From Richan Stark to 12-year-old eye-patched Kubo

Art Parkinson makes an effortless shift from Game of Thrones to the Japanese fantasy world of Kubo and the Two Strings
From Richan Stark to 12-year-old eye-patched Kubo

Art Parkinson moves on from his role as Rickon Stark on Game of Thrones to voice the 12-year-old eye-patched Kubo in Travis Knight’s fantasy adventure, Kubo and the Two Strings. In an exclusive chat, the actor speaks about the contrasting worlds that he had to come through.

How did you prepare to get into a samurai frame of mind?
I had no experience in animation before. The only experience I had was hanging around in studios. As for voiceover work, obviously I have done little things in the studio before. To prepare for this role, which is a very cultural role, I did a lot of research on Japanese culture, so that I could get into the mindset of the character. There are a few nuances to Kubo’s script as a Japanese boy growing up in the realities of a cruel world.

How did you work the rousing, emotional passages?
Travis (Knight) has travelled a lot, which is very helpful as he understands cultural differences, and how difficult it can be to get into the mind of a character, especially when you’re in a live action set. For these shoots, he surrounded the studio with posters and things from Kubo’s world, and that was very helpful.

Who did you get to work with the most for Kubo...?
It was mainly Charlize, and that was really great. Working with Brenda was great too, as she has a rich history in the animation industry and voice acting. Being able to work with her was a dream, she helped me a lot. We have to ask, Game of Thrones is a vastly different world than Kubo’s.

How contrasting were the experiences for you?
It was very different, mainly because Game of Thrones is such an adult world. But more than anything, my character in GoT was kinda short-lived and I didn’t really have much work to do! Also, the GoT world is really the way it is — if it’s a rain scene and there’s grease in your hair, that’s the way it is. It’s just you and your mind.

Are you a fan of fantasy fiction?
I am, and that’s one of the best things about my career so far. Because, you know, before Game of Thrones, I’d never worked on something of that big a budget, and before Kubo, I’d never worked on animation — so both were defining moments. We’ve been following your tweets on preserving Irish culture. And you’ve also said that you’re more into the language and sport. I play Gaelic football, which is a big part of my life. I am a fluent Irish Speaker, and I work as an ambassador to promote Irish culture. Importantly, I speak and dance (Irish) — that’s really what I’ve been doing lately.

What’s next?
I’m in Colin McIvor’s Zoo, with Toby Jones and Ian McElhinney. I’ve also got a film with Zoe Saldanha, for which we recently shot in Belgium.

Watch Kubo and the Two Strings on Sony Le PLEX HD

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