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With more and more animation studios putting out new movies each year, the ones that stand out are the ones with their own unique style. And, with its dark and twisted stories and eye-catching stop-motion animation, Laika definitely has its own style, which shows once again in their fourth feature, Kubo and the Two Strings.
Kubo and the Two Strings tells the story of a young boy named Kubo (voiced by Art Parkinson), who lives with his heartbroken mother in a cave outside a small village, where he spends his days telling stories to the villagers. When an enemy from his family’s past finds him, Kubo is sent on a journey to find his late father’s magical armor. And he’s joined in his quest by a pair of unlikely companions: a super-serious monkey (Charlize Theron) and a giant beetle (Matthew McConaughey).
Whenever Laika releases a new film, fans know to expect something different. They don’t make light, fluffy, silly kids’ movies. They make animated adventures that are dark and eerie and probably even nightmare-inducing (remember the “other mother” from Coraline?). And from the opening scene of Kubo, as a young mother rescues her infant son from the grandfather who took one of his eyes and won’t stop until he has them both, it’s clear that this isn’t another fluffy kids’ movie. Kubo is a haunting film—the story of a little boy who cares for his broken, frightened mother and is forced to go on the run from his vengeful grandfather and a couple of terrifying aunts. It’s certainly not for young kids—unless, for some reason, you need to keep them awake for a couple of days straight.
At the same time, though, Kubo is also a magical and imaginative film, with some remarkable, artistic animation. And it’s given plenty of humor, too, to keep it from getting too dark and too scary. Pessimistic Monkey and dim-witted Beetle offer plenty of comic relief, which can be a much-needed breath of fresh air as Kubo and his friends battle evil forces throughout their journey.
The story, however, isn’t the film’s strongest feature. The setup and development aren’t especially robust, and the message often seems a little muddled. But the action and animation of this haunting magical adventure will easily keep your mind off the film’s flaws.
If you’re looking for something completely different from the usual light and silly kids’ movies, Laika’s dark and mesmerizing Kubo and the Two Strings will definitely meet your needs. But I recommend leaving the younger kids at home—because it’s far scarier than the average PG-rated animated adventure.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
