Kubo and the Two Strings - A Stop Motion Masterpiece

{No compensation was received for this post}

Kubo and the Two Strings is the newest offering from LAIKA Studios. From the moment you enter LAIKA Studios, you know that the studio is doing something brilliant..telling stories in a way that no other studio can. Complex characters, lush environments and engaging stories brought to life frame by frame through intricate puppets and lavish, hand-built sets. Kubo and the Two Strings is LAIKA’s latest 3D stop-motion animated film now in theaters and slated to be one of the year’s best films. The film’s jaw-dropping animation only accentuates a compelling story, uniquely relatable to a broad audience.

Kubo and the Two Strings – A Mystical Journey

Starring the voice talents of Charlize Theron, Matthew McConaughey, Ralph Fiennes, Rooney Mara and George Takei, the film follows the story of Kubo, a young boy living in fantastical Japan with his ill mother. Each day, he goes into the village to tell stories of great warriors using the magic and power of origami, brought to life by the music he plays on his shamisen. One such story details the battle of samurai warrior and Kubo’s father Hanzo, who was supposedly killed while attempting to save Kubo from the evil forces of his aunts and his grandfather, the Moon King. In order to avoid these forces and keep his remaining eye, he is instructed by his mother to return before dark.

Desperate to find out the truth about his father and quizzical about the accuracy of his mother’s warnings, Kubo ignores his mother’s warning and attends a ceremony to summon him. When his father does not respond, Kubo angrily leaves the village, albeit after dark, unleashing the fury of his aunts. To protect Kubo, his mother sends Kubo away with instructions to find his father’s armor, the only answer to defeating the evil forces of his family.

As Kubo sets out on this unlikely adventure, he is joined by Monkey, a wooden charm brought to life by his mother’s magic, and Beetle, a fallen samurai cursed to take the form of a beetle. Together, the three of them embark on a journey filled with danger at every turn as they battle gods and monsters and the vengeful Moon King in an effort uncover the mystery of his father, the dark secrets that plague their family, and the secret of Kubo’s legacy.

https://youtu.be/p4-6qJzeb3A

Kubo and the Two Strings – Masterful Story Telling

Kubo and the Two Strings is unlike any animated film you’ve seen. It is quiet and contemplative, yet engaging and thrilling. Kids will enjoy Kubo’s endearing humor, unmatched bravery and cleverness while adults revel in the wonder of ancient Japan, fashioned from the creative minds of Travis Knight and the filmmakers at LAIKA. There is an emotional resonance that you won’t find in animated films today, handling themes like death and loss delicately, yet never underestimating its audience. And yet, while it is very possible that you will cry during the film, Kubo and the Two Strings is redemptive, exciting, if not at times gripping, and deeply affective, reinforcing the incredible bond shared between a mother and her son.

See Kubo and the Two Strings in theaters now.

Author
Recent Posts

Caryn Bailey

Caryn is a NICU nurse by day, blogger by night and mom 24/7. She savors the warm Southern California sun and loves to travel, shopping, baking, reading and frequenting her local tea room. Caryn created the column Lavishly Green for Peekaboo Picks Magazine to share her best tips for going green in style, she is the Former editor for Family Review Network, former OC Family Magazine online contributor, former Orange County Moms Blog contributor, former Evenflo Savvy Parent contributor, former member of the Totsy Advisory Board and former freelance writer for CBS Los Angeles.