This year’s BAFTA nominations for Best Animated Feature sees three heavy-weight Disney movies battle it out for dominance. Zootopia’s depiction of racial tension within the titular city using fury animals versus a forgettable favourite fish in Finding Dory versus the ingenious and emotional princess flick Moana – Damn, it must be sheer hell in the Disney offices right now.
Largely scooping up most of the awards, the first film, Zootopia, looks tipped for the win but nestled within the broad shoulders of the Disney contenders is Laika’s astonishing, profound, and technically brilliant Kubo and the Two Strings.
If you are anything like me, someone swept up in the sheer genius of the studio who has crafted stop-motion feats such as Coraline, The Box Trolls, and Paranorman, then you’ll earnestly want them to scoop up the award , especially because Kubo is perhaps the most visceral and adventurous animated films of the year.
Directed by Travis McKnight, Kubo and the Two Strings tells the story of the titular character who lives in a small village and uses his magical guitar to bring origami to life, telling tales for money. His despondent mother, whom he shares an isolated cave with, tells him that he has to be back by nightfall. When he is accidentally tricked, he finds out the reason why: His mother is the daughter of the Moon King who ran away after falling in love with a great warrior. Her twin sisters are now in pursuit of both of them. Giving him two spirit guides – Monkey and Beetle – Kubo’s mother sacrifices herself and now it is up to Kubo to save the day.
The most ridiculous review I have ever read of this film was how the stop-motion looked too good and, therefore, it is bad. Since when has excellence ever been a bad thing? The greatest triumph of Kubo is the engrossing fluidity of the animation that leaves you breathless at how phenomenal it is. Colourful, with funny creatures and terrifying villains (the sister’s voiced by Rooney Mara are beyond creepy,) Kubo enchants with the extremely impeccable display on screen. Imbued with great voice work from Charlize Theron and Matthew McConaughey, the animated film envelops you in spectacular wonder.
Laika are always pushing their craft above and beyond. In Kubo and the Two Strings, that is echoed by its usage of a 16ft stop-motion creation. As the large skeleton dominates the screen, you are in awe at the technicality and pure talent the studio has.
There were also complaints of the complexity that would be lost on children to which I must cry: “Absolutely not.” Firstly, we really patronise our children to the point where we assume smart and emotive stories couldn’t hold the attention of the sprites. Secondly, when watching the movie in a packed cinema screen, as one does so often with new releases, there was barely a rustle and hardly a peep. That’s because Kubo is a terrific tale. Its mythology is entrenched in pure adventure with high emotive stakes. Rambunctious in places, daring in others, but never without sentiment, Kubo is embroiled with an energetic and brilliant tale that will appease adults and children alike.
Whilst it is doubtful Kubo and the Two Strings will push forward to win awards, even though it should, it is definitely one of the best movies of 2016 and a great addition to your DVD & Blu-Ray collection today.
Kubo and the Two Strings is out now!
