Review of Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) by Kj P — 08 Nov 2016

When it comes to Laika Studios, they have not been ones to give us an overabundance of content. They plan for years to deliver an incredible story to their fan base. From the magnificently original Coraline, to the very fun Paranorman, and even the enjoyable, yet flawed Boxtrolls, Laika has proven themselves to be a studio that cares about their stories. That being said, even though they have already delivered three very fun films in the past, Kubo and the Two Strings goes above and beyond. Their stories have been very simple premises in the past, but this film takes many more chances in both story and visual style. Everything about this film is breathtaking from start to finish. Here is why I believe this to be Laika's best film to date.

After losing his father and washing up on shore with his mother, Kubo is raised in poor circumstances as magic looms around them. Returning to take the life of his mother, Kubo's aunts make it their mission to search and destroy. He is then transported to a reality where his origami figures come to life in certain forms that will leave the audience with their jaw on the floor. Everything about this film deserves your undivided attention. Whether or not you are a young child or a grown adult, there are fun elements for children, as well as a splendid story for every parent to enjoy. Yes, but deals with much more mature themes than your average animated children's film, but that is why this film is such a rare gem.

Most of the films from this studio have involved some sort of adventure involving a central child protagonist. Nothing has changed in that regard, but this is easily their strongest character to date. Instead of travelling to mirrored realities or discovering a street full of creatures in boxes, this film brings the magic to reality and does not hold back when wanting to be creative. Using guitars to control origami in order to bring the origami figures to life to help him on a quest to find armour that will protect him from any and all threats, is one of the most original ideas I have witnessed all year. Around every corner, I found myself either sucked into the dialogue between characters or the visuals on screen. This picture is beautiful.

It is rare that I enjoy secondary characters almost as much as the titular one, but this film weaves in its side characters in a way that makes you like everyone on screen as an equal. There are so many beautiful moments spread throughout this film that it demands you to fall in love with everyone on screen. Aside from the villains, you grow to love everyone. In previous films from this studio, the secondary characters have not always been as fleshed out as their main protagonist, but they finally nailed that aspect here. If you are looking for a film for all ages to view, while still getting everything you want out of a clever story, Kubo and the Two Strings is highly recommended for you.

In the end, Kubo and the Two Strings is incredibly well-scripted, its visuals are not really comparable to anything I have ever seen (as far as stop-motion animation goes), and these characters make this story even more compelling that what it promises to be from the very beginning. There have been some terrific animated films this year, and if this one is not your favourite of them all, it will be very close. If this film doesn't get a nod at the 2017 Oscars for best animated feature film, there will be a serious problem. From start to finish, Kubo and the Two Strings is a beautiful animated film that needs to be seen by more people. This is one of the most overlooked films of 2016 and I feel very sorry for Laika. Please, if you are interested in this style of film or even intrigued by its premise at all, I highly, highly recommend giving it a shot.