Kubo and the Two Strings [4K Ultra HD Blu-ray]

Kubo & The Two Strings

Overview

After accidentally summoning an ancient spirit, a young Japanese boy named Kubo (voiced by Art Parkinson) is separated from his mother and embarks on a journey to discover the truth about his missing father. Along the way, he befriends the kindhearted Monkey (Charlize Theron) and the clumsy Beetle (Matthew McConaughey) as he fends off the vengeful Moon King (Ralph Fiennes) and two evil twin sisters (Rooney Mara) with his shamisen, a magical stringed instrument. This stop-motion-animated adventure from Laika was directed by Travis Knight.

Product Details

Release Date:	02/28/2023
UPC:	0826663234930
Original Release:	2016
Rating:	PG
Source:	Shout Factory
Language:	English
Format:	Blu-ray
Sales rank:	8,388

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Cary Y. Mizobe	Villager,Villager
Zachary Alexander Rice	Villager
Art Parkinson	Kubo
Charlize Theron	Monkey
Ralph Fiennes	Moon King
Rooney Mara	The Sisters
George Takei	Hosato
Brenda Vaccaro	Kameyo
Matthew McConaughey	Beetle
Meyrick Murphy	Mari
Minae Noji	Minae
Alpha Takahashi	Aiko
Laura Miro	Miho
Ken Takemoto	Ken
Aaron Aoki	Villager
Luke Donaldson	Villager
Rachel Morihiro	Villager
Saemi Nakamura	Villager
Mariel Sheets	Villager
Michael Sun Lee	Voices
Thomas Isao Morinaka	Voices
Nana Spier	Actor
Katrin Fr?hlich	Actor
Joachim Tennstedt	Actor
Ben Hadad	Actor
Benjamin V?lz	Actor
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa	Hashi
Dario Marianelli	Composer

Technical Credits

Marc Haimes

Chris Butler

Arianne Sutner	Producer
Jocelyn Pascall	Producer
Marc Haimes	Screenwriter
Chris Butler	Screenwriter
Gregg Barbanell	Sound Effects
Tim Chau	Sound Effects
Travis Knight	Producer
Allison Jones	Casting

Scene Index

Menu

Editorial Reviews

Rarely does an animated film come along that boasts both stunning visuals and a captivating and wholly original plot. Yet Kubo and the Two Strings, the latest endeavor from animation studio Laika (ParaNorman, Coraline, The Boxtrolls), manages to deliver just that. The movie's eponymous main character (voiced by Art Parkinson) is a one-eyed boy who lives in a fantastical version of medieval Japan. Each day, Kubo goes into town to dazzle the villagers with exciting stories in which his father, the legendary samurai Honzu, battles the evil and ancient Moon King. The characters in his tale are represented by seemingly ordinary pieces of paper, which come to life and fold up into enchanted origami figures when he plays his magical musical instrument; this storytelling sequence features nothing less than some of the most beautiful and ambitious animation ever seen on the big screen (stop-motion, self-folding magical origami!). Kubo's mom demands that he always return home before dark, and he soon learns the reason why: His mother was once a magical creature not of this world, and she left her family and mystical life behind for Honzu and Kubo. Even more shockingly, the Moon King is her father (and thus, Kubo's grandfather). Honzu managed to win Kubo his freedom by seemingly defeating the Moon King in a great battle, but the conflict cost him his life and Kubo his eye. However, the boy's quiet but happy life is disrupted one evening when he stays out past dark and is visited by evil spirits. Imbued with the last of his mother's magic, Kubo has no choice but to embark on a long journey to find the mythical armor that will help him defeat these specters. Along the way, he meets some colorful friends in the form of a stern monkey and a large, amnesiac beetle (voiced by Charlize Theron and Matthew McConaughey, respectively -- both of whom are making their animated-film debuts here). Kubo's journey is breathtakingly gorgeous: From perilous deep-sea escapades to harsh winter landscapes to hauntingly beautiful temples, the three-dimensional, stop-motion animation provides a feast for the senses (as does the unique score by Dario Marianelli). Yet it's only fitting that such imaginative animation accompanies an original story that's equally heartbreaking and thrilling, as the unforgettable images help make real the film's themes of loss, loneliness, and the failure to live up to one's expectations. Meanwhile, Kubo himself faces these trials with the sort of resilience, courage, and creativity that will prove inspirational to parents and children alike. Audiences will appreciate the protagonist's coming-of-age story and the bonds he forms with his family and new friends, but if there's one thing holding the movie back, it's the lack of a more diverse voice cast -- although Theron, McConaughey, and Parkinson do fine work, the story would have benefitted from the authenticity of having more Asian and Asian-American actors lend their vocal talents to the characters. That said, Kubo and the Two Strings is a rich multisensory experience that will open viewers' eyes to the power of imagination and the beauty of handcrafted animation.