Wikipedia

Kubo and the Two Strings

Kubo and the Two Stringsis a 2016 Americanstop-motion animatedactionfantasy filmproduced byLaika.It is directed byTravis Knight(in hisfeature directorial debut) with a screenplay by Marc Haimes andChris Butlerfrom a story byShannon Tindleand Marc Haimes, and it stars the voice roles ofCharlize Theron,Art Parkinson,Ralph Fiennes,George Takei,Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa,Brenda Vaccaro,Rooney Mara,andMatthew McConaughey.Set infeudal Japan,the film revolves around Kubo, a young boy who wields a magicalshamisen(a Japanesestringed instrument) and whose left eye was stolen during infancy. Accompanied by an anthropomorphicsnow monkeyand a human -stag beetlehybrid, he must embark on a quest to defeat his mother's evil twin sisters, Washi and Karasu, and his power-hungry grandfather, the Moon King, who is responsible for stealing his left eye.

Kubo and the Two Strings
Theatrical release poster
Directed byTravis Knight
Screenplay by
Story by
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyFrank Passingham
Edited byChristopher Murrie
Music byDario Marianelli
Production
company
Distributed byFocus Features(North America)
Universal Pictures(International)
Release dates
  • August 13, 2016(2016-08-13)(MIFF)
  • August 19, 2016(2016-08-19)(United States)
Running time
102 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$60 million[2]
Box office$77.5 million[3]

Laika's production designerShannon Tindlepitched the fantasy storystop-motionanimated film based on samurais to Knight. By December 2014, Laika announced thatKubo and the Two Stringswould be released in August 2016, with Knight to direct and produce the project, as well as the voice casting announcement. He was enthusiastic about the project, owing partly to his affinity towards both the "epic fantasy" genre as well as Japanese culture in general, despite the studio never having ventured into the genre before. The stop-motion animation were inspired by Japanese media such asink wash paintingandorigamiamong others. Assistance came from3D printingfirmStratasyswho allowed Laika to use their newest technologies in exchange for feedback on them. Knight stated that the story for the film was partly inspired by works of Japanese animatorHayao Miyazaki.Dario Marianelli,who previously composed the music for Laika'sThe Boxtrolls(2014), composed the film's musical score.

Kubo and the Two Stringspremiered atMelbourne International Film Festivalon August 13, 2016, and was released byFocus Featuresin the United States on August 19. The film received critical acclaim for its craftsmanship, musical score, and story, but was a box office disappointment, grossing $77 million worldwide against a $60 million budget. The film won theBAFTA Award for Best Animated Film,and was nominated forAcademy AwardsforBest Animated FeatureandBest Visual Effects,becoming the second stop-motion animated film ever to be nominated in the latter category followingThe Nightmare Before Christmas(1993), and the first Laika film to be nominated for both.

Plot

edit

Infeudal Japan,a 12-year-old boy with only one eye named Kubo tends to his ill mother in a mountain cave near a village. He earns their living by magically manipulatingorigamiwith music from hisshamisenfor the village folk, telling the tale of his missing father Hanzo, asamuraiwarrior. Kubo is never able to finish his story, as he does not know what happened to Hanzo and his mother cannot recall the end due to her deteriorating mental state. His mother warns him not to stay out after dark as her sisters Karasu and Washi, as well as his grandfather, the Moon King (who took his eye when he was a baby) will find him and take his remaining eye.

One day, Kubo learns of the village'sBon festivalallowing them to speak to deceased loved ones. Kubo attends but is angry that Hanzo does not appear from his lantern, and forgets to return home before sunset. Karasu and Washi quickly find him and attack, but his mother suddenly appears and uses her magic to send Kubo far away, telling him to find his father's armor. Kubo wakes up in a distant land to find Monkey, his woodensnow monkeycharm, has come alive. Monkey tells him his mother is gone and that the village is destroyed. With help of "Little Hanzo", an origami figure based on Kubo's father, they set out to find the armor. Along the way, they meet Beetle, anamnesiacsamurai who was cursed to take the form of astag beetle/human hybrid but believes himself to have been Hanzo's apprentice.

