In the world of stop-motion animation, Coraline is a classic. Directed by Henry Selick, the movie screened in theaters for the first time on Feb. 9, 2009. Since then, the movie has only grown in popularity, prompting various trends and theories across social media.
Despite the time that has passed since its release, Coraline has continued to be a trending topic, so much so that it prompted a re-release this past summer for its 15th anniversary. These screenings outperformed the original at the box office with $50 million earned globally.
So, what is it about the movie that makes it so captivating all these years later?
The movie focuses on 11-year-old Coraline Jones, who is struggling to find comfort in her new home in Oregon. Despite her efforts to find solace in her parents, they make it clear their priority is their work. Coraline is grudgingly sent off to do anything that doesn’t require her parent’s time or attention.
During her boring solo adventure in her new home, she finds a small door locked by a button key. At first, she was disappointed to find a bland brick wall. However, as soon as her parents fell asleep, it would reveal itself to be a portal to an alternate universe at night.
Behind the door, she is introduced to a world completely opposite from what she knows. In this “other world,” where everyone has buttons for eyes, she is given all the love and attention she could ask for. However, she would come to learn soon that this alternate universe, specifically the “other mother,” has much more sinister motives for her.
Having been in production for four years before its initial release, the attention to detail in the movie is astonishing. One element which reflects this would be its complex storyline, full of references and foreshadowing of what’s to come. The dark fantasy plot sparks fascination among viewers and draws in a fanbase for the movie.
The symbolism within the movie only intensifies the grim nature of the plot. One example of this is an extra loop in a cursive “o” of Coraline’s “Welcome home!” cake, suggesting that the welcome wasn’t as warm as it was made out to be. It is not uncommon for clips of the movie to go viral on platforms such as TikTok and YouTube Shorts.
Waves of video essays, reviews, and theory discussions were inspired by the movie – so much so that Facebook groups and online forums were dedicated to discussion around all things regarding the movie.
Fans would be surprised to find that the movie is an adaptation of the book Coraline, originally published in 2002. Written by Neil Gaiman, the story has Coraline facing much more dire circumstances than shown in the movie, which entices fans to look further into it.
The graphic novel, which followed shortly after the original book release, was the first visual adaptation of the story. It provided even more chilling descriptions of the story and set the tone for what should have been expected of the movie.
Upon the movie’s release, Coraline impressed viewers of all ages with a good mix of mysticism and thriller, complemented with an uncanny yet dainty soundtrack complimented the ambiance of the setting. All of these aspects were meticulously put together to keep the movie engaging, yet not overwhelming.
Overall, Selick and Gaiman provided a good example of how concepts such as horror can be approached in spaces meant for children- though many still speculate whether Coraline was truly meant to be a children’s movie.
Plot aside, beyond the depressing storyline are stunning visuals and creativity with no bounds. Despite the movie canonically taking place within the same location almost the entire time through, there’s always something new to take notice of.
Coraline is timeless through all aspects of the movie, proven by its continuously growing fanbase and viewership. The multilayered story makes for a hot topic in pop culture and a Halloween classic.
