2024 marks the 15th anniversary of popular children’s film Coraline. For the occasion, the movie was out in theaters from August 15th–August 22nd, and offered a special remastered 3D version. My two close friends were ecstatic and begged me to tag along, so I did.
It was the first time I have ever seen Coraline. Even though we didn’t see the 3D version (it was sold out), it still turned out to be one of my favorite children’s movies of all time. Here’s why.
Coraline is an American stop-motion dark fantasy horror film made for children by Henry Selick. The movie follows a young girl named Coraline Jones after she and her family move to a new apartment complex. While exploring her home, Coraline stumbles upon a small door in the wall that leads to a world where everything is the same, but altered to her desires.
It’s an insanely popular movie that’s watched by thousands of people of all ages whenever the fall season hits, and for good reason. It’s an excellently made movie, with just the right amount of creepy horror to make it scary for young kids yet still appropriate for them too. The main reason why I adore it, however, is because of its unique style of animation.
Stop-motion animation is difficult. It is time consuming, and it is a craft that I have always admired. The amount of love, dedication, care, and detail they put into the creation of Coraline is astonishing to me. For example, did you know that every aspect of Coraline’s design is done on purpose? She is extremely asymmetrical, so much so that even one of her knees is higher than the other. Insane, right? Another fun fact: near the end of the movie, when Coraline goes to throw the key into the well, there are multiple trees around her. If you look closely, you’ll notice that they used popcorn to imitate the blossoms! I could go on and on about the details, but that would be too long and boring for most.
The point is, I adore animated films and this one is no different. Along with the animation, the voice acting is phenomenal. The Other Mother’s voice actor, Teri Hatcher, did an incredible job at making her character’s voice shift from sweet and caring to sinister and stern. It made the Other Mother just that more scary. Each voice actor was excellent at giving their characters life and adding to their personalities. One of my favorite scenes is early into the movie, when Coraline first meets Wybie. Their voice acting, as well as the dialogue, felt so natural to me that I was enraptured and leaned forward in my seat.
As for the music, it’s just as amazing as every other aspect of the movie. Music does a lot for the mood of a film, and listening to the music in the background as I watched Coraline walk around her new home and exploring the area really pulled me into the film. My favorite track from the movie is definitely Mice Circus. It’s fun and zany and perfect for a circus performance with mice.
With the fall season finally beginning to close in, Coraline is the perfect movie to watch to get in the autumn spirit. It’s an exceptional movie for all ages, with just the right amount of scariness to get you prepared for Halloween. If you are reading this and haven’t seen the movie, then I hope my article entices you into checking it out. If you already have seen the movie, then I hope this inspires you to watch it again! Oh, and if anyone is wondering, the Cat is my favorite character.
