‘Kubo And The Two Strings’ 4K UHD Blu-Ray SteelBook Review – A Stunning Flex Of Dazzling Animation & Storytelling

From the acclaimed animation studio LAIKA (Coraline) comes an epic original action adventure featuring the voice talents of Academy Award® winners* Charlize Theron and Matthew McConaughey. Kubo mesmerizes the people in his village with his magical gift for spinning wild tales with origami. When he accidentally summons an evil spirit seeking vengeance, Kubo is forced to go on a quest to solve the mystery of his fallen samurai father and his mystical weaponry, as well as discover his own magical powers. Kubo And The Two Strings is “a wildly imaginative, magical adventure” (Scott Mantz, Access Hollywood)!

For thoughts on Kubo and The Two Strings and a look at the Limited Edition 4K UHD SteelBook, please check out my unboxing video:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mn_D5HpEaRw]

Video Quality

Kubo and The Two Strings comes to 4K UHD Blu-Ray courtesy of Shout! Factory with a mesmerizing 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer in 2.39:1. The company just released a new Blu-Ray in 2021 after securing a new deal with LAIKA, which was not that much different from the older Universal release that has been around since late 2016. Both of those older releases impress when it comes to translating the artistry of this film to physical media, but this brand-new 4K restoration brings a level of nuance to this feature that is not to be missed. Stop motion animation is one of the most enchanting animation styles to see rendered on this format. 

One of the most rewarding aspects of this presentation is the level of detail that is unlocked with this restoration. Every scene showcases just how much care was put into the design by hand with distinct ridges to the landscapes and textures on the clothing that had to be crafted so delicately. The team at LAIKA cannot put out as many movies as their peers, but the care that the animators put into their work makes each experience an awe-inspiring one.  This 4K UHD picture provides a knockout increase in pure texture and detail within the frame so that you feel as if you can reach through the screen and touch the environments. There are some environmental details such as fire and water that will blow you away. The depth of field has been enhanced so that the space feels more momentous which works in tandem with the epic narrative. 

This disc also greatly improves the contrast and color of the feature with the implementation of Dolby Vision. Kubo is a film of brilliant highlights and unyielding darkness depending on the scene, and this disc handles both extremes effortlessly. The bold highlights avoid any instances of blooming even at their most luminous. Black levels get a boost with no trace of compression artifacts or digital anomalies of the sort. Shout! Factory has taken special care to deliver a rock solid encode that allows the film to look its best. The colors in this transfer also present with more depth to their appearance than ever before which is especially welcome in a movie as visually rich as this one. Once again, Shout! Factory has delivered a wondrous 4K UHD Blu-Ray presentation that bests the previous Blu-Ray easily. 

Audio Quality

This release comes equipped with a stellar new Dolby Atmos track that brings complex new life to the soundscape. One of the major elements of this narrative is the use of music, whether it is the playing of the titular strings or the score from Dario Marianelli. No matter what you are considering, these elements render with impeccable fidelity as they flow throughout the room in a completely immersive manner. All of the channels get a workout with panning effects and environmental sounds that create a rewarding tapestry. The additional height tracks convey a lot of information overhead with environmental effects, the music and more that will put a smile on your face. 

The implementation of environmental effects allows this world to feel three dimensional. The sound design effortlessly captures the precise directionality of the various sounds. Dialogue comes through clearly without getting overshadowed by any competing sound effects or score. The low end activity hits hard during the film’s numerous confrontations. Shout! Factory has delivered a thrilling new audio experience for fans. English SDH, Spanish and French subtitles are provided for those who want them.

Special Features

Shout! Factory has provided Kubo and The Two Strings with the option of a sleek new SteelBook featuring artwork that is truly lovely in person. Video of the SteelBook can be found at the top of this review.

• Booklet: A multi-page booklet is included featuring an essay from film critic and historian Charles Solomon in which he discusses how this production fits into the LAIKA filmography. 

• Audio Commentary: Director Travis Knight delivers a deeply informative commentary track which keeps things very lively as he discusses the challenges of animating various sequences, bringing realism to the fantastical, secrets about the production of the film, inspirations for the design aesthetic and much more. Knight mentions this is his first commentary track, but he knocks it out of the park. 

• Inside LAIKA – Confronting The Epic Challenges Of Kubo and the Two Strings: A new 14-minute featurette which offers interviews with a large portion of the creative team who reflect back on the production of this film. In this piece the participants discuss the ambitious elements within the story and production design that were very difficult to achieve in stop motion, shaping the character designs, elements of their work they are fond of and more. It really is amazing to hear how all of these elements came together. 

• Inside LAIKA – Revisiting Puppets with LAIKA’s Animation Team: A new series of brief videos in which Florian Perinelle, Dan Mackenzie and Rachelle Lambden give you a brief overview of the characteristics of these characters and how their design feeds into these traits interspersed with clips from the films. This helps underscore how much care was taken with each character. 

• • Little Hanzo (1:54)

• • Monkey (2:02)

• • The Sisters (1:45)

• • Beetle (1:46)

• • Monkey King (2:05)

• • Mother (2:13)

• • Kubo (2:00)

• Feature-Length Storyboards: An option to watch the film in storyboard form. Once again, it is fascinating to see how the film evolved from early drawings to what we know and love. 

• Kubo’s Journey: A great overarching look at various key aspects of the production which gives you a lot of fun and fascinating insights into the creative process. 

• • Introduction by Director/Producer Travis Knight (0:49)

• • Japanese Inspiration (5:57)

• • Mythological Monsters (9:18)

• • Braving The Elements (4:28)

• • The Redemptive and Healing Power of Music (5:48)

• • Epilogue by Director/Producer Travis Knight (2:04)

• Corners Of The Earth: A three-minute featurette which takes a look at the variety of different locations on display in this story and how they are brought to life by the animation team. 

• The Myth of Kubo: A nearly three-minute piece which explores the unique themes on display in this narrative, the relationship between the characters and more. 

• Still Galleries: Sections are provided for Character Art, Concept Art and Behind The Scenes photos. 

• Theatrical Trailer: The minute-long trailer is provided here. 

Final Thoughts

Kubo and The Two Strings is not only one of the best films in LAIKA’s impressive canon of work, but it is one of the best animated films to come out in the past decade. The way the narrative mixes genres and cuts to the core of some weighty themes is magical. The film provides an array of characters you grow to truly care about who also never feel one-note or ill-developed. When taking into account the craft of the film, this is the textbook example of a feature firing on all cylinders. This is the type of film that reminds you why you love movies. Shout! Factory has provided a new 4K UHD Blu-Ray release that boasts a flawless A/V presentation and a stellar assortment of special features. Fans also have the option to get this in a fetching SteelBook package that is worth the extra money. This is something not to be missed. Highly Recommended 

Kubo and The Two Strings is currently available to purchase on Limited Edition SteelBook and Standard 4K UHD + Blu-Ray Combo Pack. 

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Shout! Factory has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.