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Get Lost in New KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS Art’s Creepy Cool Fairy Tale World (Exclusive)

It’s a tale as old as time: A boy who cares for his sick mother accidentally summons a vengeful spirit and is forced to leave his village and solve the mystery surrounding his famous samurai father, while battling gods and demons with the aid of his magical shamisen, a traditional Japanese instrument. Okay, so maybe it’s not so familiar, but that’s part of what has us so intrigued by Kubo and the Two Strings, Laika and Focus Features’ upcoming action-adventure film set in a fairy tale version of Japan. To say that we’re excited for Kubo and the Two Strings is a bit of an understatement; after all, the film made our list of 15 must-see summer movies. While we still have to wait until August 19 to see the film in theaters, we have a way to make the wait a little less painful. Today, Nerdist has two pieces of exclusive artwork from the upcoming animated adventure, and will continue to unveil more this week in advance of the release of a new trailer on Thursday, April 28 at 8AM PT/11AM ET.

To kick things off, we have a first look at two of the worlds through which Kubo will journey on his quest, the mysterious-sounding The Far Lands and the terrifyingly named The Garden of Eyes.

“The Far Lands”

Kubo and the Two Strings - The Far Lands

“The Garden of Eyes”

Kubo and the Two Strings - The Garden of Eyes

 

Here’s the official synopsis:

“An epic action-adventure set in a fantastical Japan 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.”

Kubo and the Two Strings Poster

Kubo and the Two Strings opens on August 19, 2016.

What do you think of Kubo and the Two Strings? Which world would you like to visit most? Let us know in the comments below.

Images: Laika/Focus Features


Dan Casey is the senior editor of Nerdist and the author of books about Star Wars and the Avengers. Follow him on Twitter (@Osteoferocious).

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