Kubo and the Two Strings 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review
Score: 93
from 4 reviewers
Review Date:
Kubo and the Two Strings' 4K UHD upgrade boasts stunning visuals, an engaging Dolby Atmos audio, and enriching extras, making it a must-have for enthusiasts.
Disc Release Date
True 4K
HDR10
Dolby Vision
Dolby Atmos
Dolby TrueHD
Video: 95
The 4K UHD Blu-ray of *Kubo and the Two Strings* by Shout Factory delivers a superb visual experience with stunning color balance and saturation enhanced by HDR/Dolby Vision. The transfer offers nuanced fine details, inky black levels, and vibrant hues, creating a top-notch presentation free of digital artifacts.
Audio: 95
Kubo and the Two Strings' 4K UHD Blu-ray audio presentation features a dynamic Dolby Atmos track, elevating the original 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix with enhanced channel separation and immersive overhead effects, delivering powerful bass, crisp dialogue, and a rich, enveloping soundscape.
Extra: 86
The 4K UHD Blu-ray of 'Kubo and the Two Strings' in Limited Edition Steelbook impresses with newly remastered visuals in Dolby Vision HDR and extensive extras, including director commentary, Inside LAIKA featurettes, feature-length storyboards, and still galleries, offering deep insights into production and animation challenges.
Movie: 93
Kubo and the Two Strings dazzles with stunning stop-motion animation and a compelling story rooted in Japanese lore, blending childlike whimsy with profound themes of love and memory. Despite its theatrical underperformance, this visually poetic film shines as a masterpiece, showcasing exceptional voice performances and LAIKA's meticulous craftsmanship.
Video: 95
Shout Factory's 4K UHD release of "Kubo and the Two Strings" stands as an exemplary showcase of animation, with a remarkable video presentation that capitalizes on the film's digital stop motion artistry. The transfer features native 4K resolution with HDR10 and Dolby Vision, resulting in enhanced color balance and enriched saturation. The intricacies of fine details are distinctly rendered—whether it’s the texture of Kubo’s hair or the intricately animated water effects during the witch sisters' attack. The deep black levels allow for a profound realization of underwater scenes and stylized lighting effects, eliminating common issues such as Blu-ray banding and over-brightness. The HDR application, particularly through Dolby Vision, further extends the color gamut, providing lush hues that are pivotal for the film's diverse environments.
The technical fidelity is superb, as verified by the HEVC/H.265 encoding at 2160p resolution in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. While originating from a 2K Digital Intermediate, the 4K restoration supervised by LAIKA offers substantial depth, delivering a three-dimensional quality to the visuals. Blacks are notably inky and uncrushed, enhancing contrast and supporting a more dynamic range. Colors across the spectrum—reds, greens, blues—pop with an intensity that feels organic and vibrant. Movements remain true to their stop-motion roots, exhibiting confidence and fluidity free from digital artifacts or noise.
Overall, this UHD presentation encapsulates "Kubo and the Two Strings" in an impeccable visual format. From micro-level texture detail to expansive scenic shots, the disc excels in maintaining clarity and engaging its audience with an animated experience like no other, establishing it as a definitive version for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
Audio: 95
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Kubo and the Two Strings" features an impressive Dolby Atmos audio track, an upgrade from the already stellar 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track. This enhancement introduces greater spatial dynamics and a refined clarity that heightens the auditory experience. The Atmos track not only maintains the powerful presence of deep bass and dynamic surrounds but also enhances channel separation, allowing precise localization of sound. The overhead speakers are utilized effectively, adding dimension with immersive effects, notably during the sea battle and climactic sequences. This upgrade offers a slightly more agile and finely tuned audio experience, elevating an already commendable mix to a new level of perfection.
Beyond its technical sophistication, the Dolby Atmos track enriches the movie with additional spatiality, engaging listeners in its vibrant audio tapestry. The inclusion of overhead interactions, crisp sound effects, and a mesmerizing score seamlessly envelops viewers, delivering clear dialogue and robust low-end activity. While English serves as the primary language option in Dolby Atmos (compatible with 7.1 Dolby TrueHD), additional tracks are available in Spanish, French, and Japanese 5.1 DTS. Subtitles are offered in English SDH, Spanish, and French, enhancing accessibility.
The audio presentation boasts dynamic layering and depth, bringing a natural and immersive feel to the film's sound design. The diverse mix carries palpable energy with well-placed soundscapes that convincingly animate the imaginative world of "Kubo." Low-frequency extensions from music scores and action scenes deliver substantial impact, while surround sound elements create engaging ambient effects. Dialogue reproduction is outstanding, offering clear and crisp vocal exchanges that emphasize diction and subtle nuances. This Dolby Atmos track serves as a testament to the film's compelling auditory journey.
