San Antonio showed its support for Ukraine this weekend at Laika Cheesecake and Espresso despite long lines, cold weather, and sold out dessert cases. Just hours after Russia invaded their nation, owners Anna Afanasieva and Viktor Krizma pledged that 100% of proceeds from their Southtown location would go directly towards helping those in need.
Laika Animation Studio, best known for the dark kid horrors such as ParaNorman and Boxtrolls, shifts its style with Nude into something lighter and funnier. Its eccentric characters and meticulously constructed world – with William Morris wallpaper and Savile Row tweed – resemble that of Wes Anderson more than Tim Burton; its voice cast led by Emma Thompson’s Yeti Queen role is equally charming.
But this film offers more than stunning visuals; it also serves as a cautionary tale on the dangers of the digital divide. When Raak (voiced by Oh Seung-hoon) attempts to leverage her social media following into a music career, she risks being deleted without notice – something many camgirls such as Vex Ashley (now Cortana Blue) have experienced first-hand.
Kubo and the Two Strings is an absolute visual delight, boasting stunning action sequences with intricate 3-D visual conceits like floating eyeballs that resolve in unexpected ways. It offers all-ages entertainment while sidestepping trite conventions while conveying an important family message in a truly spectacular fashion – Laika has delivered another stellar piece with Kubo.
