Kubo and the Two Strings

If you must blink, do it now.

Pay careful attention to everything you see and hear,

no matter how unusual it may seem.

And please be warned,

if you fidget, if you look away,

if you forget any part of what I tell you,

even for an instant,

then our hero will surely perish.

His name is Kubo.

His grandfather stole something from him.

And that really is the least of it.

Ow!

-(GROWLS) -(SHRIEKS)

Well, hello, Kubo.

-(LAUGHS) -How was it today?

It wasn't a bad crowd.

I got two pennies and a lint ball.

This is pretty good lint.

And what have you got planned for today?

Oh, you know, the usual.

-Monsters? -Of course.

You think you can work in a fire-breathing chicken?

The chicken again?

The chicken is funny.

A touch of comedy to balance the whole thing out.

They're gonna be throwing money at you. I just know it.

Uh, they'll throw something at you. I don't know.

Okay, I'll see what I can do.

And do you plan on finishing the story this time, young man?

If you must blink, do it now.

-(GASPS) -(PEOPLE GASP)

Yay!

Pay careful attention to everything you see and hear,

no matter how unusual it may seem.

And please be warned,

if you fidget, if you look away,

if you forget any part of what I tell you,

even for an instant,

then our hero will surely perish.

Hanzo was a mighty samurai, but he was alone.

His family taken from him, his kingdom in ruins,

and his army destroyed by the dreaded Moon King.

You may recall,

Hanzo was roaming the distant Far Lands

in search of a magical suit of armor.

The only weapon in the whole world

that could protect him from the power of the Moon King.

This armor was made up of three pieces.

-The first... -Oh! I know! I know!

The sword unbreakable.

The second...

The breastplate... (STUTTERS)

Impenetrable.

Impenetra-bubble!

-Yeah! -(CROWD LAUGHS)

And finally, the third weapon,

the final piece of the armor...

I know this one. Pick me!

The helmet invulnerable!

Before Hanzo could claim the armor

and unite the pieces to reveal their true power,

he was attacked by the Moon King's beast.

Oh, yes!

-(CROWD CLAPPING) -(SQUAWKS)

Kill the chicken! Rip it to pieces.

Oh, my.

Hanzo was filled with rage.

His soul tormented

by the grief of a family stolen from him!

At last, our hero was face-to-face with his nemesis,

the Moon King.

So, be sure to come back tomorrow.

What? Oh, come on!

People like an ending.

Where are you going?

No, you can't... You can't leave!

Kubo.

-Kubo. Yes, Mother.

I'm here.

Hungry?

And even though he could barely see

his own hand in front of his face,

Hanzo and his army of loyal samurai

pressed on through the blizzard.

And suddenly, as quickly as it had started,

the storm cleared before him.

Hanzo breathed a sigh of relief, for he was home.

His fortress?

-The Beetle Clan castle! -Yes.

At the very edge of the Far Lands,

hidden from the Moon King by powerful magic.

And then what happened, when he got to the castle?

When who got to the castle?

Hanzo! My father!

Hanzo... Hanzo was at the castle?

He...

Just give me a second. I'm...

No.

It's gone. I can't...

I'm sorry, Kubo.

Perhaps I could recall a different story.

Mother, what was Father like?

Oh.

This one is easy.

Hanzo was a mighty warrior, skilled with sword and bow.

No, what was he really like?

When he wasn't fighting, when he was with us.

He was just like you.

-Like me? -Yes.

Strong, and clever, and funny,

and, oh, so handsome.

Ugh. Mother.

Come on!

Never forget how much he loved you, Kubo.

He died protecting us.

-Did the Moon King... -Uh.

Your grandfather.

Did Grandfather and your sisters really kill my father?

It can't be true, can it?

They're family.

No, they are monsters.

Grandfather and my sisters stole your eye, Kubo.

They must never find you again. Never!

You must always stay hidden from the night sky,

or they will find you

and they'll take you away from me.

Promise me you will never let this happen.

Promise me, Kubo!

Don't be sad, Kubo.

Kubo?

Remember what you must do, Kubo? (CHUCKLES)

Remember?

Keep you with me at all times, Mr. Monkey.

And?

And keep Father's robe on my back at all times.

Yes, Kubo.

And there's one more thing.

Never, ever stay out after dark.

Huh?

Remember?

-Yes, Mr. Monkey. -Good boy.

Bedtime.

Mother, wake up. You're dreaming.

No. Kubo.

Kubo, is that you?

Yes, Mother. I'm here.

Kubo, what happened to your eye?

Paper boy!

Here, here!

Come on. Come on.

Come sit next to me. I got us a good spot here.

What do you think?

I got myself all spruced up for the big day.

Mmm.

I do so love the festival.

A time to celebrate.

You know, it's a shame you never stay past sundown.

There's fireworks, and singing, and dancing,

and feasting, of course.

But the best part of all...

Do you see those lamps and altars?

We use those to speak to the loved ones that left us behind.

We listen to their tales,

and guide their safe return to the blissful pure land.

Really? Did you speak to someone?

Yes, I did. My husband.