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If you've been looking for an animated movie that amuses and makes you think like Coco, then Kubo and the Two Strings is the perfect pick. Here's why it will be a real treat for adults and kids alike.
Laika is unlike other major animation studios. While others create computer graphics, Laika produces stop-motion animation and uses the latest technology to elevate their art.
Following Corpse Bride, Coraline, and ParaNorman, Laika released Kubo and the Two Strings in 2016, a stunning animated movie that remains the studio's most underrated work.
What Is 'Kubo and the Two Strings' About?
Kubo is the son of the brave samurai Hanzo. However, he only knows about his father through his mother's stories because Hanzo died protecting Kubo from the evil Moon King and his minions.
Several years later, the evil spirits are on Kubo's trail again, wanting to finish the job. His only chance to escape is to find his father's magical armor. Only a white monkey and a bug-man who has lost his memory can help him.
'Kubo and the Two Strings' Is a Perfect Movie for Kids Set in Japan
Director Travis Knight is a huge fan of Japan, and his love is evident in every frame of the movie.
Exceptionally beautiful and elegant, Kubo and the Two Strings' sweeping narrative has room for everything you want to see in a high-quality, modern animated movie for kids: tender and touching scenes, exceptionally funny scenes, tense action sequences, and plot twists.
Most importantly, Kubo and the Two Strings has its own unique atmosphere and recognizable style closely associated with Japanese culture. The boy's main weapon is not a sword but a two-stringed musical instrument called a shamisen. He uses it to turn sheets of paper into origami.
'Kubo and the Two Strings' Will Be a Perfect Pick if You Loved 'Coco'
If any modern animated movie can be compared to Kubo and the Two Strings, it is undoubtedly Coco. Like Pixar's masterpiece, Kubo addresses the topic of accepting death.
Both movies have a lot in common, including a story associated with lost memory and an appeal to local mythology as a way to metaphorically convey the main character's experiences.
Paradoxically, despite its dark theme, Kubo and the Two Strings is a bright, life-affirming work that will both amuse young viewers and provide a profound experience.
What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Kubo and the Two Strings'?
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Kubo and the Two Strings has 97% from critics and 86% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
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On IMDb, the animated movie has a score of 7.7/10.
Where to Watch 'Kubo and the Two Strings'?
Kubo and the Two Strings is available to stream on Netflix.
