[12], Christy Lemire of RogerEbert.com awarded the film 3.5 stars out of 4, saying that "one of the most impressive elements of Kubo and the Two Strings—besides its dazzling stop-motion animation, its powerful performances and its transporting score—is the amount of credit it gives its audience, particularly its younger viewers. Actors. Red Is Heroic: Kubo wears his father's red robe and is the main protagonist. Announced in December 2014, the project is the directoral debut of Laika's CEO Travis Knight. Cast and credits. This causes all sorts of havoc as gods and monsters chase Kubo who, in order to survive, must locate a magical suit of armor once worn by his late father, a legendary Samurai warrior. Kubo and the Two Strings is a Stop Motion animated movie produced by Laika and directed by Travis Knight.. Twelve-year-old Kubo lives with his catatonic mother on top of a mountain. Kubo and the Two Strings The film revolves around Kubo, a young boy who wields a magical shamisen (a Japanese stringed instrument) and whose left eye was stolen during infancy. The film won the BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film, and was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Visual Effects, becoming the second animated film ever to be nominated in the latter category following 1993's The Nightmare Before Christmas, and the first film to be nominated for both. I felt that the world is living and that magic is truly alive. By day, he is known as a storyteller to the village below, and by night, he must return to take care of his mother, never finishing the stories he tells. Find out where Kubo and the Two Strings is streaming, if Kubo and the Two Strings is on Netflix, and get news and updates, on Decider. Kubo and the Two Strings is another brilliant stop-motion animated feature film from Studio Laika. George Takei and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa were the only actors of Asian descent and both played minor characters. [3], In the United States, the film was released on August 19, 2016, alongside Ben-Hur and War Dogs, and was projected to gross $12–15 million from 3,260 theaters in its opening weekend. This film cost nearly $100 million to make and it is expected to bomb spectacularly. Manolo, a young man who is torn between fulfilling the expectations of his family and following his heart, embarks on an adventure that spans three fantastic worlds where he must face his greatest fears. [6] The resulting puppet was built in two parts which were then attached together by magnets. During the battle, the Moon King managed to pluc… [11] It made $515,000 from its Thursday night previews and $4.1 million on its first day. Along with adventurer Adelina Fortnight, this trio of explorers travel the world to help their new friend. The team at one point purchased an industrial robot from eBay but found that it would not work with their setup. KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS takes stop-motion animation to new heights in this exciting adventure, but sadly makes some serious missteps. "[22], While the film received critical acclaim for its craft and story, it was criticized for its perceived whitewashing as a movie set in ancient Japan but featuring a centrally white cast. Kubo and the Two Strings. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. One day, Kubo learns of the village's Bon festival allowing them to speak to deceased loved ones. So much care and attention went into this film. Kubo and Beetle swim down to retrieve it and encounter a sea monster, the "Garden of Eyes", who first uses its many eyes to entrance its victims by showing them visions of secrets, then eats them. Studio Laika consistently produces wonderful and creative stop-motion animated feature films, which take a lot more talent, love, and money than the CGI movies put out by Disney. A small portion of the production was released on YouTube. "Kubo and the Two Strings" is unlike anything out there and deserves to be seen on the big screen. The voice casting is top-notch and I felt like the celebrities actually made an effort. It has a compelling story, stunning visuals, remarkable animation, and great voice acting, After a summer of disappointing sequels and blockbusters, we finally got an outstanding original story. Clever, kindhearted Kubo (voiced by Art Parkinson of Game of Thrones) ekes out a humble living, telling stories to the people of his seaside town including Hosato (George Takei), Hashi (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa) and Kamekichi (Academy Award nominee Brenda Vaccaro). "[21], Jonathan Pile of Empire, wrote of the film: "Yet another success for stop-motion giants Laika … boasts big laughs and effective scares in a typically gorgeous animated tale. Kubo and the Two Strings‘ world is an ancient Asian land of sword-wielding warriors, poor peasant farmers and fishermen.The villagers who live near Kubo’s cave home kneel and pray to loved ones they have seen pass on. Even when you as the audience know where the story is headed, the film surprises you with the delivery and you actually grow and learn with the characters. Studio Laika consistently produces wonderful and creative stop-motion animated feature films, which take a lot more talent, love, and money than the CGI movies put out by Disney. Beetle rescues the unconscious Kubo and obtains the Breastplate, but on returning to the boat, they find that Monkey has been badly wounded fighting and defeating Karasu. Sariatu warns him not to stay out after dark as her Sisters, Karasu and Washi, and his grandfather, the Moon King (who took his eye when he was a baby) will find him and take his remaining eye. But perhaps worse for the film, and its studio, is … It stars the voices of Charlize Theron, Art Parkinson, Ralph Fiennes, George Takei, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Brenda Vaccaro, Rooney Mara, and Matthew McConaughey. It stars the voices of Charlize Theron, Art Parkinson, Ralph Fiennes, George Takei, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Brenda Vaccaro, Rooney Mara, and Matthew McConaughey. 