What Font Does Kubo and the Two Strings Use?
Looking for the exact kubo and the two strings font? The honest answer is that the title from Laika’s 2016 stop-motion epic is bespoke brush calligraphy, not a released typeface. That is standard for animated-film logos, and it means the look is a painting technique you can imitate rather than a file you download. Below we explain what the lettering really is, why it fits the film’s Japanese folklore setting, and which free brush fonts get you closest to that epic, ink-on-paper feel.
What font is the Kubo and the Two Strings logo?
The Kubo and the Two Strings wordmark reads as hand-painted brush lettering rather than a typeface. The strokes show classic calligraphic traits: dramatic thick-to-thin transitions, tapering “dry brush” terminals where the ink runs out, and an energetic, gestural rhythm that no mechanical font reproduces exactly. The Roman letters are styled to evoke East Asian brush calligraphy, tying the Latin title visually to the film’s Japanese setting.
If you find a page insisting the logo is “exactly Font X,” treat it as an informed observation, not a confirmed spec. There is no public studio sheet naming a single retail typeface, and the live, irregular brushwork is the signature of custom calligraphy. A retail brush font might be a plausible starting point, but the final title shows hand-painted variation that fonts cannot fully replicate.
The dependable description is the category: an epic, Japanese-inspired brush display. It is calligraphy first and typography second — closer to a painted scroll than to anything you would set in a layout program.
What typeface is used in the film?
Within the film, on-screen text is minimal — Kubo is a sweeping visual story, so the typography you remember is the title and marketing. Credits and supporting materials use quieter, readable type, while the entire calligraphic personality lives in the custom hero kubo and the two strings font. That split is intentional: one striking brush title carries the identity, and everything else stays understated so the artwork dominates.
For practitioners, the takeaway is clear. You do not need a single magic font to evoke Kubo — you need an expressive brush display for the headline moment and a calm companion for body copy. The contrast between a painted, gestural title and clean supporting text is a big part of why the identity feels cinematic and epic.
Free fonts that look like the Kubo and the Two Strings font
The trademarked wordmark is not downloadable, but you can recreate its brush-calligraphy mood with free sumi-e and brush-script display fonts. Pair an expressive brush headline with a clean body face, and let the strokes carry the drama rather than adding ornament.
| Use case | Kubo uses | Free alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Hero title / poster | Custom Japanese-inspired brush calligraphy | A free brush display (e.g. Yuji Boku, Reggae One) |
| Expressive subhead | Painted dry-brush caps | A free brush script such as Nanum Brush Script or Caveat Brush |
| Body / supporting text | Quiet readable supporting type | A neutral free serif or sans (e.g. Noto Serif, Inter) |
Pointers for an authentic brush look:
- Choose fonts with genuine thick-to-thin contrast and tapering, dry-brush ends.
- Keep the brush face for the title only — set body text in clean type so the strokes stay legible.
- Use a restrained palette (ink black, paper cream, one accent) to evoke sumi-e painting.
- Give the title room to breathe; brush calligraphy needs negative space to feel epic.
If this calligraphic direction appeals to you, see our sibling breakdowns of the eerie Coraline font and the spooky-fun ParaNorman font for the full range of Laika’s title styles.
Why does Kubo and the Two Strings use this kind of type?
The choice is rooted in the story. Kubo is set in a mythic feudal Japan, steeped in folklore, origami magic, and the art of storytelling itself. Brush calligraphy is inseparable from that culture, so a painted, gestural title instantly grounds the film in its world. A clean geometric sans would feel jarringly modern and Western; the brush lettering speaks the film’s visual language from the first frame.
The hand-painted quality also mirrors the medium. Kubo was built with physical puppets and origami sets, shot frame by frame — craft you can feel. A title that looks brushed by hand honors that tactility far better than a digital font would, and it echoes Kubo’s own gift for shaping paper and music into living art. The typography is, in effect, part of the story’s theme of creation by hand.
Can I use the Kubo and the Two Strings font for my own project?
The actual Kubo and the Two Strings wordmark is a trademarked studio logo, so you should not reproduce it for branded or commercial work — that is a trademark matter, separate from any font license. What you can do is recreate the style with legitimately licensed brush fonts. Many sumi-e and brush-script fonts are free for personal use, and some allow commercial use, but always confirm first.
Before using a look-alike commercially, read the license that ships with the font, and when the terms are unclear, consult our font licensing guide to separate personal use from commercial use. The safe path: build a “Kubo-inspired” brush title from properly licensed type, keep it clearly distinct from the official logo, and you stay both legal and original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Kubo and the Two Strings font free to download?
No single “Kubo font” is available to download, because the title is custom brush calligraphy rather than a released typeface. You can download free sumi-e and brush-script display fonts that closely capture the same epic, painted feeling for your own projects instead.
What kind of font is the Kubo logo?
It is custom Japanese-inspired brush lettering — flowing, ink-loaded strokes with tapering dry-brush ends that feel painted, not typeset. Treat this as an informed category description, not a confirmed retail font, since no studio spec publicly names a specific typeface.
What font looks most like the Kubo title?
Free brush display faces such as Yuji Boku or Nanum Brush Script get you close, especially with strong thick-to-thin contrast. Pair them with a clean serif for body text to mirror the film’s contrast between a painted title and quiet supporting type.
Can I use a Kubo-style font commercially?
You can use a properly licensed brush look-alike font commercially if its license permits it, but you cannot reproduce the official trademarked Kubo logo. Always check each font’s license terms and keep your design clearly distinct from the studio’s protected wordmark.
