"Kubo and the Two Strings" (2016) -- Stop Motion animated film. Kubo and the Two Strings takes things to the next step of that. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner didn't mince words. It's the most ambitious and bright of the dependably lively, often dark and sometimes quite gorgeous string of curiosities from Laika, whose gothic and offbeat creations ("Coraline," "ParaNorman," "The Boxtrolls") tug at strangeness and mystery the way other, less mature animations grasp at more comforting feelings. Staggeringly beautiful and immensely true, this is the best animated film of 2016. (Laika Studios/Focus Features via AP), This image released by Focus Features shows characters Kubo, voiced by Art Parkinson, right, and Monkey, voiced by Charlize Theron in a scene from the animated film, "Kubo and the Two Strings." He sits down, pulls out his shamisen (a three-stringed Japanese lute) and soon his strumming sends the paper sitting in front of him spinning through the air and folding itself into fantastical origami forms - a yellow chicken, flapping its wings; Kubo's samurai father, in red, slashing his little sword. Der Film vom Animationsstudio Laika basiert auf einer Geschichte von Shannon Tindle und Marc Haimes. "We're not purists about stop-motion," Knight said. Kubo and the Two Strings review – lyrical stop-motion tale ‘Succeeds on every level’: Kubo and the Two Strings. KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS (Travis Knight). 62. McLean has been with Laika since its inaugural project, Coraline (2009), the first film to use 3-D printing in stop-motion animation, an achievement celebrated with an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature Film. ", For example, one sequence sees Kubo and his friends take to a vast lake. Ultimately, Kubo and The Two Strings also mends together the traditional form of stop-motion film and new innovative techniques that have been enabled in … The puppet was a combination of high-tech and lo-fi techniques, standing on what the team dubbed a hexapod, a computer-controlled platform similar to the system that moves a flight simulator. (Laika Studios/Focus Features via AP). © 2020 CNET, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. Kubo and the Two Strings Is a Gorgeous Stop-Motion Adventure The newest film from the animation studio Laika is visually stunning—even if the story it tells is shaky at times. The characters of "Kubo" are remarkably expressive. Monkey (Charlize Theron) is his solemn guide, a furry sage who materializes overnight from a small wooden monkey charm. I was so mad that I failed to fully appreciate that it was stop motion. Kubo and the Two Strings is LAIKA’s biggest undertaking to date. Travis Knight, director "Kubo and the Two Strings". "In 'Coraline', you really couldn't do anything on the fly," Knight said. With the way the technology and our processes have advanced, you can now get a new face in a matter of hours.". However, "you can't just pop them onto a puppet," he admitted. A stop-motion samurai film — that's the germ of an idea that grew into the sprawling fantasy film, Kubo and the Two Strings. It was released on August 19, 2016. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The dates could change again in the future. We used industrial, architectural, high-density foam to create the bones to be as light as possible. Amid a deluge of CGI movies, "Kubo and the Two Strings" could be considered something of a throwback. Set in ancient mythical Japan, a young boy with magical powers named Kubo lives a quiet life caring for his mother in a village. There are shots that are almost entirely CG. David Ehrlich. We went through three sets of brake pads over the course of the film.". The Laika team didn't stop at embracing the computer. My opinion without a doubt belongs to a very small minority. Kubo and the Two Strings is a 2016 stop-motion animated film from Laika, making its fourth feature film. The film is the latest movie from animation studio Laika , who previously made Coraline , The Boxtrolls , and ParaNorman , and is the directorial debut of Travis Knight who worked as an animator on all of their previous films. ‘Kubo and the Two Strings’ Review: 2016’s First Animated Masterpiece Stop-motion story of a young hero, a quest, and a magical stringed instrument is, in a word, magical Staggeringly beautiful and immensely true, this is the best animated film of 2016. share. But he doesn't shy away from balancing the fun of the story with deeper themes and darker moments. "Kubo and the Two Strings" is a sumptuous stop-motion adventure. “Whatever tool makes the most sense is what we’ll use. Director Travis Knight reveals how the puppet masters at Laika combine CGI, 3D printing and other high-tech techniques with time-honoured stop-motion storytelling. "Kubo and the Two Strings," sometimes straining for quirkiness, isn't without fault. ", The most complex creation in the movie is a giant skeleton beast with flaming eyes. We used cloth, garbage bags and shower curtains on big metal grids and moved them around in an undulating way to see how that would simulate water.". Aided by a motley band of friends, Kubo must face the sinister Moon King in a series of magical escapades. Review: ‘Kubo And The Two Strings’ Is A Stop-Motion