From acclaimed stop motion studio Laika (Coraline, Paranorman, The Boxtrolls) comes a riveting and original tale pulling influence from Japanese folklore and the films of “Hayao Miyazaki” and “Akira Kurosawa.”
“Kubo and the Two Strings” tells the story of Kubo, who lives with and cares for his mentally ill mother, Kubo makes a living by telling stories to the townspeople with his magic. But his peaceful lifestyle changes when two vengeful spirits, The Sisters, come to take him to their master, The Moon King.
Fleeing from the nefarious monarch, with his guardians Monkey and Beetle, Kubo goes on a journey of self discovery, learning the secrets of his parent’s past all the while searching for the legendary artifacts that will defeat the Moon King.
Writing: 5/5
Usually with original stories, especially with movies, there is always the risk of exposition dumping that drags down the story rather than adding to it.
“Two Strings” does this expertly by not telling the audience everything up front, but instead reveals pieces when they need to be revealed in a timely and natural manner that keeps up the excitement and flow of the story. It relies on the intelligence of the audience to follow along, and not spoon-feed every important plot point or revelation.
There were no parts that felt as if they dragged on or were unnecessary. The jokes and comedic scenes were even handled with a deftness and intelligence that once again relies on how smart the audience is.
Instead of catering only to the children by having corny dialogue, thin messages and monotonous jokes, the comedic scenes and overall message have a depth to them that makes them genuinely funny and shows off that “Two Strings” has something at the heart of it.
Acting: 5/5
Art Parkinson, Charlize Theron and Matthew McConaughey do an excellent job as Kubo, Monkey and Beetle, respectively. The trio is well rounded both in their comedic delivery and sincere words during the dramatic scenes. While The Sisters (Rooney Mara) and The Moon King (Ralph Fiennes) are straight forward villains without much complexity, the roles are performed with a menace and tenacity that makes them very convincing antagonists.

Animation: 5/5
Laika is certainly a master when it comes to stop motion. Using their unique style, Kubo is beautiful to look at. Even the hand painted backdrops are brimming with life.
The attention to the tiniest detail of clothing and even retaining wounds Kubo and others receive during their battles shows a skill that raises the bar for animated movies. The martial arts battle scenes are as impressive and intricate as anything from Kung Fu Panda. Two Strings is certainly one of the most gorgeous and visually impressive movies of 2016. Be sure to stay after the credits for a quick behind the scenes of one the larger scale components of the film.
Overall:
Kubo and the Two Strings plays out like a storybook come to life. Its folklore and mysticism is pretty self-explanatory and all of the pieces fit together to make for a convincing and believable world. It reminded me a lot of the show Avatar the Last Airbender in the fact that it targeted both the kids and the adults and wasn’t afraid to pull its punches when it came to dealing with some of the heavier, darker themes and plot points. Two Strings respects the audience and offers a thrilling unforgettable adventure, amazingly brought to life by Laika’s expert animation.