Kubo, Monkey, and Beetle reclaim the "Sword Unbreakable" from a cave guarded by agiant skeleton.They cross the Long Lake in a leaf boat to locate the "Breastplate Impenetrable" deep underwater. Kubo and Beetle swim down to retrieve it and encounter a sea monster, the "Garden of Eyes", who first uses its many eyes to entrance its victims by showing them visions of secrets, then eats them while they are distracted. Kubo is caught in the creature's sight, but while entranced, comes to realize that Monkey is the reincarnated spirit of his mother. Beetle rescues the unconscious Kubo and obtains the Breastplate, but on returning to the boat, they find that Monkey has been badly wounded fighting and vanquishing Karasu whose hat is forced off in progress.

They go to shore to recover, where Monkey explains that she and her Sisters were ordered by the Moon King to kill Hanzo, but she instead fell in love with him, and Raiden branded her an enemy. That night, Kubo dreams of meeting a his grandfather Raiden, who points him towards the "Helmet Invulnerable" in Hanzo's abandoned fortress. They travel there the next day but realize too late it is a trap set by Raiden and Washi, the latter of which reveals that Beetle is Hanzo, whom they cursed for taking their sister away from them, and kills Hanzo. Monkey sacrifices herself, buying Kubo the time to use hisshamisento vanquish Washi, breaking two of the three strings on it. Little Hanzo provides insight to Kubo that the Helmet is actually the bell at the village, and Kubo breaks the last string to quickly travel there.

At the village, Kubo meets Raiden again, who reveals to be the Moon King. He offers to take Kubo's other eye to make him immortal, but Kubo refuses. Raiden then turns into aDunkleosteus-like dragon, the Moon Beast, and pursues Kubo and the remaining villagers into its cemetery. When the armor proves ineffective, Kubo removes it and restrings hisshamisenusing his mother's hair, his father's bowstring, and his own hair. With the instrument, he summons the spirits of the villagers' loved ones, who show the Moon King that memories are the strongest magic of all and can never be destroyed. Kubo and the spirits' magic protect themselves and the villagers from the Moon King, stripping him of his powers and leaving him a mortal human without any memories. Spurred on by Kubo's stories, the villagers choose compassion and tell him he was a man of many positive traits, accepting him into the village. Kubo is able to speak to his parents' ghosts during the subsequent Bon ceremony, as they watch the deceased villagers' lanterns transform into golden herons and fly to the spirit world.

Voice cast

edit
  • Art Parkinsonas Kubo, an adventurous 12-year-old boy who can move origami
  • Charlize Theronas Sariatu, a former goddess, Kubo's Mother/Monkey, the latter being a reincarnation of the former
  • Matthew McConaugheyas Hanzo/Beetle, respectively Kubo's father and a cursed, amnesic bug form of the former
  • Ralph Fiennesas Raiden, Kubo's grandfather who stole Kubo's left eye
  • Rooney Maraas Karasu and Washi, Sariatu's goddess twin sisters, tasked with taking Kubo's eye by their father, the Moon King
  • George Takeias Hosato
  • Brenda Vaccaroas Kameyo, Kubo's elderly friend and grandmother-figure
  • Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawaas Hashi

Production

edit

Development

edit
Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton SpectrebyUtagawa Kuniyoshiinspired the giant skeleton.

Kubo and the Two Stringswas announced by the stop-motion animation studioLaikain December 2014, and is the directorial debut of Laika's CEOTravis Knight.[4]Laika's production designerShannon Tindlepitched the story to Knight as a "stop-motion samurai epic". Although the studio had never ventured into the genre before, Knight was enthusiastic about the project; owing partly his affinity towards both the "epic fantasy" genre as well as Japanese culture in general.[5]

The art took inspiration from such Japanese media asink wash paintingandorigamiamong others. A particular influence came from theukiyo-ewoodblock style,with Laika intending to make the entire film "to look and feel as if it's a moving woodblock print"[5]A second major influence on the film included the works ofKiyoshi Saito,who was a 20th century Japanese graphic artist. Assistance came from3D printingfirmStratasyswho allowed Laika to use their newest technologies in exchange for feedback on them.[5]Knight mentioned that the story for the film was partly inspired by works of Japanese animatorHayao Miyazaki.[citation needed]

The art of Kiyoshi Saito was a strong influence on the style of the animation. In an interview, director Travis Knight described Saito's work as being the "touchstone[6]"and the" one key visual artist "that inspired the film. Knight also describes being profoundly affected by the artist's interest in both eastern and western art styles and fusing them together in his works. This artist's combination of different styles across cultures inspired Knight and his film crew in the creation of Kubo and the Two Strings.