Extras: 86
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Kubo and the Two Strings" offers a meticulously curated selection of bonus content that enriches the viewing experience with in-depth insights into the film's production. The extras center around the "Inside LAIKA" features, which provide a compelling exploration into the making of the film, highlighting challenges faced in costume and prop design, and revisiting the intricate puppet work. The comprehensive audio commentary by Director/Producer Travis Knight delivers a thorough examination of the creative processes behind the scenes. "Kubo's Journey" delves into various storytelling aspects divided into six thematic chapters. Meanwhile, the inclusion of feature-length storyboards allows viewers to appreciate the film's visual storytelling from inception to execution. Additional still galleries and promotional materials augment this offering, making it a robust and engaging exploration of Laika's creative mastery.
Extras included in this disc:
- Audio Commentary: Insightful discussion with Director/Producer Travis Knight.
- Inside LAIKA—Confronting the Epic Challenges of Kubo and the Two Strings: Behind-the-scenes documentary focusing on production challenges.
- Inside LAIKA—Revisiting the Puppets with LAIKA's Animation Team: Reflections on puppet designs from the studio's team.
- Feature-Length Storyboards: Extensive look at storyboard sequences.
- Kubo's Journey: Six-part exploration of the movie's narrative elements.
- Original Featurettes: Various short documentaries covering multiple aspects of production.
- Still Galleries: Collections of character art, concept art, and behind-the-scenes images.
- Trailer: Original promotional material for the film.
Movie: 93
"Kubo and the Two Strings" is a marvel of modern stop-motion animation, weaving an intricate tale that balances the boundary between a fantastical adventure and mature thematic elements. Directed by Travis Knight, this film sets a high standard in storytelling and visual splendor. The narrative unfolds through Kubo, a young boy who wields a magical two-stringed instrument, journeying with companions Monkey and Beetle, voiced by Charlize Theron and Matthew McConaughey respectively. Together, they embark on a quest against the Moon King, played by Ralph Fiennes, in search of magical armor to protect Kubo and discover his legacy.
The animation is nothing short of breathtaking, showcasing LAIKA's apex in their craft with detailed environments and fluid character movements. Achieving such intricate clothing animations in stop-motion is commendable, evidencing the meticulous attention to detail that LAIKA is renowned for. Furthermore, the film delivers an aesthetic that pays homage to samurai lore while injecting its distinctive flavor. Despite its warm reception, it underperformed at the box office—a regrettable reality, considering its contribution to animated storytelling in 2016.
Characteristic of LAIKA's brand, "Kubo and the Two Strings" deftly combines charming humor with darker elements, creating a journey that resonates with both children and adults. Themes of love, memory, and loss are interwoven into an immersive narrative that demands multiple viewings to appreciate fully. Although there are minor critiques regarding the film's climactic battle being slightly childlike compared to its preceding intensity, such points are overshadowed by the film's overall impact. Ultimately, "Kubo" stands as a testament to LAIKA's dedication to cinematic artistry and storytelling prowess, marking it as a contender among the studio's finest works.
Total: 93
"Kubo and the Two Strings" stands as a monumental achievement for Laika Entertainment, showcasing their pinnacle in animation artistry even years after its initial release. The 4K UHD Blu-ray edition elevates the already exquisite visuals to extraordinary levels with enhanced image clarity due to its added resolution. Viewers are treated to a captivating combination of vibrant colors and precise detail, complementing Travis Knight's remarkable directorial debut. This release also maintains its integrity with an impressive Dolby Atmos audio track, offering an immersive experience that captures the film’s emotional depth and thrilling martial arts sequences.
The disc comes packed with a comprehensive collection of additional content, beginning with the insightful 2016 audio commentary by director and producer Travis Knight. Newly added Inside LAIKA featurettes provide exclusive behind-the-scenes insights, such as the creation processes for animation and confronting the challenges faced throughout production. Highlighting the passion and collaboration among the talented cast and crew, this collection includes interviews with numerous creatives and performers including Charlize Theron and Matthew McConaughey. Additionally, Kubo’s Journey serves as a multi-chapter exploration suitable for fans seeking a deeper understanding of the film's artistic journey.
In conclusion, this 4K UHD edition of "Kubo and the Two Strings" merges technological excellence with artistic depth, portraying its legendary narrative through pristine audio-visuals and valuable extras. Whether purchasing for the alluring steelbook or standard edition, this release is indispensable for collectors and fans of Laika’s animated artistry. With its compelling story and stunning presentation, "Kubo" secures its place as an essential addition to any movie aficionado's collection. A must-own for all, irrespective of age, as it continues to enchant and engage audiences worldwide.
