Honestly, most animated movies play it safe. You get the funny sidekick, the brave hero, and a villain who’s bad just because the script says so. But Kubo and the Two Strings characters? They're weird. They're heavy. They feel like people you actually know, even when one’s a giant talking beetle and the other is a grumpy snow monkey.
If you’ve watched it, you know. If you haven’t, you’re missing out on a cast that handles grief and memory better than most "serious" adult dramas.
Let's break down why these specific characters stick in your brain long after the credits roll.
The One-Eyed Storyteller: Who is Kubo?
Kubo isn't your average "chosen one." Voiced by Art Parkinson, he’s a 12-year-old kid who basically works a 9-to-5 in the village square to support his mother. He uses a shamisen—a Japanese three-stringed lute—to breathe life into origami.
He’s missing his left eye. Why? Because his grandfather, the Moon King, literally ripped it out when he was a baby. That’s dark for a PG movie.
Kubo’s whole deal is about the power of stories. He tells the tale of Hanzo, a legendary samurai, but he can never finish the story because he doesn’t know how it ends. He’s living in a state of "almost," waiting for a closure that hasn't come yet. He’s kind, he’s scrappy, and he’s terrified of the dark—for good reason.
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Monkey: The Fierce Maternal Force
Then there’s Monkey. Charlize Theron brings this incredibly dry, protective energy to her. She starts as a small wooden charm Kubo’s mother gave him, but she comes to life to guide him after his village is destroyed.
She’s not the "cuddly animal" trope. She’s strict. She’s a warrior. She’s constantly checking the perimeter and making sure Kubo isn't slacking. Later, we find out why she’s so intense: she is actually the reincarnated spirit of Kubo’s mother, Sariatu.
It’s a beautiful, tragic twist. She gave up her divinity to be with a human, and now she’s a monkey trying to save her son one last time. Her dynamic with Beetle is basically "bickering parents," which makes way more sense once the big reveal hits.
Beetle: The Forgotten Samurai
Beetle is voiced by Matthew McConaughey, and honestly, it’s one of his best roles. He’s a human-stag beetle hybrid who’s lost most of his memory. He claims to have been a student of Kubo’s father, Hanzo.
He provides the comic relief, sure. He’s a bit of a goofball. But there’s a deep sadness under the "Alright, alright, alright" energy. He’s a man who has lost his identity. When it’s revealed that he is Hanzo—cursed and transformed by the Moon King—the bickering between him and Monkey turns from funny to heartbreaking.
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They were a family that forgot they were a family.
The Villains: The Moon King and the Sisters
The antagonists in this movie are genuinely nightmare fuel.
- The Sisters (Rooney Mara): They wear these expressionless Noh masks and float through the air like ghosts. They’re Sariatu’s twin sisters (Kubo's aunts). They represent the cold, detached perfection of the "Heavens." They don't want Kubo to suffer; they want to "save" him by taking his other eye so he can be blind to the world’s pain. It’s a twisted kind of love.
- The Moon King (Ralph Fiennes): Also known as Raiden. He’s Kubo’s grandfather. He views humanity as a "wretched" place full of death and disappointment. He wants to bring Kubo to the Moon where everything is eternal and cold.
The ending for the Moon King is probably the most unique villain defeat in animation. He’s stripped of his power and becomes a confused old man with no memory. Instead of killing him, the villagers—who he previously terrorized—tell him stories. They lie to him. They tell him he was a kind, generous man. They use the power of storytelling to "re-write" his soul into someone better.
Supporting Cast and the Village
While the core trio does the heavy lifting, the villagers in Kubo’s town add that necessary "human" weight to the story.
- Kameyo (Brenda Vaccaro): The sharp-tongued elderly woman who treats Kubo like a grandson. She’s the one who warns him about the coming danger.
- Hosato (George Takei): A villager who adds to the texture of the world, reminding us that Kubo isn't just a magical boy; he's part of a community.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Characters
A lot of viewers think the "Two Strings" in the title refer to Monkey and Beetle. It’s a fair guess. But at the end, Kubo uses the hair of his mother and the bowstring of his father to repair his shamisen.
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The strings represent the memories of his parents. The characters aren't just people in a quest; they are the literal "strings" that allow Kubo to finish his song and defeat his grandfather.
The movie argues that our ancestors live through the stories we tell about them. If we forget the stories, they’re gone. If we remember, they’re invincible.
Moving Forward with Kubo
If you're looking to dive deeper into why Kubo and the Two Strings characters feel so distinct, you should check out the "Behind the Scenes" footage from LAIKA Studios. The way they physically built these puppets—especially the giant skeleton that took months to animate—shows how much intent went into every facial expression.
Your next move? Rewatch the film, but pay attention to the lighting. Notice how the Moon King is always associated with "perfect" cold light, while Kubo and his parents are bathed in the messy, warm light of fire and lanterns. It’s a visual way of saying that being human is messy and painful, but it's better than being a "perfect" god.
If you're a writer or a creator, look at how the movie uses Beetle's amnesia not just as a plot point, but as a metaphor for the loss of heritage. It's a masterclass in character writing.