For the giant skeleton, the team created a giant 16 ft (4.9 m), 400 lb (180 kg) puppet, which Laika claims is the record holder for largest stop-motion puppet.[7]The idea to make such a massive puppet was born out of a fear that individual smaller parts (meant to represent the larger monster) would not work well on screen interacting with the other puppets.[7]The resulting puppet was built in two parts which were then attached together bymagnets.For movement Laika had to design a robot to easily manipulate it. The team at one point purchased anindustrial robotfromeBaybut found that it would not work with their setup.[7] A small portion of the production was released onYouTube.[8]

Casting

edit

On December 22, 2014,Art Parkinson,Matthew McConaughey,Charlize Theron,Rooney Mara,Ralph FiennesandBrenda Vaccarojoined the voice cast.[9]

Music

edit
Main article:Kubo and the Two Strings (soundtrack)

Dario Marianellicomposed and conducted the score for the film.[10]The score album featuring 16 tracks, including a rendition ofThe Beatles' track, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"byRegina Spektor,was released byWarner Recordson August 5, 2016.

Release

edit

Kubo and the Two Stringswas first screened at theMelbourne International Film Festivalon August 13, 2016,[11]and was theatrically released in the United States on August 19, 2016.[12]

Box office

edit

Kubo and the Two Stringsgrossed $48 million in North America and $29.5 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $77.5 million, against a budget of $60 million.[3]

In the United States, the film was released on August 19, 2016, alongsideBen-HurandWar Dogs,and was projected to gross $12–15 million from 3,260 theaters in its opening weekend with some going as high as $17–20 million.[13]It made $515,000 from its Thursday night previews and $4.1 million on its first day. It went on to gross $12.6 million in its opening weekend, finishing 4th at the box office behindWar Dogs,Sausage PartyandSuicide Squad.[14]

Critical response

edit

Review aggregation websiteRotten Tomatoesgives the film an approval rating of 97% based on reviews from 228 critics, with an average rating of 8.40/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Kubo and the Two Stringsmatches its incredible animation with an absorbing—and bravely melancholy—story that has something to offer audiences of all ages. "[15]OnMetacritic,the film has a weighted average score of 84 out of 100, based on 38 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[16]Audiences polled byCinemaScoregave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, whilePostTrakreported filmgoers gave it an 85% overall positive score and a 63% "definite recommend".[14]

Christy LemireofRogerEbertawarded the film three and a half out of four stars, saying that "one of the most impressive elements ofKubo and the Two Strings—besides its dazzling stop-motion animation, its powerful performances and its transporting score—is the amount of credit it gives its audience, particularly its younger viewers. "[17]IGN's Samantha Ladwig gave the film 7.5/10, stating that the film is "Dark, twisted, and occasionally scary, but also with humor, love, and inspiration."[18]Jesse Hassenger, ofThe A.V. Club,praised the film, saying that "no American animation studio is better-suited to dreamlike plotting than Laika, and the animation of Kubo is truly dazzling, mi xing sophistication and handmade charm with inspired flow."[19]

Michael O'Sullivan ofThe Washington Postgave the film four out of four stars, stating that the film is "both extraordinarily original and extraordinarily complex, even for a grown-up movie masquerading as a kiddie cartoon (which it kind of is)."[20]InThe New York Times,Glenn Kennysaid that "the movie's blend of stop-motion animation for the main action with computer-generated backgrounds is seamless, creating what is the most visually intoxicating of all Laika's movies."[21]Peter Debruge ofVarietywrote that "" Kubo "offers another ominous mission for a lucky young misfit, this one a dark, yet thrilling adventure quest that stands as the crowning achievement in Laika's already impressive oeuvre."[22]Jordan HoffmanofThe Guardianwas more critical of the film, giving it a two out of five stars and saying that "Older kids, except for a few teacher’s pets, will soon realise that this is hardly a fun action-adventure cartoon at all, but a plate of vegetables."[23]

