Review of Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) by Harry W — 20 Aug 2017

Kubo & the Two Strings - a gorgeous masterclass of motion-stop animation from lead animator of Laika, Travis Knight is mesmerising from start to finish. The story is both heartwarming and moralistic, serving with it a fantastic young protagonist in the orphan musician of Kubo and genuinely terrifying villains The Sisters and the Moon King (voiced by Rooney Mara and Ralph Fiennes respectively).

The film has it's fair share of moments that adults will enjoy and would definitely be too frightening for young audiences, in the same vein of 2009's Coraline. An animated picture that actually has depth and a beautiful story is something that is common nowadays, and that's definitely a good thing.

I'd also recommend staying until the closing credits for Regina Spektor's cover of "My Guitar Gently Weeps" and a glimpse into the agonisingly dedicated efforts that are put into stop-motion animation.