Open Road Film Sets a Release Date for 'Spark'

It's been a while since Toonbox Entertainment's Spark has been announced to the public. However, I have never heard anything from it since the film debut at Toronto Animation Arts Festival International. Luckily, I had the curiosity to do some digging and found out that Open Road Films acquired domestic distribution rights for the film setting the release date on April 14, 2017.

Spark, 2017

Spark is Toonbox Entertainment's second feature film right after The Nut Job. It will be interesting to see how it turns out to be, since the first movie was a box office success for the studio. I don't know why it took so long for the movie to get a theatrical release but it seems to follow distribution problems similar to Mark Osborne's The Little Prince. Look out for two films from Toonbox Entertainment in 2017, Spark and followed by The Nut Job 2 on May 19, 2017.

Review #61 | Kubo and the Two Strings

“If you must blink, do it now!” says Kubo, our young hero, in the beginning of the movie and that moment I knew it was well worth the wait. Kubo and the Two Strings is the latest stop-motion animated film created by LAIKA (Coraline, ParaNorman & The Boxtrolls). 

Kubo and the Two Strings, 2016

It is directed by Travis Knight who has also produced all of LAIKA’s previous films.
I have been very unfortunate little being to be dwelling on the other side of the world trying to avoid spoilers for over 2 months since the release of Kubo in the U.S. And since I live in Korea, I’ve been waiting for this movie for more than you can imagine. I finally got to watch it today, and yes, it was well worth the wait for two reasons: 1. There were literally no one in the theater besides me and one other person, which gave me the freedom of over exposure and 2. Because the movie was a visually stunning film, a breakthrough in stop-motion history.

Kubo and the Two Strings follows our hero Kubo on his quest to find the magical suit of armor once wore by his father to defeat the spirits from the past who try to murder him and his mother for betrayal. Kubo has to locate the suit of armor with a help of the monkey and the beetle in order to face his enemy.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the movie but if I was to nitpick this movie, I would say I was a little bit disappointed of how the movie ended. I mean, it could have had a better ending. Nevertheless, what was awe inspiring the most was the visuals. I have never seen a stop-motion animated film that was beautiful and as action packed as Kubo. The movie strives above them all. LAIKA really out did itself in this part.

Now, for the story, I was into it all throughout the movie thanks to the great scary sequences, that actually caught me off guard. After all, this is what LAIKA does best. Although the movie seems to take it seriously, it is actually very funny at times because of the great characters who truly feel alive (aka “animated”). It is hard not like any of them!

While journeying throughout the land and sea, Kubo has to locate the magical suit of armor and fight monsters. Those moments were the very high points of this movie. It was so intense and exciting, that the final battle between the enemy and Kubo felt a little disappointing. The enemy fell into a trap that most villains in super hero movies did: he kept on monologuing until his defeat!

My final thoughts. With a blend of an amazing score, Kubo and the Two Strings strives to be one of the best animated films of this year. I can’t say it’s the best effort LAIKA has delivered to us but it does stand close to Coraline and ParaNorman or even better, only time will tell.

Animation Magic Theater Rating: 88%

The Red Turtle Official International Trailer

The Red Turtle is a French-Belgian-Japanese animated film directed by Dutch-British animator Michaël Dudok de Wit.

Visually pleasing, The Red Turtle, is a must-see animated film from 2016.

Trailermeter: 91%

The LEGO Batman Movie Official Comic-Con Trailer

The 2016 Comic-Con had has some surprising trailers revealed. One being The LEGO Batman Movie. Check the trailer below.

The trailer looks fun and entertaining as The LEGO Movie two years ago. But does it have a compelling story with heart? We'll have to see about that next February. 

Trailermeter: 81%

Sing Official Trailer 2

Check out the latest trailer for Illumination's Sing.

A koala named Buster recruits his best friend to help him drum up business for his theater by hosting a singing competition.

 Sing has a lot of great cast and singers, it has a lot to offer!

Trailermeter: 86%