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Clever, kindhearted Kubo (voiced by Art Parkinson of 33 wins & 63 nominations. He was also something of a romantic do to the fact that he fell in love with the goddess Satiaru while the latter was trying to kill him at their first encounter. With help of "Little Hanzo", an origami figure based on Kubo's father, they set out to find the armor. There is a story in it and the adventure is grand and fun, but I can't place it into a category of traditional storytelling. Unlike many big-budget animated productions, The voice actors weren't distracting and added their own layer of charisma that enhanced and drew attention to the characters. Throughout the film, I felt moments of sadness, loss, happiness, horror, fear, and accomplishment. These spectral twins are both the Moon King’s daughters and his most powerful and ruthless assassins. Monkey is probably the best character and I feel like she'll be the fan favorite as she's funny, powerful, and a total bada**.Overall, Laika has produced probably their best animated film to date and that is saying a lot from a studio that produces quality efforts time and time again. That night, Kubo dreams of meeting Raiden, a blind elderly man, who points him towards the "Helmet Invulnerable" in Hanzo's abandoned fortress. It is a sweeping tale … The beautiful score and music only adds to the complexity of the film. Kubo is able to speak to his parents' ghosts during the subsequent Bon ceremony, as they watch the deceased villagers' lanterns transform into golden herons and fly to the spirit world. Kubo and the spirits' magic protect themselves and the villagers from Raiden, stripping him of his powers and leaving him a mortal human without any memories. The technicalities, animation, … They cross the Long Lake in a leaf boat to locate the "Breastplate Impenetrable" deep underwater. An adventurous 11-year-old girl finds another world that is a strangely idealized version of her frustrating home, but it has sinister secrets. Prime Video has you covered this holiday season with movies for the family. Kubo lives a quiet, normal life in a small shoreside village until a spirit from the past turns his life upside down by re-igniting an age-old vendetta. A young orphaned boy raised by underground cave-dwelling trash collectors tries to save his friends from an evil exterminator. Academy Awards, USA 2017 Nominee Oscar: Best Animated Feature Film of the Year Travis Knight Arianne Sutner: Best Achievement in Visual Effects Steve Emerson Oliver Jones Brian McLean Brad Schiff: [12], Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film an approval rating of 97% based on reviews from 219 critics, with an average rating of 8.4/10. But when he fails to make it home on time one evening, a chain of events are… [5] Knight mentioned that the story for the film was partly inspired by works of Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki. "[17], Michael O'Sullivan of The Washington Post gave the film 4/4 stars, stating that the film is "both extraordinarily original and extraordinarily complex, even for a grown-up movie masquerading as a kiddie cartoon (which it kind of is). Directed by Travis Knight. Not one character felt out of place and they're inclusion felt important. A particular influence came from the ukiyo-e woodblock style, with Laika intending to make the entire film "to look and feel as if it's a moving woodblock print"[5] Assistance came from 3D printing firm Stratasys who allowed Laika to use their newest technologies in exchange for feedback on them. Both sisters wear wide straw hats with disturbing Noh masks covering their true faces. I highly recommend that people check out this highly creative experience. Little Hanzo provides insight to Kubo that the Helmet is actually the bell at the village, and Kubo breaks the last string to quickly travel there. When Hanzo's armor proves ineffective, Kubo removes it and restrings his shamisen using his mother's hair, his father's bowstring, and his own hair. Was this review helpful to you? Kubo is an adventurous, stop motion animated film that has dazzled both audiences and critics with its breathtaking visuals. Kubo and the Two Strings Kubo and the Two Strings In a small village in an ancient mythical Japan, Kubo and his magic shamisen unwittingly summon vengeful spirits who wish to harm him and his ailing mother. [14] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, while PostTrak reported filmgoers gave it an 85% overall positive score and a 63% "definite recommend". $29.99. Kubo wakes up in a distant land to find Monkey, his wooden snow monkey charm, has come alive. Kubo and the Two Strings is a 2016 American stop-motion animated action fantasy film directed by Travis Knight (in his feature directorial debut) and produced by animation studio Laika. Semi-Divine: Kubo is the demigod son of the human Hanzo and the celestial being Sariatu, as well as the grandson of the celestial lord of the heavens, The Moon King. Showing all 33 wins and 65 nominations. They pray to draw dead spirits into Spirit Lanterns, then release those containers to float downstream in order to “usher into heaven” the souls within. 8 images (& sounds) of the Kubo and the Two Strings cast of characters. The strength of the film is the pure visceral experience it provides. Kubo and The Two Strings is the best animated film of the year and one of the best films of 2016. Monkey tells him Sariatu is gone and the village destroyed. A young boy named Kubo must locate a magical suit of armour worn by his late father in order to defeat a vengeful spirit from the past. Add the first question. A misunderstood boy takes on ghosts, zombies and grown-ups to save his town from a centuries-old curse. The website's critical consensus reads, "Kubo and the Two Strings matches its incredible animation with an absorbing—and bravely melancholy—story that has something to offer audiences of all ages. They go to shore to recover, where Monkey explains that she and her Sisters were ordered by the Moon King to kill Hanzo, but she instead fell in love with him, and the Moon King branded her an enemy. "[20] Jordan Hoffman of The Guardian was more critical of the film, giving it a two out of five stars and saying that "Older kids, except for a few teacher’s pets, will