The dog also walks and hits an animated film. No.37] "KUBO KUBO: The Secret of the Two Strings" - An overwhelming adventure action film with stunning Japanese visual beauty

We want to meet more and more anime that excite our hearts, anime that will cheer us up tomorrow, and anime that we will always love!　Our anime writers will introduce you to anime that are hot at the moment, regardless of whether they are new releases or long-term favorites.

This time, we will focus on "KUBO KUBO: The Secret of the Two Strings," which is currently in theaters.

Produced by the American animation production company Leica, this "stop-motion animation" is created by moving puppets and filming them frame by frame. Set in Japan, this adventure fantasy about a Japanese boy named Kubo is a highly accomplished entertainment experience for both adults and children.

The author, who saw the Japanese dubbed version of the film, introduces it as one of the films released last year that should not be missed.

The beauty of Japanese visuals is amazing!　A dazzling origami fantasy!

KUBO KUBO: The Secret of the Two Strings" was produced by Leica, an American animation production company, but it is a little hard to believe and I had to check it again and again. I never thought that the unique beauty and charm of "Japan" could be expressed to such an extent!

This is not the reality of a period drama, or accuracy as history. What is depicted is Japan as a "different world" from the filmmaker's point of view. That is why it is pure and beautiful.

What runs through the entire film is an understanding and respect for Japanese art and culture. Behind this is a simple childlike admiration and longing, and the advanced techniques used to give form to this admiration and longing.

These are symbolized by the important motif of "origami.

The main character, a young boy named Kubo, has the mysterious power to play the shamisen and manipulate origami, which he uses in the beginning of the film to perform a street performance in front of the villagers and also in battle. It is amusing just to watch the danced papers dance freely.

And the audience marvels with the villagers at the vivid changes that occur when a sheet of paper takes on various forms simply by "folding" it, as if it has come to life.

I hear that origami is popular overseas. However, for those of us who grew up in Japan, origami is a child's game. Many people experience it as children and forget about it as adults.

Fold the corners of a small square, fitting it exactly to the crease. The bagged part is puffed up and folded. The accumulation of these small, meticulous, and precise tasks results in a solid shape, composed of straight and curved lines, that becomes a small toy, decoration, or gift.

The "mascot" in this film that stands by the protagonist's side is Hanzo, a palm-sized origami warrior. He does not speak and has no facial expression, but his movements are most eloquent, and he wields a small, toothpick-like sword heroically toward the path he must take.

The cuteness of the elephant is not at all inferior to that of the animal character with the fluffy, dull black eyes.

Watching Hanzo move around so animatedly reminds me of my childhood, when my imagination brought everything I saw to life. When was the last time I folded a "vine"?　I can't help but want to fold one.

It's as beautiful as if I were seeing the country for the first time.

In addition to this, the "ukiyoe"-like background, the symbolic "Mt. Fuji," the "shamisen" that Kubo carries on his back and which is also a key item for his mysterious power, and the "three sacred weapons" that Kubo is searching for, are all depicted in this film, as if they were Japanese in every way.

One of the main characters, "Monkey," is a "Japanese monkey" in appearance and behavior. The villain, the "Moon Emperor," was probably inspired by the legend of Kaguyahime.

It is not only about items and motifs. The emphasis on "wabi-sabi" in the direction of the film gives it a unique depth.

As often happens, popular Japanese comics and animations are adapted into Hollywood films and lose their important character and charm. Or "Japan" in Western films is comically caryaturized or intentionally somewhat off, and is talked about as a story.

This film is a far cry from such representations. Through this work, the audience will rediscover the "beauty" and "individuality" of Japan, as if they were seeing the country for the first time from a foreign perspective.

To be honest, I feel a bit disappointed. Why can't we make such beautiful and exciting adventure stories set in Japan?　Perhaps they could make a similar film.

