Review of the Stopmotion Animation Film Coraline
Henry Selick's Adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Novella
Mar 3, 2009
Coraline (2009) is a stop-motion animated feature film based on the 2002 horror/fantasy novella by acclaimed author Neil Gaiman. Coraline is directed by Henry Selick who is best known as the visionary director behind James and the Giant Peach (1996) and The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). Selick once again showcases his ability to create a fascinating and unique cinematic experience, and proves himself to be a master of stop-motion film making.
Coraline Movie Summary
The film begins with adolescent Coraline Jones who has just moved to Ashland, Oregon with her Mother and Father, and is trying to adapt to her new home. Far away from friends and familiar things, Coraline is forced to deal with the intrinsic pain of moving. Her parents the gardening pros are busy writing about theoretical horticultural endeavors, and (much to Coraline's dismay) not doing any actual gardening. They have deadlines to meet and they only have time for their keyboards. Coraline is left bored, trapped in her dull new home.
Coraline's adventure begins when she finds the "little door". At first the door appears to be bricked up, but at night she wakes to find that the door now magically leads to the "other" world. The "other' world is a bold re-imagining of her reality. Everything appears as she always hoped it would, brimming with curiosity, magic, and amazement. With the slight exception of the buttons everyone has in place of eyes, this is Coraline's perfect world. Now she must decide to return to her family, or stay with her "other' family forever. The choice may not be as easy as you'd think.
Coraline Compared to The Nightmare Before Christmas
Selick's most infamous work is (and probably will always be) The Nightmare Before Christmas. The 1993 Tim Burton produced musical has become a recognizable franchise, with its characters beloved around the world. At face value Coraline seems to be quite similar to the Nightmare before Christmas, but other than the same stop-motion animation style, the films feel completely separate. The characters, themes, and even the action are uniquely different, and anyone watching Coraline for the first time should keep in mind that this will be an original viewing experience.
Coraline follows a similar mise-en-scene as Nightmare, but the animation still feels fresh, exciting, and oddly new. The addition of 3D makes Coraline all the more spectacular, and makes the film more of an active viewing experience. Selick has pushed the capabilities of stop-motion animation, and each of his films seem to get more refined and crisp.
Coraline Theme Analysis
Coraline is a complex film that can be enjoyed at face value or, if you're willing to look beneath the surface, may have greater meaning. If the "other" world is viewed as an expression of Coraline's imagination rather than reality, there can be a few different interpretations of the film. In many ways Coraline is a celebration of imagination and the wonders it can bring, but at the same time it can also be looked at as eulogy of sorts--the end of youthful exuberance. Coraline is at an age where explicit imagination begins to fade, and reality takes precedence. As children grow they must say goodbye to many aspects of imagination. They can no longer use imagination to escape from reality, and are forced to see things the way they are--it's a rite of passage we all experience.
Coraline is a very imaginative little girl, but as the film progresses you get the feeling that she can no longer hide in the "make believe". The "other" mother gives Coraline the choice to live in reality with things the way they are, or sew buttons to her eyes and live in this fantasy world. Coraline is a strong-willed child who is ready to let certain aspects of childhood go in order to experience the wonders of real-life. She makes her choice to rebel against her "other" mother, and the "other" Mother's facade is exposed--revealing the "other" Mother's true form and intentions. Now that Coraline has made her choice, the only question left to ask is: if she'll survive the consequences.
This may seem like a somber analysis, but Coraline is a unique bit of melancholy film making. It certainly isn't you're everyday kiddie film. The blending of dark and light themes makes Coraline a great film that has something to offer people of all ages. It's frightening, exhilarating, magical, bizarre, tense, exciting, and of course always entertaining. Coraline can be a deep and meaningful film experience-- all you have to do is look a little closer.
The Many Adaptations of Coraline
Coraline started off as a novella and has since been turned into a film and graphic novel. With any adaptation there will be those who are first familiar with the writing and then see the film, and then there are those who will enjoy the film and will want to familiarize themselves with the original material. Whether or not an adaption is successful is always a matter of opinion, but the main thing that should be pointed out is the stylistic differences. The graphic novel is illustrated by P. Craig Russell who takes a far more realistic realistic approach than the one in the film. Russell's art tends to edge the story slightly more towards the horror genre. All three interpretations of Coraline offer different perspectives that can not be found in any single medium. Fans of Neil Gaiman and Coraline alike are highly recommended to check out all the different versions, and see how each has a similar yet different vision of Coraline.
