From Focus Features and LAKIA Studios comes the highly-anticipated, stop motion animated film, Kubo and the Two Strings. Out in theaters today, this is a terrific movie that will stir your heart, a perfect family film to end the summer.
From the studio that brought us Coraline and the Boxtrolls, LAKIA Studios creates another beautiful, heart-warming film that will spark imagination and leave you wanting more. Kubo and the Two Strings is a beautiful work of art. Each motion is moved by hand, yet it looks so smooth. The colors and richness of the animation looks as if it was painted with brushstrokes. And the talent cast brings it all to life.
Kubo, a street-smart boy, performs his Origami storytelling during the day and tends to his ailing mother by night. One day, Kubo accidentally summons a spirit from his past that leads him on a journey to uncover the truth and escape from the Moon King. Helping him on his journey are two very unlikely characters, a straight-talking Monkey & fun-loving Beetle. With the help of his new friends, Kubo travels far to “unlock the secret of his legacy, reunite his family, and fulfill his heroic destiny.”
The movie stars TWO Academy-Award winning actors, Matthew McConaughey and Charlize Theron. Though neither have starred in an animated film before, both bring incredible depth to their characters, making you both laugh and cry. Art Parkinson of Game of Thrones notoriety, does an excellent job of conveying the variety of emotions our young star of the film, Kubo, goes through. The cast is also joined by George Takei, Ralph Fiennes, and Rooney Mara.
Five years in the making, the artistry of Kubo and the Two Strings is fascinating. A few friends of mine were lucky enough to visit LAKIA Studios in Portland, Oregon and saw first hand the work that went into creating the puppets, designing the sets, and more in this stop-motion film. I am repeatedly amazed at the amount of talent, patience, and skill that goes into creating these types of movies.
What’s the perfect Age for Children to see Kubo and the Two Strings?
Kubo and the Two Strings is a very intelligent film. And I love that there are animators that have the desire to create a very smart movie that evokes a conversation after you see it. I can’t wait to take my children to see Kubo and the Two Strings. Because I have 2 very different age groups, elementary ages and teenagers, I think they will like the movie for very different reasons.
My younger son is 7 and he will be fascinated by the story of the film. He will respond to the unlikely-hero, Kubo, and enjoy his journey to understand his family better. He will laugh at the silly pranks & jokes that Beetle tells and he will leave the film being highly entertained.
My teenagers will enjoy the beauty of the film and see it from a different perspective than my younger son. They will notices the artistry, understand the complexity of creating it, and really get into the plot. We will have conversations on the way home from the movie, discussing the ancient beliefs and traditions of Japan, the mythological components, and the story-telling….all exactly as director Travis Knight is hoping to accomplish.
So yes, children of different ages will enjoy Kubo and the Two Strings. Again, I don’t like to recommend an age group to see a film – you know your child best – but know that the movie is a bit long, it is dark in nature (color wise), and will contain several quiet, reflective moments that you need to pay attention to.
I throughly enjoyed Kubo and the Two Strings when I saw the film in July and I can’t wait to see it again with my children.
Kubo and the Two Strings opens in theaters on Friday, August 19, 2016.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9tDqmOPmto
