*SPOILER NOTICE*
"If you must blink, do it now."
These are the first words audiences hear when they go see Laika Entertainment's newest film, "Kubo and the Two Strings." The film tells the story of eleven-year-old Kubo, a one-eyed boy with a knack for intricate origami and playing the shamisen (which is a small, three-stringed lute). One day, Kubo breaks one of the only rules his mother ever gave him: don't stay out after dark. As soon as the sun sets and Kubo realizes his mistake, his mother's evil sisters come to steal him away — along with his only remaining eye. After narrowly escaping, Kubo's mother sends him on the run in order to fulfill his destiny.
Through stunning stop-motion animation, action-packed adventure, and emotionally charged confrontations, "Kubo and the Two Strings" succeeds at being the most beautiful movie of 2016—despite occasional shortcomings. Even though it's animated, I think adults are the ones who will really get the most out of this film. It preaches the importance of kindness, family, and forgiveness in a way that children will pick up on, but the high-concept nature of the film might be a little hard to follow for the typical age group associated with animated movies. Not to mention, the film is surprisingly melancholy. Kubo is dealing with feelings of grief, loneliness, imperfection, and desperation, all while being hunted by his aunts and grandfather.
At an hour and 41 minutes, "Kubo and the Two Strings" is the longest stop-motion animated movie to date, which is impressive in and of itself. Throw in elements of a Japanese fairy tale, unsurpassed originality, and breathtaking visuals unlike anything seen so far in 2016, and you've got Laika's latest hit, "Kubo and the Two Strings."