AV Nirvana review by Michael ScottRead review here
Video: 100
The typical Blu-ray banding is heavily minimized to the point of being nearly non existent, and the slightly dimmed brightness levels (something typical of HDR style applications) make the film seem less...
Audio: 100
The track is still gut wrenchingly powerful, with deep bass and wildly dynamic surrounds, but it is more fine tuned and the separation amongst the channels seems to be a bit better....
Extras: 80
• NEWLY REMASTERED IN 4K • DOLY VISION/HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM • NEWLY REMASTERED IN 4K • Feature-Length Storyboards • Inside LAIKA -Revisiting the Puppets with LAIKA's Animation Team • Inside LAIKA—...
Movie: 90
Travis Knight and his writing crew captured the pure essence of mystical quest, steeped in Japanese lore, and made it into a dark kid’s film that dances a line between being adult and child like at the...
Total: 90
Amazing video, just as amazing Dolby Atmos, but the extras are the same across the board from the 2021 Shout Factory Blu-ray....
Blu-ray.com review by Randy Miller IIIRead review here
Video: 100
For thoughts on the 4K's 2160p/HDR10 (Dolby Vision compatible) transfer, please see Neil Lumbard's review of Shout Factory's standard 4K edition....
Audio: 100
Extras: 100
This two-disc release ships in attractive Steelbook packaging that features an eye-catching composition on its front cover with Monkey, Kubo, and Beetle surrounded by swiuling origami papers and decorative...
Movie: 90
Needless to say, Kubo and the Two Strings has been extremely well-represented on home video since its debut; a 3D Blu-ray and DVD were released too, which makes this Steelbook the sixth (and possibly final)...
Total: 100
Travis Knight's Kubo and the Two Strings is undoubtedly Laika Entertainment's finest film to date, even eight years after its theatrical debut, and it's been very well-represented on home video in basically...
The Digital Bits review by Tim SalmonsRead review here
Video: 95
The HDR, particularly the Dolby Vision, widens the gamut considerably, allowing for the varied environments substantial saturation....
Audio: 95
Additionally, there are tracks presented in Spanish, French, and Japanese 5.1 DTS, as well as an English Descriptive Video Service track....
Extras: 90
The first, Confronting the Epic Challenges of Kubo and the Two Strings, features footage from the recording sessions, behind-the-scenes footage, and rare test footage....
Movie: 100
Striking a nice balance between popcorn entertainment for people of all ages and progressive art film, it tells the story of Kubo, a young man with the ability to influence the things around him with the...
Total: 95
The first, Confronting the Epic Challenges of Kubo and the Two Strings, features footage from the recording sessions, behind-the-scenes footage, and rare test footage....
Why So Blu? review by Brandon PetersRead review here
Video: 100
Depth: Depth of field features a natural looking three dimensional image with plenty of space and pushback....
Audio: 100
From the sounds of clothing ruffling and characters traveling across the screen, it feels quite engaging and lifelike with terrific ambiance....
Extras: 80
Kubo And The Two Strings – Limited Edition Steelbook is a 2-Disc set that comes with the standard Blu-ray edition previously released by Shout!...
Movie: 100
They’ve certainly done the work and are as big of fans themselves, which such a knowledge and respect for the genre with what they have taken the time to animate to the screen....
Total: 90
All of the extras from before are here and you can get a neat little steelbook if you so choose....
Director: Travis Knight
Actors: Charlize Theron, Art Parkinson, Matthew McConaughey
PlotIn ancient Japan, a one-eyed young boy named Kubo cares for his sickly mother in a seaside village. Kubo is a storyteller who magically manipulates origami with music from his shamisen, a traditional three-stringed instrument. His mother warns him to return home before dusk to avoid the vengeful spirits of his ancestors, particularly his grandfather, the Moon King, who wishes to take Kubo's other eye. During the village's Obon festival, Kubo stays out after dark, unintentionally summoning spirits from his past. His mother uses the last of her magic to send Kubo away to seek his father's magical armor, which is said to be the only thing capable of protecting him.
Joined by his protectors, Monkey and Beetle, Kubo embarks on an adventurous quest to find the three pieces of his father’s armor: the Sword Unbreakable, the Breastplate Impenetrable, and the Helmet Invulnerable. As they journey through the treacherous landscapes facing monsters and spirits, Kubo learns of his family’s history and the strength of his magical powers. Their path is fraught with challenges that test their courage, intelligence, and bonds of trust, while his vengeful aunts, the twin Sisters, and the omnipotent Moon King loom ever-nearer, intent on stopping Kubo and fulfilling the ancient vendetta.
Writers: Marc Haimes, Chris Butler, Shannon Tindle
Release Date: 19 Aug 2016
Runtime: 101 min
Rating: PG
Country: United Kingdom, United States
Language: English