There was a bit of a lull after Laika’s 2009 feature debut Coraline, but the local animation studio has once again nailed it with Kubo and the Two Strings. The stop-motion visuals are beyond breathtaking, the scenery is effing majestic, and the characters are likeable. The film’s emotional heart and mythic, fantastical proportions make it a perfect blend of sweet and strange. by Courtney Ferguson