Coraline

Criminally Underrated 

(a new series in which I highlight and discuss films, TV, music, games or books worthy of your attention that don't get enough time in the limelight)

1. Coraline

As a note, Criminally Underrated is designed to highlight works I think need more attention and love. As such, I will not be giving away any large spoilers, as part of the fun is discovering them yourself, and will discuss the film's plot in a general sense. If I do want to discuss spoilers, these will be clearly marked.

Coraline is wandering around the woods surrounding her new home, the pleasantly retro Pink Palace Apartments (having recently moved from Michigan to Oregon - which, as Gravity Falls has taught me, is a state of supernatural mystery). She discovers a mysterious well, which may well lead to another world. Suddenly, out of the woods over a small hill, a skeleton rider screeches into Coraline's view as if out of Mad Max. However, the figure removes his mask and reveals himself to be her socially awkward neighbour, 'Wybie'. Along with its wonderfully creepy opening (in which a spindly figure creates a doll in Coraline's image having literally turned another doll inside-and-out), Coraline's first ten minutes perfectly captures the themes that the film will explore. An adventure into the unknown and duality of character. 

Coraline was released in 2009 and benefitted from an excellent creative team backing it. First of all, the film is a loose adaptation of the Neil Gaiman novel of the same name. Gaiman being the master of reviving fairy tails and ancient legends into modern day trappings. Second, the film was directed and essentially brought to the screen by Henry Selick. Animation fans proudly use this knowledge in pub quizzes; Tim Burton actually did not direct The Nightmare Before Christmas. Having basically overseen all the pre-production prep (the script, the art style, the storyboards etc.), he handed directing over to someone whose skill was stop-motion animation (Burton felt he was not up to the task at the time) - Henry Selick. The classic gothic fairy tale that was Nightmare made Selick a perfect choice to helm Coraline. Finally, production was handed to nascent animation studio, Laika, who have subsequently created animation triumphs in Paranorman and Kubo And The Two Strings. Undoubtedly the modern master of stop-motion animation, Laika continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in the art form. Throwing all this creative energy produced Coraline, a masterpiece of pacing, art design and animation. Better yet, it has a wonderful and often creepy story to follow it.

Coraline Jones is pre-pubescent child who has moved to a new home far from her friends into the middle of leafy Oregon. Her parents are over-worked writers, desperately rushing to complete Dad's gardening catalogue. Add to this, Mum has injured her neck and is prone to irritability due to the pain she is in and the stress she is under. Even stranger, Coraline receives a doll made in her likeness, complete with unnerving black buttons for eyes. Coraline is an adventurous and curious sort and soon begins to discover the secrets hidden within the walls of the apartments (and as a way to escape her distracted and stressed parents - who often take it out on Coraline). She soon discovers a door in the wall, which at first seems to lead nowhere but later reveals itself to be the entrance to another world. An alternative reality of her home, complete with perfect idealised versions of her parents (dubbed Other Mum and Other Dad). With no stress or worries, they lavish all their attention and love onto Coraline. There is a sense of underlying menace here though, as Other Mum and Other Dad have black buttons for eyes (similar to the doll)  but Coraline soon becomes infatuated with this world. However, she begins to uncover the true nature of this world and the frightful reality of the task she has to complete when her real parents go missing..

One of Coraline's greatest strengths is its pacing. The films moves at a slower pace, especially in comparison to other children's films, however this gives the viewer time to orientate to the world and the mystery surrounding it. We are given time to be introduced to all the residents of the apartments, who will subsequently help Coraline on her journey (these being former starlets Ms. Spink and Ms. Forcible who dwell in the basement apartment and the eccentric Russian acrobat Mr. Bobinsky - voiced by Ian McShane, who gave one of my favourite performances of all time as Al Swarengen in HBO's classic Western TV series, Deadwood). This also allows time to establish Coraline's character and her relationship with her parents, in particular her mum. She is independent, charming and funny yet head-strong and prone to impatience and irritability. Basically, a full fleshed out character befitting of someone her age making her an excellent lead for the film. Dakota Fanning voices her in a great performance which brings out all these different elements at the right time. The film can have its scary moments (nothing too intense but maybe enough to rattle some children) however if the central character is strong, than this is something children can latch onto to get them through. This is all helped by the excellent musical score and sound design. Coraline is actually a very quiet film, with a limited sound design. However, this allows moments and scenes to have real impact. The soundtrack also reflects this and helps to maintain a charming atmosphere with a creepy undercurrent (fortunately, Danny Elfman was not brought on board...).

The real world has a grey, autumnal art style, giving a sense that the apartments have seen better days, almost as if all the warmth has been sucked out of the world (which I imagine is how Coraline is feeling). Contrast this to the Other World, which is warmer and more welcoming. Bright, rich reds and powerful lighting. Coraline encounters strange new supernatural beings, exaggerated building designs, talking cats and much more. The subtle art choices here highlight the power of good art design in film and help to bring the film's theme of duality to the fore-front. All this is only possible in animation. Stop-motion animation is a true craft, requiring time and patience but can create worlds unlike any other - and it has never looked as gorgeous as it does in Coraline, giving a loving and hand-crafted feel to the film. Selick is truly a master of gothic-fairy-tale art style and knows how to correctly apply designs to create meaning and emotions. 

Coraline meets Other World versions of all the characters she has come to know in the real world (complete with black buttons for eyes), only here they are free from their regular lives and past experiences. However, things are not as they seem and these perfect versions that Coraline is at first entranced by reveal to be something much darker and sinister. Real people are flawed and there is no such thing as a 'perfect' person. a good example of this as expressed in the art design of Mr Bobinski. A former acrobat who still tries to train has long skinny legs and arms but also has a large beer belly. A sign of what he used to be and where he is now. We are all trying to work through life and its the connections we make with others that help to create meaning and get us through. Coraline learns this lesson over the course of the film coming to terms with her imperfect parents, learning to love them and understand them for who they are. 

I feel Coraline is often forgotten about in the list of modern animated classics and its hard to pinpoint why. It is overflowing with ideas, has a great central character and a lovely pace that allows all the different elements chance to breath. It could be the film's scarier elements that turn more conservative parents off or it could be in the way the film is designed. Its understated and dream-like pace sucks you into its world and is in no rush to reveal its hand. With all the bombast of Illumination studios (with little substance) and the big emotions of Pixar, Coraline's understated style may explain why it is often neglected. Its happy being its own thing and the individuals who discover the film become just as enraptured and wary for the adventure ahead, just as Coraline must feel entering the Other World for the first time..