Critical Review 2- KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS
Kubo and the Two Strings is a fantasy action movie produced by the American stop-motion animation studio Laika. The company is well known for other stop-motion films like Coraline, ParaNorman as well as The Boxtrolls. The production on Kubo and the Two Strings began in 2014 and the movie is set to become part of the company’s legacy. This 3D stop-motion adventure movie was directed by Travis Knight and it was theatrically released in cinemas in 2016. The screenplay of the movie was written by Marc Haimes and Chris Butler, the latter also worked on the story alongside Shannon Tindle.
The movie features the voices of Charlize Theron, Art Parkinson, Matthew McConaughey, Ralph Fines, Rooney Mara and others while the music was created by Dario Marianelli. The soundtrack for the movie features sixteen tracks.
The story takes place in Ancient Japan and follows the adventures of Kubo, a boy who possesses magical powers inherited by his mother. Kubo lives with his mother on a cliff by the sea and he supports her by going to the nearby village to tell stories. The supernatural gifts of Kubo include the creation of animated origami figures which he controls by means of his three-stringed shamisen (a Japanese lute). One day, the peaceful life of Kubo is shattered as he ignores his mother’s request to not stay out at night and he accidentally summons a spirit from the past. Then, Kubo leaves on a quest accompanied by a serious monkey and a samurai-beetle to find the answers of his past.
In order to analyse the movie in a meaningful way, a number of key concepts need to be taken into consideration. These concepts include the style of animation used for the movie, the characters and the story. Other essential points that need to be discussed involve similarities throughout the work, for instance the exploration of recurring themes as well as the points of emphasis that are present in the movie. In the following paragraphs, each of these specific features will be explored and analysed.
Laika Studio blends handcrafted puppets, CGI and 3D printing to create the movie. The story follows a linear narrative technique with a number of flashbacks embedded within the storyline. The intensity of the story is shown through the use of quick turns of the camera, flashes, as well as the soundtrack. The use of colour and tone in the movie further enhances the intensity of the story in key moments throughout the film. Also, the colours used for the characters and the environment demonstrate the subtlety of some scenes (e.g. pastel, muted colours for calm scenes) while action scenes are enhanced through the use of rich and vibrant colours. Since the concept for the movie is based on Japanese culture and traditions, there is a balance between bright colours and calm natural tones throughout the movie.
In terms of character design, each character has their own personality which is portrayed by their way of talking, their actions and their background. The main character Kubo is an example of a curious and energetic character who is open to adventures. When characters interact, the contrast between them is visible via their actions and their appearance. However, as the film progresses, there is a strong indication that characters (especially the leading ones like Kubo, the Monkey and the Beetle) are influencing and complimenting each other.
These points lead us to the discussion of recurring themes and patterns in the movie such as family, friendship, love, determination to achieve one’s goals and bringing balance in the world. These ideas and concepts are explored by means of letting the characters grow and learn by fighting evil spirits and overcoming difficult obstacles while on their journey.
In order to interpret this animation movie, I will take into account such aspects as the creation and development of the story in the movie as well as the characters and the soundtrack. Since this is an adventure movie involving cutting-edge technology and also hand-crafted puppets, the end result is a distinctive animation style inherent to Laika Studio.
Moreover, the Asian storytelling traditions and the exotic influences that can be found in the movie are complemented and intensified by the soundtrack. A strong accent is placed on the personalities that each character has in the movie. For instance, the main protagonist Kubo is designed in such a way so that people (children in particular) can easily relate to him. The Monkey is deliberately chosen to be wise and serious, whereas the enchanted Samurai’s personality is similar to Kubo’s as they are both quite adventurous.These characters are relatable in the sense that we often find ourselves in difficult situations where it is up to our actions and abilities to show the best that we can do.
In the last paragraph I will present my evaluation and thoughts of the movie. This animation feature follows quite an unusual approach as it starts with the main character- a child- using the imperative ‘’If you must blink, do it now’’. This advice is a means to show the audience from the beginning that there will be twists and interesting revelations in the story. I believe that in the story and characters are captivating and can enable the audience to feel a whole spectre of emotions. In terms of storyline and the goals of the main character, I find a lot of similarities with other animation features. For instance, animation movies like Mulan (1998) and Tarzan (1999) produced by Disney Studios as well as Princess Mononoke (1997) and Castle in the Sky (2004) by Studio Ghibli also have similar themes like overcoming obstacles and learning the values of friendship and love.
However, I believe that the ending of the film is a little rushed and the audience is not given enough time to reflect on the events happening in the movie towards the end. It has to be noted that in some of Laika’s previous feature films, endings have also been a somewhat weak point.
Nevertheless, the concepts embedded in the film set it as a truly remarkable animation. The fact that Kubo does not kill the main antagonist in the story who is given a second chance to reflect on his deeds. This comes to show that not everything in life should be regarded as black or white. Rather, the movie tries to show us in a subtle way that every person has unique qualities that can be truly realised by means of love, friendship and forgiveness.