Kubo and the Two Strings: Plot, Cast, Kids Guide & More

If you’ve ever watched a child become completely absorbed in a story, then let go of the remote — Kubo and the Two Strings is that kind of film. This 2016 stop-motion gem from Laika Studios drops viewers into feudal Japan through the eyes of a 12-year-old boy who summons magic through music and paper. Families with older kids tend to either love it fiercely or find it surprisingly intense.

Release Year: 2016 · Director: Travis Knight · Setting: Feudal Japan · Protagonist: Young boy named Kubo · Animation Style: Stop-motion

The following table consolidates the essential details families need for viewing decisions.

Is Kubo and the Two Strings appropriate for children?

The MPAA rating sits at PG — not surprising given the film’s emotional depth and occasional scares. Parents tend to agree on a narrower age range than the official rating suggests.

Age rating details

The film earned its PG designation for “thematic elements, scary images, action, and peril” (Rotten Tomatoes). Kids-in-Mind’s detailed breakdown scores it 0.4.1 — low on sex and language, moderate on violence and gore.

Parental guidance notes

Australia’s Raising Children Network recommends the film for viewers over 11, with parental guidance suggested for those under 11, and advises against children under 9 due to violent imagery and themes around loss (Raising Children Network). Rotten Tomatoes’ family review offers a softer threshold: kids 7 or 8 and older typically handle it fine despite Noh-masked aunts and hypnotic eyeballs (Rotten Tomatoes Editorial). Parent reviewer Diane Mizota put it plainly: “This movie is a little sad but I think that’s okay for kids because it could be a really great jumping off point to have some conversations” (Mom’s Movie Minute).

Kid reviews summary

Matinee Chat reported that younger children at screenings enjoyed the film, though some parents felt it trended too dark for under-7s (Matinee Chat). The positive messages — bravery, teamwork, storytelling as magic stronger than evil — resonate strongly with older kids who can follow the emotional arc (Raising Children Network).

The implication: if your child can process brief moments of loss and mild body horror, the film rewards them with genuine emotional depth most animations sidestep entirely.

What culture is Kubo and the Two Strings based on?

Laika didn’t just set the film in Japan — they built it from Japanese cultural DNA, layering folklore, music, and visual traditions into every frame.

Japanese folklore influences

The shamisen instrument appears as a magical artifact central to Kubo’s powers — an intentional choice that ties the film’s magic system to real Japanese performance tradition. Bon Festival, the annual event where Kubo stays out past sunset with catastrophic results, corresponds to the real Obon observance where families guide ancestral spirits home with lanterns (Wikipedia). The Moon King antagonist draws from mythological figures in Japanese cosmology, and the Sisters’ aesthetic borrows directly from Noh theater masks.

Feudal Japan setting

The film places Kubo in an unnamed village during Japan’s feudal period. Samurai heritage, mountain caves, and coastal monasteries provide the physical backdrop — not a historically precise recreation, but an emotionally authentic-feeling space built from folklore shorthand (Wikipedia).

Cultural authenticity

Culture Honey notes that Kubo functions as “son of samurai and magical goddess” — a character type drawn from Japanese hero narratives rather than Western traditions. The film’s treatment of ancestor worship and reincarnation reflects Buddhist-influenced cultural beliefs common across East Asia (Culture Honey).

The pattern: Laika drew from Japanese folklore elements selectively, building a film that feels culturally grounded without requiring viewers to recognize specific mythological sources.

Is there going to be a Kubo 2?

No. Despite passionate fan communities and elaborate fan wikis, no official sequel has been produced or announced.

Sequel status

Wikipedia confirms the straightforward reality: no sequel to Kubo and the Two Strings has been produced or announced (Wikipedia). This isn’t a case of a studio leaving the door open — Laika has moved forward with entirely different projects.

Rumors and fan ideas

The Laika Fandom wiki hosts extensive community-generated content about potential sequel directions, but Laika has not acknowledged any follow-up to this specific story (Laika Fandom wiki). Fan speculation tends to focus on Kubo grown older or returning to complete unfinished threads from the first film.

