Coraline

Jennings, C. (Producer), & Selick, H. (Director). (2009). Coraline [Motion Picture]. United States: Focus Features.

Plot Description: Coraline has just moved into the Pink Palace Apartments with her parents.  They never seem to listen to her and are always too busy to have any fun.  Coraline discovers a secret passage way in their house which transports her to another world similar to the one she lives in but her “other” parents there seem to be super parents.  They do all the things she wishes her other parents would do, the only difference is that they have buttons for eyes.  Coraline finally realizes that this other world isn’t all that great and she bravely faces the other mother in order to save her real parents and return to her own world.

Genre: Fantasy

Similar Films: James and the Giant Peach, Corpse Bride, The Nightmare Before Christmas

Personal Thought: This is a great film that shows the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

Subject/Themes: Family, Supernatural

Awards: Nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 82^nd Academy Awards, Won Best 10 Movies for the American Film Institute, Best Music in an Animated Feature Production at the Annie Awards, Best Feature Film at the BAFTA Children’s Awards, Best Animated Feature at the San Francisco Film Critics Circle Awards

Character Description:

Coraline is the main character in the movie.  She is frustrated by her parent’s lack of attentiveness and originally is fascinated by the “other” world.

The Other Mother is very similar to Coraline’s real mother but she has black button eyes.  She has created an ideal world for Coraline but is just trying to trick her so she can imprison her with the other children she has stolen over the years.

The black cat is a mangy cat that hangs around Coraline’s house.  He is also able to move back and forth from the two worlds.  He helps Coraline realize that things are not always what they seem and helps her defeat the other mother.

Wybie is a boy about the same age as Coraline.  His grandmother is her landlord and he helps her to destroy the key to the secret passage at the end of the film.

Annotation: Coraline just wishes her parents paid more attention to her but be careful what you wish for.  She discovers an idealistic other world very similar to her own but things turn out very different than what she expected.

Miscellaneous Information: This was originally a novel published in 2002 by Neil Gaiman.  It was made into a film in 2009.