Laika, the Oregon-based stop-motion animation studio behind Coraline, ParaNorman, and The Boxtrolls, crafts impeccably beautiful films. Its fourth feature, Kubo and the Two Strings, got a dialogue-free teaser at the end of last year, but now there’s a full trailer that hints at more of the plot and the voices involved. Kubo is the directorial debut of Laika CEO Travis Knight—who's always been an animator at the studio, but is moving behind the camera for the first time—and features a voice cast that includes Charlize Theron, Ralph Fiennes, Rooney Mara, George Takei, and Matthew McConaughey. Art Parkinson (Rickon Stark on Game of Thrones) voices the titular protagonist, the son of a legendary samurai who embarks on a magical quest with a samisen—a three-stringed Japanese lute played with a large pick. The mythic scope allows for some gorgeous shots in this two-minute sizzle reel, from a towering wave only defeated by music to spectral figures that harken back to Coraline. None of Laika’s previous films have been blockbuster hits, but they’ve all been artistic feats, and Kubo looks to continue that legacy when it hits theaters in August.
Song: Sounds like an orchestral arrangement of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"—nice one, Laika.
Essential quote: “Your magic is growing stronger, but when we grow stronger, the world grows more dangerous.” —Monkey (Charlize Theron)
