Coraline (2009)
The real charm of stop motion is bringing us back to childhood.
Presentation:
The stop motion in this film looks pristine, lighting is lovely and the visuals are wonderfully gloomy like a Tim Burton film. Like animation, the visuals are very subjective and will vary person to person. I prefer this style of stop motion as it’s not too cartoonish like The Fantastic Mr. Fox and it’s not too realistic like Kubo, which feels like CGI or a Pixar animation. This one has just enough clarity and realism while also retaining the quirky distinctive identity of stop motion. Dakota Fanning does a fantastic job in the voice over making Coraline genuinely feel like a young girl. This is the key aspect of this film and she absolutely nails the role. Her performance and mannerisms really take you back to childhood and trigger memories of child-like idiosyncrasies that most adults have forgotten.
Conclusion:
Whimsical, charming and entertaining, this movie is everything that makes stop motion great. It’s directed toward children but has some horror and relatable elements that adults can appreciate all the same. A great family movie that you could enjoy just as much watching alone. The story is quite formulaic, like a grim tales child versus evil but they journey is magical enough that it won’t matter.
Recommendations
Stepping stone for Studio Ghibli’s greatness.