Masterpiece. He’s lost his father and him and his mother are hiding out in a cave near a village. Kubo is a kind of an animator, himself, finding his way through a tale he's trying to sketch as he goes like an origami "Harold and the Magic Crayon." A young boy named Kubo must locate a magical suit of armour worn by his late father in order to defeat a vengeful spirit from the past. "Stop-motion and water are things that don't go well together," Knight said, "so we did some initial tests with rippled panes of shower glass that we would move against each other to try to see how the light would work. [see description for track listings - BEWARE OF SPOILERS]ALL MUSIC COPYRIGHT DARIO MARIANELLI AND LAIKA STUDIOS. The stop-motion samurai story 'Kubo and the Two Strings' is the studio's latest example of cutting-edge animated entertainment. 'Kubo and the Two Strings' strums stop-motion wonder, Kubo, voiced by Art Parkinson, embarks on a magical journey in the stop-motion animated film, "Kubo and the Two Strings. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion. Stop motion animation is by far one of the most forgotten mediums for filmmaking, yet it holds high respect for what it is and how it's done in large motion pictures today. There are some shots that are entirely practical. But everything starts with puppets. Amid a deluge of CGI movies, "Kubo and the Two Strings" could be considered something of a throwback. Kubo – Der tapfere Samurai ist ein US-amerikanisches Animationsabenteuer von Travis Knight, das am 13.August 2016 im Rahmen des Melbourne International Film Festivals seine Premiere feierte. It was released on August 19, 2016. With Charlize Theron, Art Parkinson, Matthew McConaughey, Ralph Fiennes. 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", Animators used computer-generated digital effects to fill in or extend backgrounds, add extras to crowd scenes or paint out wires used to support some models. Kubo – Der tapfere Samurai kam am 19. Kubo, a young boy with bangs draped over his patched eye, is no traditional warrior. Those film-going experiences I've had with my children where we've watched a movie that goes into the marrow of some of these important issues, where we're on the ride home talking about the things it's brought up, those are my favourite kind of experiences -- those are the kinds of experiences we want to create.". "If you can do things in a stylised and hopefully poetic way," he said, "I think it's easier for a kid to understand and to try to contemplate and reconcile. 2d. Oct 3, 2016 - Explore Emma Slavin-Hall's board "Kubo and the Two Strings" on Pinterest. The journey leaves Kubo's mother feeble; years later, Kubo (Art Parkinson) is largely caring for her. hide. But, by staying out past dark, Kubo accidentally summons spirits from their past, unleashing his spooky twin aunts (both voiced by Rooney Mara) and later the Moon King (Ralph Fiennes), himself. This is the official art book for stop-motion animation house Laika’s 4th feature film Kubo And The Two Strings. Kubo and the Two Strings is a gorgeous stop-motion homage to Kurosawa and the power of stories By Aja Romano @ajaromano Aug 19, 2016, 11:00am EDT Share this story Directed by Travis Knight. Kubo and the Two Strings is a feature length stop motion film focused on the young Japanese boy named Kubo who I can say has been through a rough batch. Stunning stop-motion fantasy animation from the team behind Coraline and ParaNorman. With Charlize Theron, Art Parkinson, Matthew McConaughey, Ralph Fiennes. Kubo and the Two Strings Kubo - Der tapfere Samurai ist ein Stop Motion Film aus dem Jahr 2016 von Travis Knight mit Art Parkinson , Charlize Theron und Ralph Fiennes . Still, the handcrafted textures and wry self-awareness of "Kubo and the Two Strings" make Knight's film resolutely its own tale, one that folds into its own exotic shape. Laika’s fascination with folktales gets more sweeping and exotic with the samurai adventure, “Kubo and the Two Strings,” expanding yet again the boundaries of stop-motion. In stop-motion, animators pose puppets and capture a still photo. That's never something that we can do.". (Laika Studios/Focus Features via AP), This image released by Focus Features shows characters Kubo, voiced by Art Parkinson, left, and Monkey, voiced by Charlize Theron in a scene from the animated film, "Kubo and the Two Strings." That "Kubo" is about how stories bind people and families together is clear enough from the tale itself. Of all the many achievements in Laika’s newest stop-motion animated adventure, Kubo and the Two Strings, opening today in U.S. theaters, clearly the biggest is the Giant Skeleton. “They look like nice little dollhouses,” said Brotherton of the “Kubo and the Two Strings” sets, “but they have to function for stop motion. The film's dramatic first scenes show a baby Kubo and his mother washing up on shore. "We had clusters of magnets keeping the arms together with the shoulders. save. "If you must blink, do it now," Kubo announces before commencing with his story, one acted out by the dazzling, folded figures to a crowd of rapt onlookers. Kubo and The Two Strings, from Concept Art to Stop Motion Making a movie like Laika’s Kubo and the two Strings requires more than patiente. I was so mad that I failed to fully appreciate that it was stop motion. And then there are some shots that are blended. Of all the many achievements in Laika’s newest stop-motion animated adventure, Kubo and the Two Strings, opening today in U.S. theaters, clearly the biggest is the Giant Skeleton. 