Jonathan Pile ofEmpire,wrote of the film: "Yet another success for stop-motion giants Laika… boasts big laughs and effective scares in a typically gorgeous animated tale."[24]

Casting criticism

edit

While the film received critical acclaim for its craft and story, it was criticized for its perceivedwhitewashingas a movie set in ancient Japan but featuring a centrally white voice cast. George Takei and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa were the only actors of Japanese descent, and both played minor characters.[25][26]

Accolades

edit
Main article:List of accolades received by Kubo and the Two Strings

At the89th Academy Awards,Kubo and the Two Stringswas nominated for two awards,Best Animated FeatureandBest Visual Effects,but lost to twoDisneyfilms respectively:ZootopiaandThe Jungle Book.[27][28]

Home media

edit

Kubo and the Two Stringswas released on DVD, Blu-ray, and digital media on November 22, 2016 byUniversal Pictures Home Entertainment,[29]a new Blu-ray edition fromShout! Factoryunder license from Universal was released on September 14, 2021. The film was released onUltra HD Blu-rayin February 2023.[30]

Format Release Date Studio
DVD, Blu-ray & Blu-ray 3D November 22, 2016 Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD & Blu-ray September 14, 2021 Shout! Factory
4K Blu-ray February 28, 2023 Shout! Factory

Video game

edit

A game calledKubo: A Samurai Questwas released for iOS and Android on August 20, 2016, the game was removed from the App Store on October 17th 2017.[31]

