Whether you love the stop-motion animated films by Laika or not (and who doesn't, really?) it's hard to argue their work is unlike any other. They've given us three beautiful, wonderfully creepy films thus far: Coraline, ParaNorman, and this year's The Boxtrolls, and while none of them have been huge hits their next movie is looking to be the biggest yet, at least from a starpower standpoint.
Laika has announced their fourth 3D stop-motion film Kubo and the Two Strings will feature a voice cast of Matthew McConaughey, Rooney Mara, Charlize Theron, Ralph Fiennes, and Brenda Vaccaro. Art Parkinson (Game of Thrones) will voice the title character. Award-winning animator Travis Knight, who has served as sort of the unofficial spokesman for Laika over the years, will make his directorial debut. So what's the story about?
Penned by ParaNorman's Marc Haimes and Chris Butler, the swashbuckling epic fantasy is set in ancient Japan. "In the epic fantasy, scruffy, kindhearted Kubo ekes out a humble living while devotedly caring for his mother in their sleepy shoreside village. It is a quiet existence – until a spirit from the past catches up with him to enforce an age-old vendetta. Suddenly on the run from gods and monsters, Kubo’s chance for survival rests on finding the magical suit of armor once worn by his fallen father, the greatest samurai the world has ever known. Summoning courage, Kubo embarks on a thrilling odyssey as he faces his family’s history, navigates the elements, and bravely fights for the earth and the stars."
This is a big step up for Laika and hopefully the thousands of hours of work will put in to making Kubo and the Two Strings a reality will pay off. The film is expected to open August 19th 2016.
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