KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS

I was recently invited to, “From Coraline to Kubo: A Magical LAIKA Experience” at Universal Studios Hollywood’s Globe Theatre’ to preview “Kubo and the Two Strings'” hitting theaters Aug. 19. The interactive exhibitions is an up-close look at the artistic detail behind Laika’s ten-year filmmaking history, which also includes Academy Award-nominated films “ParaNorman” and “The Boxtrolls.”

“From Coraline to Kubo” will showcased the evolution of Laika’s handcrafted stop-motion animation and visual effects that come to life in four themed rooms. The displays featured original sets, puppets and props. If you haven't been to Universal Studios lately, this is the time to take advantage, it's mesmerizing to see these characters up close, and to see how they’ve evolved onto the big screen is mind blowing. Make sure you don’t miss out on the LAIKA experience running from August 5-14th.

In a recent interview Travis Knight was asked about Kubo and the Two Strings, what he had to say was revisiting not only because I look up to him but hope that my son takes the same road as Travis, fearless, risk taker, imaginative and determined.

TRAVIS KNIGHT: Well, we started LAIKA about 10 years ago, and we had a pretty simply mandate which was to make movies that matter, to tell stories that were rich and evocative, that were thematically challenging and had something meaningful to say about what it means to be human. And we always want to do new, interesting stories, we want to explore different aspects of the human condition. And so this story really spoke to me because, you know, when I was a kid I loved big, epic fantasies and that was what this film was. And at the same time, when I was around 8 years old I went to Japan for the first time, and I was a kid who grew up in Portland, Oregon, so, you know, being in Japan was unlike anything else I’d ever experienced. It was a real revelation for me. And so it’s a kind of art that’s lived with me for my entire life, and so that this film really ticked those boxes for me. The great [PH] Zhang Yimou, filmmaker, said that every boy wants either a train set or to make a martial arts movie, and I didn’t have a train set, so this is my martial arts movie.

Young Kubo's (Art Parkinson) peaceful existence comes crashing down when he accidentally summons a vengeful spirit from the past. Now on the run, Kubo joins forces with Monkey (Charlize Theron) and Beetle (Matthew McConaughey) to unlock a secret legacy. Armed with a magical instrument, Kubo must battle the Moon King (Ralph Fiennes) and other gods and monsters to save his family and solve the mystery of his fallen father, the greatest samurai warrior the world has ever known.

What an amazing movie, non-stop action and the cinematography was amazing. Kubo and the Two Strings is an upcoming American 3D stop-motion fantasy action adventure film produced by Laika for Focus Features. It is being directed by Travis Knight and written by Marc Haimes and Chris Butler. The film stars Charlize Theron, Art Parkinson, Ralph Fiennes, Rooney Mara, George Takei and Matthew McConaughey. The film is scheduled to be released on August 19, 2016.