1 of 6 Kubo, voiced by Art Parkinson, embarks on a magical journey in the stop-motion animated film, "Kubo and the Two Strings." 1 year ago. (Laika Studios/Focus Features via AP), This image released by Focus Features shows characters Beetle, voiced by Matthew McConnaghey, Kubo, voiced by Art Parkinson and Monkey, voiced by Charlize Theron in a scene from the animated film, "Kubo and the Two Strings." It's a joyous adventure seasoned with thoughtful themes, and comic voice acting from Charlize Theron and Matthew McConaughey adds life to remarkably expressive characters. The exhibit also features hand-crafted puppets from Laika's 'Coraline,' 'ParaNorman' and 'The Boxtrolls.' best. For "Kubo", Laika made around 200 puppets. Sort by. One of the most impressive elements of “Kubo and the Two Strings”—besides its dazzling stop-motion animation, its powerful performances and its transporting score—is the amount of credit it gives its audience, particularly its younger viewers. This fantastic timelapse gives a stunning behind-the-scenes glimpse of animators working on the set of the new stop-motion film Kubo and the Two Strings.The film is the latest movie from animation studio Laika, who previously made Coraline, The Boxtrolls, and ParaNorman, and is the directorial debut of Travis Knight who worked as an animator on all of their previous films. See listing. Close. A young boy named Kubo must locate a magical suit of armour worn by his late father in order to defeat a vengeful spirit from the past. One of the most impressive elements of “Kubo and the Two Strings”—besides its dazzling stop-motion animation, its powerful performances and its transporting score—is the amount of credit it gives its audience, particularly its younger viewers. This thread is archived. Kubo and the Two Strings is a 2016 stop-motion animated film from Laika, making its fourth feature film. report. But while it was made using the time-honoured technique of stop-motion puppetry, it also relies on cutting-edge technology. Just like the previous art of books ( Paranorman, The Boxtrolls ) from the studio this volume is packed full of gorgeous behind the scenes art work including character and environment designs, image and story boards, … "The computer could do everything we could do in stop-motion, but better...greater flexibility with fine-tuned precision," Knight recalled of his early years as an animator in the 1990s. Those tests were then given to digital animators to create the finished shots. ‘Kubo and the Two Strings’: Meet the Man Behind 2016’s Stop-Motion Epic How the director/CEO of Oregon-based studio Laika just changed the animation game with company’s ambitious new project Even still the thing weighed 400 pounds (180 kilograms). "They have these little metal skeletons so we can pretty much put them in any position and they'll hold those poses...The wigs, which are all made by hand, are actually human hair that we comb through with silicone to give it durability, and then put in little wires and glue to make it animatable.". The story he tells at the market, of an evil Moon King, come from his mother's murmurings, yet he understands his past only vaguely. IndieWire. The cool, dry air over Houston will soon come to an end. Film Review: ‘Kubo and the Two Strings’ With its staggering visuals and genuine heart, Laika chief Travis Knight's fantastical samurai adventure puts the emotion in stop-motion “We’re not purists about [stop motion],” said Knight. • You can watch an exclusive behind-the-scenes video of how they built it below. Experience your favorite hometown foods no matter where you are this holiday season. "There's the old saying, 'we'll fix it in post', hoping someone else will solve the problem later. 7 comments. 101 minutes.Opens Friday (August 19). And nothing quite ruins a good story like the teller nattering on about the beauty of storytelling. "They're engineering marvels," director Travis Knight said of the puppets. I did too. The other is Beetle (Matthew McConaughey), a part insect, part human warrior who pledges to defend Kubo. Rated PG: for thematic elements, scary images, action and peril. From Concept to VFX to Stop Motion, discover a selection of making of and art released for the movie and be inspired by the amount of work and talented artists involved in such project. Kubo flees his village, but soon is joined by an unusual pair. But toward the end of "Kubo," the word "story" runs amok, breaking the movie's spell. I met with the film's director, Travis Knight, to find out how the stop-motion fans at Laika embraced "the infernal machine" of computer-generated imagery, and why "Kubo" balances dark and light. Making a movie like Laika’s Kubo and the two Strings requires more than patiente. Archived "Kubo and the Two Strings" (2016) -- Stop Motion animated film. He calls computers "the infernal machine" and describes how the team at Laika resolved "not only to make peace with [CGI], but to learn to love it, to embrace it, like a Luddite would embrace the loom.