A quiet musician lives up to his destiny as the greatest samurai warrior that the world has ever known, in “Kubo and the Two Strings”. The latest visual masterpiece from acclaimed animation studio LAIKA, introduces us to Clever, kindhearted Kubo (voiced by Art Parkinson) eeking out a humble living, telling stories to the people of his seaside town including Hosato (George Takei), Akihiro (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa), and Kameyo (Brenda Vaccaro). But his relatively quiet existence is shattered when he accidentally summons a spirit from his past which storms down from the heavens to enforce an age-old vendetta. Now on the run, Kubo joins forces with Monkey (Charlize Theron) and Beetle (Matthew McConaughey), and sets out on a thrilling quest to save his family and solve the mystery of his fallen father, the greatest samurai warrior the world has ever known. With the help of his shamisen a magical musical instrument Kubo must battle gods and monsters, including the vengeful Moon King (Ralph Fiennes) and the evil twin Sisters (Rooney Mara), to unlock the secret of his legacy, reunite his family, and fulfill his heroic destiny. The film is directed by Laika favorite Travis Knight, and is rated PG for thematic elements, scary images, action and peril.

Laika Studios hits another home run on the visual spectacle, with their newest feature film. This is 97 minutes of pure entertainment on every measurement of the film presentation. This movie really ignited a fire emotionally within me, and that inspiration hit the mark on all kinds of feelings for the characters and this story. The movie’s fine combination of heartfelt drama, combined with thoughtful comedic timing and bedtime story essence in display, really triggered a nostalgic feeling for the kinds of films that I grew up with as a child. Movies like “Fern Gully” or “The Pagemaster” made us believe that anything could happen, and the magical display of spiritual enlightenment really channels a pleasurable innocence that carries most of the film to new heights, even for the amazing Laika. What I really love about this story is that it’s filmed as an animated movie for children, but exists within a world where adult-like themes are very much commonplace for the characters. This is a world where death is very much permanent, but the altercation with the magical themes and arts really gives something admirable for the whole family. I do believe that this movie will reach more positivity with a young teen/adult audience, simply because some of the themes (E.I, reincarnation) might go over the heads of a younger audience who aren’t quite developed enough to take it all in.

As with any Laika movie, the visual feast to take in is both plentiful and satisfying for anyone who takes on this adventure. The kinds of details and production that goes into creating five minutes of footage is simply mind-boggling, and those of you reading this should definitely stay till the end of the credits to witness a thirty second short feature on how one of the more ambitious scenes is documented. Everything here works for the very feel and tone of the Samurai landscape in Asian territory, to add surreal style to the heartfelt story that it entails. What I love is when Laika will take a movie that is shot in stop-motion clay-mation, and blend it with a practical prop from our own world. An example of this is in a scene where our protagonists are enjoying a meal at sea, and the fish that is chopped up by Monkey is 100% authentic. This gives the movie a feeling of breaking the creative fourth wall, alongside the blending of the two worlds that are separated by a screen. I also thought that the 3D aspect of the movie gave a lot of eye-popping features that justifies spending the additional couple bucks to see it. Some of my favorite aspects of this tool involved the rain playing to the foreground, opposite of our characters who are in the background of its surrounding nature. I also really enjoyed the film’s use of third-dimensional paper effects that really make the stories that Kubo tells come to life for the audience at home. It’s a surreal aspect to the movie that puts the audience front and center among the town people who are listening to his fables, and the it makes for a smooth transition to fully engulf yourself in this world and these characters.

Those very people make some of the slower paced scenes of the movie a lot easier to get through, as this film puts characters first to its video game structuring. As the film progresses, you really start to see the bigger picture with Monkey and Beetle, proving themselves to be the family that Kubo has always longed for. The movie’s very important emphasis on family and what it means in terms of the very survival, as well as ethical fabric of ones upbringing. These two anti-human characters felt more human than a lot of the actual human characters that you get in an animated feature, and it was impossible not to feel touched by how much they grow together as the journey goes on. At the beginning of the third act, the film does put everything into perspective, as a surprising twist really kind of defines everything about these characters that we have been wondering about up to this time. Some of you may see this coming from miles away, but it honestly opened my eyes to the beautifully sound storytelling and respect that Laika has for these characters.

On the subject of voice work, McConaughey is tops. Don’t get me wrong, Charlize Theron and Art Parkinson are the very heart to the movie’s pulse. But Matthew is nearly lost in his role as Beetle, and quite often I had to remind myself that this was the same man with one of the most distinguishable voices in all of Hollywood. Matthew’s character is very etched in comic delivery and silliness, but there’s a subtle layering of heart, and one of a protector to Kubo. We notice his honorable intentions early on, and everything after is simply a comforting example of great character exposition piece by piece. Theron is also a joy, involving herself to two different characters within the movie. Theron’s motherly instincts really go a long way to how she prepares for Monkey, but it’s in her stern delivery where you know this character can get physical at the drop of a sword. Fourteen-year-old Art Parkinson’s coming of age in this picture really captures the essence and innocence of Kubo, especially as you hear his fear orally turn to rage by the film’s climax. This is very much a boy who is fighting to hold on to the last shred of family that he has left, and I found myself cheering emphatically for his survival. His possession of this magical gift of powerful storytelling is not only cool in detail, but seductive in visual stylings. We often forget that Kubo is just a little boy, and that is because Parkinson really elevates his status as something more than JUST another child actor.

If there was one aspect of the movie that I had a slight critique in, it was with the lack of storytelling for the movie’s antagonist. Voiced by the great Ralph Fiennes, the character is used as nothing more than an afterthought for fast-flowing trip that our trio pursue. There are mentions about his character and history throughout the film, but it makes a lot more sense to show this aspect even accompanying visual storytelling. When he finally does appear, there’s very little time left to make a meaningful impact, and that’s made even more evident by his appearance in animal form. This animation isn’t terrible, but it just doesn’t blend well with the look and tone that a Laika movie creates. It feels very one-dimensional cartoonish, and I would’ve preferred the character in human form to give the final confrontation a human conflict among the very magical staples that the movie uses. It would’ve returned it to where it needs to be. No special effects, just man versus boy.

Overall, “Kubo and the Two Strings” strums a captivating story, rich in emotional range, and luxurious in creative design. The film is very much a transcendent breakthrough for the animation genre, and it’s whimsical warning on the adventurous but dangerous side of magic serves us well with a child protagonist living in a world with very real consequences. To quote my favorite line of the movie; “If you must blink, do it now.”. This is one film that you will want to engage audibly and visually from start to finish. A delightful bedtime story that will never put you to sleep.

9/10