Coraline: A dark world you’ll never want to leave... but should

The iconic movie Coraline (2009) directed by Henry Selik based on the novel by Neil Gaiman has been one of my all-time favourite movies since I was a child. It's packed with secrets, hidden details, and every time I rewatch it, I find myself looking for something new.

The story follows Coraline Jones, an adventurous girl who is forced to move to a new town and into a house called “The Pink Palace”. While exploring the house, she discovers a small hidden door that leads her to a parallel world: a world that seems more perfect than her own. In this world, her "Other Mother" appears more loving and caring, making life feel flawless.

Coraline soon learns that this perfect world is a nightmare.

3 things I love about Coraline:

1.     The animation

Though this movie was originally supposed to be live action, and I will always want a live-action version of it, nothing will ever compare to the amazing and magical stop-motion animation we know and love today. The movie took over four years to film and more than 500 people worked on it. The longest scene to film was the 'Fantastic Garden' scene, which took 18 months. I love how they made every little detail on the face so intricate and really expressed emotion through the scenes. The constant suspense running through the movie really adds to the graphics and every time I watch it, I feel like I'm truly in that world.

2.     Hidden details

There are several hidden details in this movie that really add to the backstory and give more mysteries for fans to figure out. Some of these include when Coraline goes to the other world for the first time, the Other Mother suggests playing in the rain, and when the lightning strikes, it’s in the shape of her claw hand. Another hidden detail is the photo frames of children in the dining room. Allegedly, these are the children the Beldam (Other Mother) ate in the past. These subtle details add so much to the world’s eerie feel but also let fans dive deeper into the world of Coraline.

3.     Wybie’s character

As someone who’s read the book, graphic novel, and seen the movie multiple times, I’m so grateful they added Wybie Lovat to the story. While his character was originally meant to be included in the movie to keep Coraline from talking to herself the entire time, I love that they took it a step further and gave him an "Other Wybie" in the Other World. I think Other Wybie adds much to the story and he really cares for Coraline which is something we don’t see as much from real world Wybie until the end of the film. My favourite scene with Other Wybie has to be when they’re in the theatre watching Ms. Spink and Ms. Forcible. At the end of that scene, when Coraline is up on stage with them, he throws her a rose.  On the other hand, normal Wybie’s character really shines in moments that show his more playful side. My favourite scene with him is the snow slug scene with the cat. I feel it shows his goofy personality and makes him a very likable character.

Coraline will forever be one of my favourite movies. The different elements of the movie stay with you long after the credits roll, whether it's the animation, the hidden details that invite viewers to dig deeper, or the characters that make the journey unforgettable, Coraline continues to capture the hearts of fans both old and new. It’s a film that’s thrilling, exciting, and anything you could imagine a dark, stop motion film with heart to be.

The movie is a magical adventure that reminds us of the importance of embracing our own world, no matter how imperfect it may seem.