References

edit
  1. ^"KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS(PG) ".British Board of Film Classification.August 19, 2016.Archivedfrom the original on October 6, 2018.RetrievedAugust 19,2016.
  2. ^"Kubo and the Two Strings".Box Office Mojo.IMDb.Archivedfrom the original on September 4, 2017.RetrievedDecember 22,2016.
  3. ^ab"Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)".The Numbers.Nash Information Services.Archivedfrom the original on July 3, 2018.RetrievedJanuary 24,2017.
  4. ^Hammond, Pete (December 22, 2014)."Laika & Focus Begin Production On All-Star 'Kubo And The Two Strings' To Kick Off 3-Pic Deal".Deadline Hollywood.Penske Business Media.Archivedfrom the original on January 7, 2015.RetrievedJanuary 15,2015.
  5. ^abcLott-Lavinga, Ruby (September 9, 2016)."Kubo and the Two Strings: an epic film made on a 12-foot-long table".Wired.Archivedfrom the original on September 17, 2017.RetrievedApril 14,2017.
  6. ^Grobar, Matt (November 20, 2016)."'Kubo And The Two Strings' Director Travis Knight On Fascination With Japanese Art And The Next Ten Years Of Laika ".Deadline.RetrievedOctober 13,2023.
  7. ^abcFails, Ian (August 19, 2016)."Laika Was Crazy Enough To Animate A 16-Foot Tall Skeleton for 'Kubo and The Two Strings'".Cartoon Brew.Archivedfrom the original on September 17, 2017.RetrievedApril 14,2017.
  8. ^Parry, Kevin (October 14, 2018)."STOP MOTION Animation Reel".YouTube.Archivedfrom the original on December 19, 2020.RetrievedSeptember 12,2020.
  9. ^Ford, Rebecca (December 22, 2014)."Matthew McConaughey, Charlize Theron, Rooney Mara Join Voice Cast for 'Kubo and the Two Strings'".The Hollywood Reporter.Archivedfrom the original on November 17, 2015.RetrievedJanuary 15,2015.
  10. ^filmmusicreporter (April 28, 2015)."Dario Marianelli to Score Laika's 'Kubo and the Two Strings'".Film Music Reporter.Archivedfrom the original on June 11, 2017.RetrievedOctober 24,2015.
  11. ^"KIDS GALA: KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS 3D".Program 2016.Melbourne International Film Festival.Archived fromthe originalon July 13, 2016.RetrievedJuly 18,2016.
  12. ^Reyes, Mike (January 28, 2016)."The Kubo And The Two Strings Trailer Is Epic And Magical".CinemaBlend.GatewayBlend Entertainment.Archivedfrom the original on August 23, 2016.RetrievedAugust 13,2016.
  13. ^Faughnder, Ryan (August 16, 2016)."'Ben-Hur' remake likely won't be able to topple 'Suicide Squad' at the box office ".Los Angeles Times.Archivedfrom the original on June 21, 2018.RetrievedAugust 22,2018.
  14. ^abD'Alessandro, Anthony (August 22, 2016)."War Dogs' Begins Barking On Thursday Night – Box Office ".Deadline Hollywood.Penske Business Media.Archivedfrom the original on August 22, 2016.RetrievedAugust 22,2016.
  15. ^"Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)".Rotten Tomatoes.Fandango Media.Archivedfrom the original on November 27, 2017.RetrievedNovember 26,2019.
  16. ^"Kubo and the Two Strings Reviews".Metacritic.CBS Interactive.Archivedfrom the original on October 3, 2020.RetrievedAugust 26,2020.
  17. ^Lemire, Christy (August 19, 2016)."Kubo and the Two Strings".RogerEbert.Ebert Digital LLC.Archivedfrom the original on August 21, 2016.RetrievedAugust 23,2016.
  18. ^Ladwig, Samantha (August 12, 2016)."Kubo and the Two Strings Review".IGN.Ziff Davis.Archivedfrom the original on October 1, 2019.RetrievedAugust 23,2016.
  19. ^Hassenger, Jesse (August 18, 2016)."Laika releases another, less ghoulish triumph with Kubo And The Two Strings".The A.V. Club.The Onion.Archivedfrom the original on August 23, 2016.RetrievedAugust 24,2016.
  20. ^O'Sullivan, Michael (August 18, 2016)."'Kubo and the Two Strings' weaves a magical tale that feels both ancient and fresh ".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on August 22, 2016.RetrievedAugust 23,2016.
  21. ^Kenny, Glenn (August 19, 2016)."Kubo and the Two Strings".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on August 23, 2016.RetrievedAugust 23,2016.
  22. ^Debruge, Peter (August 12, 2016)."'Kubo and the Two Strings' Review: Puts the Emotion in Stop-Motion ".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on March 4, 2017.RetrievedAugust 23,2016.
  23. ^Hoffman, Jordan (August 12, 2016)."Kubo and the Two Strings review – kids' movie equivalent of a plate of vegetables".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Archivedfrom the original on January 21, 2018.RetrievedOctober 22,2020.
  24. ^Pile, Jonathan (August 12, 2016)."Kubo And The Two Strings Review".Empire.Archivedfrom the original on August 26, 2016.RetrievedAugust 24,2016.
  25. ^Street, Mikelle (August 23, 2016)."The 'Kubo and the Two Strings' Controversy Proves Whitewashing Is More Complicated Than You Think".Complex.Complex Media.Archivedfrom the original on June 12, 2018.RetrievedJune 11,2018.
  26. ^Pedersen, Erik (August 24, 2016)."Watchdog Group Chides Laika For" White-Washing "'Kubo And The Two Strings'".Deadline Hollywood.Archivedfrom the original on June 12, 2018.RetrievedJune 11,2018.
  27. ^Nordyke, Kimberly (January 24, 2017)."Oscars: 'La La Land' Ties Record With 14 Nominations".The Hollywood Reporter.Archivedfrom the original on November 1, 2020.RetrievedMay 11,2020.
  28. ^"Oscar Nominations: Complete List".Variety.January 24, 2017.Archivedfrom the original on January 24, 2017.RetrievedMarch 30,2018.
  29. ^Liebman, Martin (November 16, 2016)."Kubo and the Two Strings Blu-ray".Blu-ray.Archivedfrom the original on August 22, 2018.RetrievedAugust 22,2018.
  30. ^"Kubo and the Two Strings 4K Blu-ray".Blu-ray.Archivedfrom the original on March 26, 2023.RetrievedMarch 26,2023.
  31. ^"Kubo: A Samurai Quest (Game)".Archivedfrom the original on December 3, 2021.RetrievedMay 27,2021.
edit
Wikiquote has quotations related toKubo and the Two Strings.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kubo_and_the_Two_Strings&oldid=1275573215"