Perhaps, if we tried to make a similar work, our own work made in Japan would not be as pure as this. That is how much this film grabs the hearts of the audience with its beautiful, smoldering silver sheen.

One month after its release, nearly 70% of the seats in the movie theater on a weekday evening in Shinjuku were occupied, indicating the high interest of adult audiences.

The movement was incredible!　The action is so powerful that "you mustn't even blink."

This film was created using a technique called "stop-motion animation," in which puppets are recorded frame by frame to create movement. The high level of perfection is breathtaking.

The dolls move smoothly and have detailed facial expressions that can express lonely emotions through the movement of their eyebrows. The mouth moves with the lines. The hair of the monkey flutters in the storm, and the armored warrior of the gaikotsu comes at you with great power.

Any thoughts of technique are quickly dispelled as the viewer is drawn into the picture, eyes wide open, transfixed by the screen.

The bold and precise movements were made possible by a 3D printer. The making of the film, in which small mouth parts are made and then attached to the doll's face to create the "talking" facial expressions, can be partially seen at the end of the film.

One of the reasons for using stop-motion animation instead of CG is the "texture" created by the shadows. The three-dimensionality of the objects, which are indeed there, is very good.

It is not a "picture" but a "doll" that moves. The enjoyment is both nostalgic and new.

The cast is amazing!　Well-balanced and talented voice actors.

The characters are unique and very attractive. It is a boy's adventure tale that is easy to understand and heartwarming even for children.

The main character Kubo, who has lost his mother, sets off on an adventure to collect the "Three Sacred Treasures" in order to protect himself from his mother's family, who are after him. The purpose of his journey is not to protect the world, but rather to save it.

Sal, who is to travel with Kubo, chastises him severely and strongly. Lonely, Kubo is lonely, sulks, and complains. His behavior is childlike. But Sal does not spoil Kubo. He does not want to live in a state of weakness.

The depiction of the snowy mountains in a blizzard is truly moving, frightening, and beautiful. Like a wild animal, Kubo struggles to move forward.

The stern monkey contrasts sharply with the cheerful, slightly off-kilter "stag beetle," a samurai. The sense that the design of the samurai in armor is a stag beetle thrills even the most mature of children.

It is toward the end of the film that the meaning of the title, "The Secret of the Two Strings," becomes clear. Kubo has three strings on his shamisen, but why is the title "Two Strings"? The scene in which the meaning is revealed is heartrending.

There is also a message from the director at the end of the ending message, which is also very poignant, so please watch it to the end.

The Japanese dubbed version is recommended!

Whether to watch the subtitled or dubbed version depends on the person. Many people may choose the subtitled version to enjoy the atmosphere of the original, but for this film, I recommend the dubbed Japanese version.

Kubo is voiced by Akiko Yajima, who has dubbed many child actors in foreign films. The voice of Sal, who protects and guides Kubo, is voiced by Atsuko Tanaka. Michio Hazama plays the last boss, the Moon Emperor. All are veterans of the series and are well known to anime fans, and fit the character's image perfectly.

On the more topical side, actor Pierre Taki plays Stag and Rina Kawae, a former member of "AKB48," plays the dark sister of the assassin who is after Kubo. These two are also into each other. Pierre Taki's voice is warm and comical, and Rina Kawae does a good job of bringing out the horror of the enemy, which is almost horror (quite ear-piercing and scary!). .

Thanks to the well-balanced casting, the viewer does not feel uncomfortable with the acting and cannot enjoy the film, which is often the case with dubbed films. Rather, in a big action movie so fast and dense that you don't even have time to blink, there is too much to miss while reading the subtitles, so I recommend the dubbing, which allows you to concentrate on the screen.

If you are planning to see the movie, there is no harm in choosing the dubbed Japanese version. If you still want to feel the atmosphere of the original language, you can watch the subtitled version afterwards. I am sure you will want to experience the poignant story and beautiful images once again.


(Text by YAMAYU)

(C) 2016 TWO STRINGS, LLC.