Review of Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) by Patrick L — 16 Mar 2017

"Magically clever and imaginative, "Kubo and the Two Strings" is the best animated movie of 2016".

DVD Movie Review: Kubo and the Two Strings.

Date Viewed: December 4 2016.

Directed By Travis Knight.

Screenplay By Marc Haimes and Chris Butler, Story by Shannon Tindle and Marc Haimes.

Featuring the voices of Art Parkinson, Charlize Theron, Matthew McConaughey, Rooney Mara, George Takei and Ralph Fiennes.

Magically clever and imaginative, "Kubo and the Two Strings" is the best animated movie of 2016. Okay, it might compete against "Zootopia" for that slot but cannot deny the artistry of this movie. The stop-motion animation is breathtakingly gorgeous, the story is terrific and the voice work is outstanding. The field of animation has gone a long way over the past few years, with "The LEGO Movie", "Inside Out", "Frozen", "Shaun the Sheep Movie", "Anomalisa", "Zootopia" and "Finding Dory", the future of fun and creative animated movies for kids looks bright. Not only is it the best film from LAIKA animation, it's also one of the best movies of the year.

"Kubo and the Two Strings" tells the story of a one-eyed boy named Kubo (voiced by Art Parkinson) who makes a humble living for himself as a origami storyteller to his local villagers. Kubo uses music from his guitar to generate the origami to life and to have them tell samurai stories to his seaside village. When Kubo was born, his evil grandfather who is known by many in ancient Japan as the Moon King (voiced by Ralph Fiennes) stole one his eyes and his father, Hanzo was cursed by his evil aunts (voiced by Rooney Mara) and was then vanquished from the land.

Kubo also lives in a cave that's on top of a mountain with his ill mother, Sariatu (voiced by Charlize Theron). When Sariatu's Sisters return to get Kubo's other eye, Sariatu tells Kubo to get his father's magic armor and gives him a string of her hair as she tries fend them off with her magic. Kubo wakes up to a snowy blizzard where a mysterious snow monkey (also voiced by Theron) informs him that they need to leave now before his evil aunts find him. With his village destroyed and his mother gone, Kubo and the snow monkey go on their journey to search for his father's magic armor and sword but then they are soon greeted by a giant beetle named Beetle (voiced by Matthew McConaughey).

Beetle explains that he was once a powerful samurai was cursed to take the form of a beetle and he claims that he was Hanzo's apprentice. With the power of his magic, Kubo must not only search for his father's belongings and fulfill his heroic duties, he also must uncover the truth about his family. "Kubo and the Two Strings" is not just a fantasy samurai adventure, it also explores the meanings of kindness and finding your family. The movie was directed and co-produced by Travis Knight who serves as the Vice President and lead animator for LAIKA studios. Knight makes an amazing directorial debut and the screenplay by Marc Haimes, Chris Butler and Shannon Tindle is incredibly inventive.

If there should be a frontrunner for Best Animated Film other than "Zootopia", it should be "Kubo and the Two Strings" because it has master storytelling, compelling action, great voice-over performances and impressive stop-motion images. It's a hugely original triumph from LAIKA studios.