Now Playing: Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)

As an avid fan of everything Laika Entertainment has done, I was very much anticipating their latest film Kubo and the Two Strings. It did not disappoint. This film is about Kubo, a boy with one eye who can create magic using a traditional Japanese instrument called a shamisen. He sets off on a quest with some strange companions to collect three pieces of armor that will protect him from his evil grandfather and two aunts who wish to steal his other eye. Along the way, he learns more about the incredible past of his parents. Kubo was directed by Laika CEO Travis Knight and includes the voice talents of Art Parkinson, Charlize Theron, Matthew McConaughey, Ralph Fiennes, Rooney Mara, and George Takei. The film also features a creepy and cool rendition of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by Regina Spektor, which plays over the end credits.

I am always impressed by original content in Hollywood right now. I am even more impressed by a smart kid's movie coming out today. Kubo had both of these things. The writing and the twists and turns of the story along with the stunning visuals can keep both children and adults entertained. The film was also funnier than I expected. Based on the trailers, I didn't think it would be in the same vein as ParaNorman but it had a lot of humorous moments. I think my favorite part of the movie was the Sisters, the aunts of Kubo. Man, I haven't seen such cool villains in a kid's movie for a while! They were scary, powerful, and pure evil. And as soon as I got out of the theater, my sister and I were talking about how amazing they would be as Halloween costumes.

I love stop-motion animation. I find it fascinating and you cannot talk about Kubo without talking about the beautiful animation. This film used CGI, animatronics, and stop-motion. In fact, one monster in Kubo, which was basically a giant skeleton, is 16 feet tall with a 20 foot reach -.the largest animatronic figure ever built.  Most main characters were stop-motion figures, but in large crowd scenes, the people in the background are CGI. Laika is also known for using 3D printing to create a wide range of faces for characters, something that is different from stop-motion pictures of the past. While doing some research I was also surprised to learn that the hair on human characters is actual hair styled with silicone and the capes used by the evil Sisters are created by hand-made feathers (about 183 for each cape!) The amount of work put into the costumes for these figures, as well as the sets and Kubo's origami creations is almost unfathomable. But it really pays off in the end, as this movie is visually stunning. The animation goes above and beyond and stands out amongst the Minions and Madagascars. 

Kubo does not skimp on story. This isn't a series. It's not a franchise. And yet the lore is rich. Not everything is explained in great detail and at times I found it frustrating. But after thinking about it for a day or two, I really appreciated it. Because it meant you had to just believe in the magic of this world. Not everything has a logical explanation to it. Kubo draws inspiration from the classic fairy tales and mythologies we all know. There's King Arthur and Harry Potter and even a bit of Avatar: The Last Airbender. But it is still an original fantasy. There is a Moon King who has magical daughters. There are brave warriors wearing magic armor, talking animals, and ghosts. Special robes can make you fly. Eyes are the things that make you human and contain memories. The dead can still be with you through spirit. All these magical elements come together to make a really fascinating story. I also love that Kubo combines inspirations from stories around the world into an ancient Japanese setting. There are storytellers making origami and playing  the shamisens. There are samurais wielding katana. I felt like I was learning something new and the story still had familiarity in it. The magic of Kubo was quite literally the magic.

Kubo and the Two Strings is a children's movie that should not be overlooked. In a sea of brands and franchises and Pixar sequels, it should not be lost. Laika needs all the support it can get - they have yet to disappoint and it is the only studio making movies like this. This is a movie I really encourage everyone to see. It's funny and unique and beautiful. It will make you fall in love with movies again.

Cult Film Friday: Yellow Submarine (1968)

I recently read 100 Best Beatles Songs: An Informed Fan's Guide by Stephen J. Spignesi and Michael Lewis. The Beatles is my favorite band and I love learning about them. In my Beatle-y mood, I decided to re-watch one of my favorite movies, one that has maintained a cult classic status for Beatles fans and is very close to my heart: The Beatles' 1968 animated film Yellow Submarine.
Released during the height of sixties psychedelia, Yellow Submarine received worldwide acclaim, particularly for the music (of course) and the colorful and creative animation.

The plot of Yellow Submarine is constructed by Beatles songs. The peaceful Pepperland has been attacked by Blue Meanies, creatures that hate music, color, happiness, love, and even the word "yes." One Pepperland resident, Fred, is able to escape in the Yellow Submarine. Up on land, he recruits the help of the Beatles. They travel back to Pepperland through various colorful and sometimes dangerous underwater locales, including the Sea of Time and the Sea of Monsters. Once they make it to Pepperland, the Beatles are able to restore color and happiness to the people, and even make the Blue Meanies nice, through the power of music.

