Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Kubo and the Two Strings Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf October 9, 2021

Laika Entertainment has developed a strong reputation for quality work, keeping up the tradition of stop-motion animation with movies like “Coraline,” “ParaNorman,” and “The Boxtrolls.” They’re a studio that respects artistry and welcomes sophistication, trying to distance itself from the competition with more advanced family films that often take on mature themes and vivid style. “Kubo and the Two Strings” is Laika’s most challenging effort to date, mixing Japanese culture and folktales with a heaping helping of magic, entering realms of life and death to inspire an unusual adventure. It’s a bewildering feature at times, but impressively constructed, always managing to secure awe with subtle character animation when the larger quest at hand fails to hold attention.

Kubo (voiced by Art Parkinson) is a young boy who had one eye stolen by his grandfather, with his Mother staging a daring escape out of magical kingdom to raise her son in solitude. Armed with a magical guitar, Kubo dazzles a nearby village with his stories, performed by enchanted origami, sharing tales of warriors and battles once fed to him by his parent as he grew up. Crossing a line of protection, Kubo incurs the wrath of his Mother’s evil Sisters (Rooney Mara), forced to disappear using the last of his guardian’s magic. Now assisted by Monkey (Charlize Theron), born from a beloved wooden charm, and soon joined by Beetle (Matthew McConaughey), an insect/samurai hybrid, Kubo learns of a special quest he must complete, gathering pieces of charmed armor to help defend the land against the Sisters and the Moon King (Ralph Fiennes), who wants to possess the boy.

“Kubo and the Two Strings” is more unconventional in terms of pacing and thematic heft. It’s dense work from director Travis Knight (making his helming debut), asking audiences to relax and allow the tale to take its time, opening with a stunning sequence featuring Mother on a tiny boat navigating furious ocean waters, using the power of the guitar to cut through waves, trying desperately to make it to safety. It’s an introductory offering of magic, setting up special powers to come, with the stringed instrument capable of amazing things when strummed, eventually becoming Kubo’s trusted companion as the boy grows up, using musical wizardry to make money as a street storyteller. His living origami wows crowds, spinning an elaborate yarn about a determined samurai facing the fight of his life, but his heart remains at home, with Mother in and out of consciousness, leaving the boy to handle most responsibilities.

Storytelling plays a major part in “Kubo and the Two Strings,” finding the eponymous character confronted with his own part in a larger narrative of power and destiny that bests his busking imagination. The screenplay also treats magic with care, opening the boy’s eye with the arrival of Monkey, who’s tasked with protecting Kubo as he embarks on an impossible adventure. Beetle arrives a little later, with his daffiness rubbing Monkey the wrong way, setting up an odd couple relationship that strengthens as the trio makes their way through the land, facing various challenges. Perhaps the most dynamic is a battle with a building-sized skeleton in possession of a special sword, with Kubo, Monkey, and Beetle working together to retrieve their prize and live to die another day.

“Kubo and the Two Strings” isn’t action-oriented, but Knight keeps the feature exciting, dreaming up strange environments and enemies, but the core appeal of the effort is found with its characters. Starting out as strange visions and stylized creations, the heroes eventually come into view as living things, with superb voice work bringing out emotion and idiosyncrasy, finding Parkinson a particular treat as Kubo. Theron and McConaughey offer wonderful support as Monkey and Beetle, adding needed humor to the picture. However, visuals carry “Kubo and the Two Strings,” with Laika’s masterful animation imagination on display here, from striking character designs to landscapes, finding nuance a top production priority. It’s a gorgeous movie, full of life and texture, creating the storybook experience Knight is after.

Kubo and the Two Strings Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Kubo and the Two Strings" was originally issued on Blu-ray in 2016, and returns to disc in 2021 via Shout Factory. The AVC encoded image (2.39:1 aspect ratio) appears to use the same master as the previous release, delivering a pleasingly textured examination of animation achievements. Being perhaps the most ambitious Laika film the company has created, the visual experience respects such artistry, providing a clear examination of frame elements, including distinct character surfaces. Colors retain power throughout, exploring different environments with vibrant hues, including the greenish seas and bold whites for snowscapes. Delineation is satisfactory. Mild banding is detected at times.

Kubo and the Two Strings Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix remains active and precise throughout the listening event, capturing crisp dialogue exchanges that protect breathier emotional offerings and yelling matches. Scoring is just as sharp, with centerpiece stringed instruments coming through with distinct plucking. Surrounds are active with music, and offer striking directional movement with weaponry and character position. Low-end offers weight with grander displays of action and environmental changes.

Kubo and the Two Strings Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (ten pages) contains review blurbs and an essay by Charles Solomon.

• Commentary features director/producer Travis Knight.

• "Inside Laika: Confronting the Epic Challenges of 'Kubo and the Two Strings'" (13:38, HD) takes a look at some of the more significant technical challenges found in the movie, featuring interviews with producer/director Travis Knight, animation supervisor Brad Schiff, costume designer Deborah Cook, rigging supervisor Oliver Jones, production designer Nelson Lowry, animator Charles Greenfield, lighting/camera lead Dean Holmes, and director of rapid prototyping Brian McLean.

• "Inside Laika: Revisiting the Puppets with Laika's Animation Team" (HD) is broken up into "Little Hanzo" (1:54), "Monkey" (2:02), "The Sisters" (1:45), "Beetle" (1:46), "Moon King" (2:05), "Mother" (2:13), and "Kubo" (2:00). The featurettes can be viewed with a Play All function.

• Feature-Length Storyboards (92:19, HD) present an early version of "Kubo and the Two Strings," using a mix of drawings and CG-animation.

• "Kubo's Journey" (HD) is the making-of for "Kubo and the Two Strings," broken up into "Introduction" (:49), "Japanese Inspiration" (5:57), "Mythological Monsters" (9:18), "Braving the Elements" (4:28), "The Redemptive and Healing Power of Music" (5:48), and "Epilogue" (2:04).

• "Corners of the Earth" (3:06, HD) examines the scope and set construction of "Kubo and the Two Strings," featuring interviews with producer/director Travis Knight, art director Alice Bird, head of shop Darcy Nelson, concept artist Trevor Dalmer, production designer Nelson Lowry, and VFX supervisor Steve Emerson.

• "The Myth of Kubo" (2:33, HD) returns to the subject of production achievements, featuring interviews with producer/director Travis Knight, screenwriter Chris Butler, producer Arianne Sutner, and actors Matthew McConaughey and Charlize Theron.

• Still Galleries offer "Character Art" (2:06), "Concept Art" (2:06), and "Behind the Scenes" (2:06).

• And Theatrical Trailer #4 (1:00, HD) is included.

Kubo and the Two Strings Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Like every Laika movie, "Kubo and the Two Strings" runs too long, feeling a little slack as third act revelations arrive. It's noticeable, but not problematic, as the story rebounds with an epic conclusion that inspires awe and heartbreak, landing the picture satisfyingly. "Kubo and the Two Strings" is challenging work overall, perhaps best for older children educated in the ways of life and death, but it carries deep feeling and rich characterization, emerging as a unique adventure. Story-wise, it has moments of surprise. As an animated effort, it's absolutely spectacular.