Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) - Movie Review

Studio Laika have something of a rising star in the industry of recent animated films. Notable for being one of the few animation studios to continue the use of stop-motion animation, the studio first made its mark with the delightfully creepy and creative Coraline (based upon the book by Neil Gaiman in 2009). Upon its success, it was followed by the funny and thought-provoking Paranorman (2012) and the eccentric and surreal humour of The Boxtrolls (2014). These films served to prove that the talent behind Coraline wasn’t simply a one-hit wonder and the crew behind these films were the real deal. On top of their amazing artistry and dedication, Laika have more than proven themselves to deeply respect their family audience, not being afraid to shy away from dealing with heavy themes and intense imagery with the knowledge that children watching are far smarter than some other films give them credit for.

Kubo and the Two Strings is their fourth film released in 2016. It tells the story of Kubo (Art Parkinson), a young boy who embarks on a quest to find a magical suit of armor that his mother (Charlize Theron) says will protect him from his grandfather, who wishes to steal his remaining eye. Kubo is gifted with his magical control of paper, turning them into living origami creations with the help of his lute and his powers only grows stronger as he embarks on his journey with the help of a monkey and a beetle, both of which are more than they seem.

The most admirable aspect of the film is the sheer skill in its production. The animation and artistry of the film is breath-taking. Even with an already strong line-up of visually stunning work, Kubo and the Two Strings is by far Laika’s best looking film to date. The stop-motion is fluid and the CGI is seamless, with the beautiful backgrounds and character design standing front and centre. The film completely engulfs itself in the culture of Ancient Japan and the level of detail is stunning to look at. The opening scene in particular may be one of the most beautifully crafted and shot scenes in the history of stop-motion animation. From a visual standpoint alone, the film is an incredibly impressive feat.

In regards to its story and characters, the film also presents a great deal to admire. From the beginning, it is clear that it holds no pretence of talking down to children. The story of Kubo as he finds the origins and truths of his family history throughout his quest is both original and mature storytelling. There are moments of true intensity and a fair few frightening scenes, particularly the first introduction of Kubo’s two aunts with their haunting designs and chilling voice work (courtesy of Rooney Mara). The main characters are kind and selfless souls, making the journey spent with them worth taking as the story becomes grimmer and the villains more menacing. The ending in particular is extremely well-done, being both unexpected but very fitting for the themes woven throughout the narrative and, most importantly, doesn’t cop-out in dealing with harsher realities despite the magical setting. In doing this, it leaves the impression of something far more complex than a simple happy ending.

This year has seen no shortage of excellent animated family films this year, from Disney’s Zootopia to Pixar’s Finding Dory and many in-between. However, Kubo and the Two Strings stands out from other family films released this year due to its ambitious and mature storytelling combined with its stunning visual design, producing what may be Studio Laika’s finest film to date and certainly the best family film of 2016.