By Gill Pringle
The latest opus from acclaimed animation studio LAIKA (Coraline, ParaNorman), Kubo And The Two Strings is set in ancient Japan, and follows the clever, kind hearted Kubo (voiced by Art Parkinson of Game Of Thrones), who must set out on a thrilling quest to save his family and solve the mystery of his fallen father. Kubo finds two unlikely friends and mentors in Monkey (Charlize Theron) and Beetle (Matthew McConaughey), who help him to unlock the secret of his legacy, reunite his family, and fulfil his heroic destiny.
At the press conference for Kubo And The Two Strings, the film’s stars were asked if they had mentors of their own. “A very special mentor for me was my mother, and she’s right at the back there,” young actor, Art Parkinson responded, pointing to the back of the conference hall. “She brought me up, and in this industry, she is my mentor. There was no one else really to teach me how to handle things. She’s a very special mentor to me in every aspect of life, whether it be sports or school or acting. She’s always very supportive. I also have a mentor in my father, because he’s a little bit more fun, and less strict. He’s a bit like Matthew’s character, Beetle. I can relate to the character very well.”
Matthew McConaughey revealed his mentor to be a little known industry figure that had a major bearing on him. “In terms of mentors, I had the late Penny Templeton, who moved on about six months ago,” the actor says. “She was probably the best mentor that I’ve had in my life. She wouldn’t call herself an acting coach, but that’s what she was. She’s the lady that taught me what my rights could be as an actor.”
Charlize Theron, however, is a little more circumspect on the issue. “There are so many,” the actress replies. “That’s the problem. I’m so unbelievably fortunate to have had a lot of people come into my life in very different ways and from very different places. Some I met when I was much younger, and some when I was much older. My life has been consistently blessed with people who’ve been great teachers to me. And so if I had to bring one into play right now, I would have to join Art in the fact that my mother is a consistent through my entire life. I’ve been lucky to have had a parent that was a great teacher, and who is still a great teacher. I’m forty, and I really thought that this was going to end at some point, but there are always some words of wisdom. I’m like, ‘Oh, wow, you just don’t stop!’ But I’ve had a lot of people that you guys wouldn’t know, of course. People that have come into my life and some that are not here now that have really moulded and changed me and my character in tremendous ways. I’m very grateful for that.”
Kubo And The Two Strings is in cinemas from August 18. To win one of fifty double passes to Kubo And The Two Strings, just enter our Best Animated Film Of All Time poll, by clicking here.
