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WATCH: Focus Features Unveils First Look at LAIKA’s ‘Kubo and the Two Strings’

New teaser for stop-motion animated action-adventure set in mythic Japan gives a taste of the film’s ornate visual style and epic setting.

Focus Features has released the first teaser trailer for Portland-based animation studio LAIKA’s forthcoming animated feature, Kubo and the Two Strings.

Kubo will mark the directorial debut of animator and LAIKA CEO Travis Knight. The script, based on a concept originally brought to the studio by Google Spotlight Stories animator Shannon Tindle, is written by Marc Haimes and ParaNorman writer and co-director Chris Butler.

The stop-motion animated action-adventure film set in mythic Japan looks to be the studio’s most different yet. The new teaser gives a taste of the film’s ornate visual style and epic setting:

Here’s the official synopsis:

Kubo and the Two Strings is an epic action-adventure set in a fantastical Japan from acclaimed animation studio LAIKA. Clever, kindhearted Kubo (voiced by Art Parkinson of Game of Thrones) ekes out a humble living, telling stories to the people of his seaside town including Hosato (George Takei), Hashi (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa) and Kamekichi (Brenda Vaccaro). But his relatively quiet existence is shattered when he accidentally summons a spirit from his past which storms down from the heavens to enforce an age-old vendetta. Now on the run, Kubo joins forces with Monkey (Charlize Theron) and Beetle (Matthew McConaughey), and sets out on a thrilling quest to save his family and solve the mystery of his fallen father, the greatest samurai warrior the world has ever known.  With the help of his shamisen -- a magical musical instrument -- Kubo must battle gods and monsters, including the vengeful Moon King (Ralph Fiennes) and the evil twin Sisters (Rooney Mara) to unlock the secret of his legacy, reunite his family and fulfill his heroic destiny.

Focus Features, which has released all of LAIKA’s previous features -- Coraline, Paranorman and The Boxtrolls -- will launch Kubo and the Two Strings in the U.S. on August 19, 2016. Universal Pictures International will distribute the film abroad.

Source: Focus Features

Jennifer Wolfe's picture

Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.