, his mother, also possessing magical powers, is slipping away in a deep melancholia and fading memories. She forbids him to stay out after dark for they are being hunted by those responsible for taking his eye. As the story progresses, this inevitability comes to pass and those forces catch up to him.
Kubo and the Two Strings is a gorgeous film. Laika, which builds on its resume of Coraline, Paranorman, and The Boxtrolls, has slowly and meticulously been perfecting it’s craft in the genre. 4.3 seconds of animation was produced in a day – the film taking 5 years to complete. Its look is stylish and impressive, fooling this reviewer’s eye into thinking it was done completely in the CGI domain.
Even more impressive are the themes the film tackles: love, life, death, rebirth, grief, the idea of memory as sacred and divine, and the power of storytelling. In this sense, “Kubo” strives for Studio Ghibli territory and is much closer to Miyazaki than any Dreamworks/Pixar/Disney offerings of late. It is appropriate to describe “Kubo” as a Samurai film as it has elements reminiscent of Kurosawa especially in its depiction of evil and the supernatural, as well as the hero’s journey.
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While the film doesn’t completely succeed in its efforts to address all of these themes, it doesn’t fail either. Kubo should be lauded for not dumbing down its ideas to cater to the lowest common denominator. There is a darkness and melancholia added on to the film’s optimism and humor – and this seems fitting to its execution: simple with a dash of complexity. I also found its un-sentimentality refreshing in the era dominated by the Frozens and the Finding Dorys.
Kubo and the Two Strings is not perfect but it makes a valiant effort in a mature way. The filmmakers should be commended for that.
Note: the film has some scary images and sequences and not recommended for kids under 10.
So what do you think of Kubo and The Two Strings? Let us know what you think!
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FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG 
My thoughts are very similar. I thought this also stumbled a bit in a few places, but it’s a technical marvel and the ambition that went into it was certainly felt. Plus, if nothing else,it’s an extremely fun adventure movie.
Hi Daniel – you’re correct. It is a fun adventure movie. With all my wordiness i forgot to write that!
I’m definitely up for renting this one Vince! Thanks for lending me ‘Coraline’ too, that’ll be the first from LAIKA studio that I’ll see.
Thanks for letting me see this Ruth! I enjoyed this very much. I hope you like Coraline. If you have a big screen you can try the 3D glasses. I’ve always wondered about seeing it that way.
What a lovely review! This sounds like a movie I’d love, even if it isn’t quite a five-star film. 🙂
Thanks Stephanie! I think the filmmakers put some love into this one.
Everything I read about this…every still I see…I just can’t wait to finally see this. Great review!
Thanks Andrew – I must say that when I saw this, I had not read anything or seen much about it. So I was pleasantly surprised.
Have not seen this yet, so I only peeked at the score, but that’s looking positive Vince. Hope I’ll be able to get around to this soon.
Hi Nostra – indeed. Good chance you will like this one!
Loved this one!
Nice blog, Jay!
Nice review Vince, I thought it’s a CGI animation! Not sure if I’ll ever see this one but it’s gotten lots of great reviews just like yours.
I know. I thought it was cgi too – i’m sure there was some compositing done etc. But yeah, so far good ratings.
question (or two): Throughout his journey, Kubo has been getting assistance/guidance from the paper Honzo. So when he has the dream in which his grandfather tricks him into going to the fortress for the helmet, why doesn’t the paper Honzo at some point warn him that it’s a trap or give him some sense that something isn’t right? Also, when Kubo awakens from the dream and tells his mother and Beatle, who is his (yet-to-be-revealed) father, why do they just take his word for it? Shouldn’t they feel some urge to question Kubo’s dream “revelation” of the helmet’s whereabouts?
Hi there,
Good questions. I would have to rewatch the sections you mentioned but honestly, I didn’t notice these while viewing. I wouldn’t be surprised of these holes and minor flaws which render the film less than perfect. Still thought it was good though.
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