From the dark and intense opening scene, accompanied by a poetic narration, there are signs Kubo and The Two Strings is the product of highly imaginative and unconventional stop-motion animation studio Laika, home of Coraline, ParaNorman and The Boxtrolls.
The skill and patience involved in bringing this story to life are obvious, with stop-motion animation so beautiful and seamless it would be easy to miss its production origins.
Add an epic tale of love and sacrifice, a collection of eclectic and uniquely designed characters, and a smart script that's witty, heartbreaking and full of twists and turns, and you know you've got a Laika film.
![The battle is joined for Monkey, Kubo and Beetle in an epic action-adventure Kubo and the Two Strings. Photo / LAIKA / Focus Features](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/MBU7FV75KSKYFALVCBPYZK4F7E.jpg?auth=53166438772ce69dd6481d2f3569da2dda55503f850a3437dd55ec6fd64f1d83&width=16&height=7&quality=70&smart=true)
Kubo and The Two Strings is a family drama set in ancient Japan. A mythical tale, it tells the story of young boy Kubo, who lives with his mother in a cave on the edge of a remote seaside village. He spends his days telling the locals stories about samurai warriors, enchanting them with his ability to magically bring origami figures to life with his lute.