Kubo and the Two Strings 2016

Like “Song of the Sea,” this film for our family was profoundly moving, visually stunning, entertaining, mystical, and very heartwarming. It was also a great departure from the usual animations that adopt the Disney formula, which might be a turn-off for viewers that either prefer cookie-cutter endings or dislike the more mentally-engaged consumer experience (where audiences have to do a bit of deductive reasoning).

For us, though, this film was a welcomed departure as it allowed us to discuss real life topics with our kids (teenager and 5-year-old) that even adults have difficulty reconciling. The most notable one was that of personal loss, specifically the loss of a loved one.

This by far was the film’s greatest strength as Kubo shows us how to properly grieve and mourn, as well as how to move on.