Studio updates

Laika Studios, known for Coraline, ParaNorman, and Box Trolls, continues producing new films, but their post-2016 slate has not included any Kubo continuation (Matinee Chat).

What this means: the story Kubo tells stands complete. There are no sequel breadcrumbs, no post-credits scenes to decode. The 101 minutes you watch are the entire tale.

Kubo and the Two Strings plot and characters explained

Understanding this film means wrestling with a few central mysteries — most of which the story answers, but in ways that might surprise younger viewers.

Is Kubo a boy or a girl?

Kubo is a boy. Art Parkinson voices the protagonist, a 12-year-old one-eyed boy who tends to his ill mother Sariatu in a mountain cave (Wikipedia). The film never waffles on this, though the name and delicate features occasionally cause confusion.

Why doesn’t Kubo’s mom talk?

Sariatu, Kubo’s mother, carries a curse placed on her by the Moon King — her own father. The curse silences her, leaving her unable to speak and eventually compelling her to send Kubo away when the Sisters arrive during Bon Festival (Wikipedia). Her sacrifice drives the film’s inciting incident and establishes the stakes.

Is Monkey actually Kubo’s mom?

Yes. Monkey is Sariatu’s spirit, bound into a snow monkey charm that Kubo carries. Charlize Theron voices both the live-action monkey companion and the earlier scenes with Sariatu — a deliberate casting choice that signals their connection before the story explicitly confirms it (Wikipedia). The emotional weight lands hardest when Beetle (Matthew McConaughey) — cursed Kubo and Sariatu’s husband — recognizes what Monkey truly is.

The final confrontation hinges on this: Kubo defeats the Moon King not through combat but by restringing his shamisen with family hair and summoning ancestral spirits. His memories, not his strength, prove strongest. The Moon King is eventually accepted by villagers who restore his own memories through compassion — a resolution rooted in ancestor worship and forgiveness rather than destruction (Wikipedia).

Why this matters: the film earns its emotional moments by building toward a climax where family bonds are the actual superpower. Children who grasp this theme tend to reframe how they think about storytelling itself.

Kubo and the Two Strings: Cast, studio, and where to watch

The voice cast brings serious talent to what could have been a straightforward animated affair — and their choices shape how audiences experience the story.

Main cast voices

The standout casting is Charlize Theron as Monkey — warm, fierce, and funny in ways that make the character feel like a real parent navigating impossible circumstances. Matthew McConaughey as Beetle provides comic relief and plot-wise, while Ralph Fiennes gives the Moon King genuine menace. Art Parkinson holds the center as Kubo, and George Takei appears as a villager witness to the film’s climax (Wikipedia).

Stop-motion studio

Laika Studios built every frame physically — thousands of articulated puppets, custom-painted sets, and handcrafted stop-motion animation at a pace of roughly 10 seconds per day of production. The technique shows. Visually, the film ranks among the most accomplished stop-motion ever produced (Mom’s Movie Minute).

Streaming options

The film is available on Netflix for subscribers and can be purchased digitally across major platforms. Physical media — Blu-ray and DVD — remains in circulation for collectors who want the behind-the-scenes material. No theatrical re-release has been announced.

The takeaway: families who prioritize visual artistry and emotional substance over fast-paced action will find Kubo and the Two Strings rewards repeated viewings — while those expecting conventional animated pacing may need to adjust expectations.

Quotes from reviewers and parents

Memories are the strongest magic of all and can never be destroyed.

— Kubo (narrated theme), Wikipedia

This movie is a little sad but I think that’s okay for kids because it could be a really great jumping off point to have some conversations.

— Diane Mizota, parent reviewer, Mom’s Movie Minute

Family is important. Everyone has a special story to tell.

— Raising Children Network review guide

For families with children old enough to handle the intensity, Kubo and the Two Strings delivers something rare: an animated film that respects both the darkness of its themes and the emotional capacity of its audience.

Related reading: Kids-in-Mind rating · Raising Children Network guide

Set against feudal Japan’s mystical backdrop, Kubo weaves folklore into stop-motion brilliance, where its age rating, culture and stop-motion offer parents key insights for kids’ viewing.

Frequently asked questions