soon realise that this is hardly a fun action-adventure cartoon at all, but a plate of vegetables. Kubo and the Two Strings is a 2016 American stop-motion animated action fantasy film directed by Travis Knight (in his feature directorial debut) and produced by animation studio Laika. They are the sisters of Kubo's mother but have never treated family above themselves, only when obeying their father. Kubo and the Two Strings takes place in what appears to be ancient Japan. Kubo and the Two Strings tells the story of its titular character, a young boy with one eye who lives with his mother in an isolated cave atop a mountain and spends his daytime entertaining the local crowd at a nearby village through his magical shamisen & origami. They travel there the next day but realize too late it is a trap set by the Moon King and Washi. The world Laika has created is rich with so much history, story, mythos, and culture that even some movies and series that are much longer can't fully create. From Laika, the groundbreaking stop motion animation studio, comes Kubo and the Two Strings, Coraline, ParaNorman and The Boxtrolls - four exciting adventures in one collection for the whole family! A young boy befriends a giant robot from outer space that a paranoid government agent wants to destroy. The timelessness of the film gives it an overall feeling of cinematic grace, with obvious nods to greats ranging from Kurosawa and Miyazaki to Spielberg and Lucas. (2016). IMDb presents a tribute to those entertainers and public figures who passed away in 2020. Kubo and the Two Strings is an epic action-adventure set in a fantastical Japan from acclaimed animation studio LAIKA. Spiritual Elements. Laika movies also have much better stories than Disney. Kubo and the Two Strings is a 2016 American 3D stop-motion animated fantasy action adventure film produced by Laika for Focus Features. After opening in theaters on Friday, Kubo and the Two Strings suffered the worst box office numbers of any Laika studios release to date. Kubo mesmerizes the people in his village with his magical gift for spinning wild tales with origami. "[13] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 84 out of 100, based on 38 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". "[19] Peter Debruge of Variety wrote that ""Kubo" offers another ominous mission for a lucky young misfit, this one a dark, yet thrilling adventure quest that stands as the crowning achievement in Laika's already impressive oeuvre. [27], Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre, List of accolades received by Kubo and the Two Strings, "Laika & Focus Begin Production On All-Star 'Kubo And The Two Strings' To Kick Off 3-Pic Deal", "Kubo and the Two Strings: an epic film made on a 12-foot-long table", "Laika Was Crazy Enough To Animate A 16-Foot Tall Skeleton for 'Kubo and The Two Strings, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCVXWk2im2M, "Dario Marianelli to Score Laika's 'Kubo and the Two Strings, "The Kubo And The Two Strings Trailer Is Epic And Magical", "Laika releases another, less ghoulish triumph with Kubo And The Two Strings", "Kubo and the Two Strings review – kids' movie equivalent of a plate of vegetables", "The 'Kubo and the Two Strings' Controversy Proves Whitewashing Is More Complicated Than You Think", "Watchdog Group Chides Laika For "White-Washing" 'Kubo And The Two Strings, "Oscars: 'La La Land' Ties Record With 14 Nominations", Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Film, Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Animated Film, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn, National Board of Review Award for Best Animated Feature, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Animated Film, San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Animated Film, Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Feature, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kubo_and_the_Two_Strings&oldid=997063854, American children's animated adventure films, American children's animated fantasy films, Album articles lacking alt text for covers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 29 December 2020, at 20:56. [10], Kubo and the Two Strings grossed $48 million in North America and $29.5 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $77.5 million, against a budget of $60 million. What made the Sisters such fright… Above all else, “Kubo and the Two Strings” is fittingly about storytelling and its capacity to transform and connect us. Karasu and Washi quickly find him and attack, but Sariatu suddenly appears and uses her magic to send Kubo far away, telling him to find his father's armor. [8], The film screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival on August 13, 2016,[9] and was theatrically released in the United States on August 19, 2016. Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) Awards. [6] The idea to make such a massive puppet was born out of a fear that individual smaller parts (meant to represent the larger monster) would not work well on screen interacting with the other puppets. It is a movie that truly raises the bar for animation and it saddens me that many people will not check it out as it is very different from traditional animated films that we are used to seeing from other major animation studios. Club, praised the film, saying that "no American animation studio is better-suited to dreamlike plotting than Laika, and the animation of Kubo is truly dazzling, mixing sophistication and handmade charm with inspired flow. He offers to take Kubo's other eye to make him immortal, but Kubo refuses. While on the run, he encounters magical creatures, and learns the truth of his earthly family's connection to the heaven and stars. Kubo and the Two Strings manages to submerge the audience into a magnificent world that is full of magic and rich with lore. With the instrument, he summons the spirits of the villagers' loved ones, who show Raiden that memories are the strongest magic of all and can never be destroyed. Kubo, Monkey, and Beetle reclaim the "Sword Unbreakable" from a cave guarded by a giant skeleton. At the village, Kubo meets Raiden, who is revealed as the Moon King.