About a month ago, Focus Features showed its first trailer for LAIKA’s upcoming feature length stop-motion film, KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS. While the trailer itself did a great job of showing the kinds of visual splendor the film would have in store for viewers, it didn’t do a whole lot to sell them on the actual story.

In the new trailer, the studio takes the opportunity to show that film will be so much more than just a series of pretty images.

Check out the trailer below!

“KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS is an epic action-adventure 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), Akihiro (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa) and Kameyo (Academy Award nominee 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 (Academy Award winner Charlize Theron) and Beetle (Academy Award winner 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 (Academy Award nominee Ralph Fiennes) and the evil twin Sisters (Academy Award nominee Rooney Mara) to unlock the secret of his legacy, reunite his family and fulfill his heroic destiny.”

With three films currently under their belt (CORALINE, PARANORMAN, and BOXTROLLS), LAIKA has definitely proven to be masters of their craft. Not just with the stop-motion work, but in their storytelling. 

If there is one weakness in the trailer, it’s that the comedy seems to fall a bit flat. But given their track record of quality films so far, I’m hopeful that in the context of the film, it’ll all play out much better. Comedy has never been the big focus of their work, anyhow, and though marketing often tries to play up comedic aspects of animation, I think LAIKA is more interested in telling a heartfelt adventure than a comedy. 

What did you think of the trailer? Let us know in the comments down below!

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SOURCE: Focus Features