The Beatles themselves do not voice their cartoon counterparts (sad, yes, but they do have an adorable live-action segment at the end of the movie), but this doesn't ruin the movie for me. It's still full of Beatles humor and imagery. The writing is incredibly clever and hilarious, reminiscent of The Goon Show and Monty Python. If you enjoyed A Hard Day's Night and Help!, you'll know this film, even though it's an animated movie for children, maintains the silly and surreal humor the Beatles are known for. The music is wonderful. The soundtrack consists of Beatles tunes and instrumental music composed by George Martin.

Let's talk about the animation, because for real. The animation in this movie is everything. It's sixties, it's psychedelic. It's pop art and surrealism. And something I really noticed this time was how the animation would change during each song. The images would try to match the songs; the two art forms go together so perfectly in Yellow Submarine:
1. The first song we hear is "Yellow Submarine." This song plays over the opening titles and uses the main animation for the film.
2. We then hear Eleanor Rigby, which is one of my favorite Beatles songs. The bright, surreal look of Pepperland is gone. We are now in the smog of Liverpool. The colors used are mostly blacks, browns, and greys. The people are drawn more realistically, reminding one of Andy Warhol's photographs. The actions of the people in this segment are repetitive. It all clashes with the Yellow Submarine sailing in the background.

3. We then hear "All Together Now" while the Beatles and Fred travel in the Yellow Submarine. We get to hear this song again during the live-action ending with the Beatles. The animation used is the standard character-driven art we see throughout. At the end of the film, the song plays over images of the Beatles flashing across the screen while the words "all together now" appear in different languages.

4. In the Sea of Time, the Beatles sing "When I'm Sixty-Four." Surreal images shown of the numbers 1 through 64 are very reminiscent of Sesame Street. Perhaps Jim Henson was inspired by this movie?

5. In easily the trippiest part of this movie (and that's saying a lot), the Beatles sing "Only a Northern Song" while the submarine glides through the Sea of Science. Again, Warhol-esque photos of the Beatles flash before us with a strobe light effect. The psychedelic animation certainly matches the song.

6. It's a while before we hear the next song; "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds." This is one my favorite animated segments of the movie. Again, very pop art, but almost with a slight art deco feel. "Lucy" reminds me of a girl you would see in French posters from the 1920's. It's a very pretty part.

7. The part where the Beatles sing "Nowhere Man" to Jeremy Hillary Boob, Ph.D. used to make me cry as a child! The regular animation is used here but includes a lot of surreal collages mixed with very sixties-looking flowers.

8. The Beatles have made it to Pepperland and they have disguised themselves as Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Pepperland's greatest musical act. Guess which song they sing to revive the people and bring color and happiness back? This segment contains the regular animation.

9. The main animation is also used for the next song, "All You Need is Love," except this time the lyrics of the song are shown on the screen in big, lovely letters.

10. "Hey Bulldog" is the jam of Yellow Submarine, using the regular animation to show the Beatles trying to escape from a pack of Blue Meanie bulldogs.

11. In the heartwarming finale, the Blue Meanies turn good and join with the Beatles and the rest of Pepperland. Psychedelic, vivid animation illustrates the George Harrison tune "It's All Too Much."

Snippets of "Love You To," "A Day in the Life," "Think for Yourself," "With a Little Help From My Friends," and "Baby You're a Rich Man" can also be heard.

Yellow Submarine is an interesting cult film. It is popular among those who love the band; true-blue Beatles fans will know this movie. And yet, you can still find Yellow Submarine merchandise occasionally in stores: a mug here or a notebook there. It's like when you see Breakfast Club t-shirts at Target or something. It's probably recognizable as Beatles-related to the masses, but I am surprised the older I get by how few people have actually seen it.

I watched Yellow Submarine growing up. It was regularly playing in our VCR. As a kid, my favorite Beatle was Ringo; for the past ten years or so, my favorite has been George. It was funny remembering that while watching this recently. I think one of the things I really liked about it as a kid was the beautiful animation. There is always something to look at. There is so much detail in each frame. It's a different movie experience; it encourages audience participation. You can sing along and just enjoy the imagery. I also love the message. You have a chance for redemption; have a positive mindset; all you need is love, which is a belief that is present in many Beatles songs. I think, no matter what, that's ultimately what the Beatles were trying to convey through their music. It certainly is the message conveyed in Yellow Submarine.