TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

Coraline (2009 film based off book of the same name)

Go To

FOFD Since: Apr, 2013
#1: Oct 17th 2023 at 7:09:38 AM

From our trope page:

Coraline Jones (Dakota Fanning) moves from Pontiac, Michigan with her parents Mel (Teri Hatcher) and Charlie (John Hodgman) to the Pink Palace Apartments, an old house subdivided into three residences, in Ashland, Oregon. With her parents frantically working on a gardening catalog in order to make ends meet, and thus not paying much attention to her, Coraline begins to feel neglected. While exploring the house, she discovers a small door with a brick wall behind it. That night, she is awoken by a mouse in her room, which she chases to the small door. She opens it, but instead of a brick wall, she finds a long, glowing passage, leading to another world.

At the other end, Coraline finds herself in the "Other World", which is inhabited by her "Other Mother" and "Other Father", idealized doubles of her parents (except for the black buttons sewn into their eyes) who pay close attention to Coraline and spoil her with treats. After enjoying a home-cooked meal made by the Other Mother, she spends the night in the Other World and awakens back in her bed in the real world.

Coraline continues to go to the Other World at night and is entertained by the various delights present, including idealized versions of her neighbors, a beautiful garden built in her image, and delicious food. Coraline begins to prefer the Other World to her real one, finding that her Other Parents give her all the love and attention she lacks at home. Eventually, the Other Mother offers to let Coraline stay in their world forever, on one condition:

She has to have buttons sewn into her eyes.

I just gave this a watch on HBO Max, been wanting to watch it for a long time. It was pretty good I thought. I like stop-motion (Nightmare Before Christmas) and I like that cartoony gothic art style (Para Norman, Corpse Bride). It visually and narratively reminds me of Monster House also.

Oh and I'm 90 percent sure the cat is voiced by Keith David.

FOFD Since: Apr, 2013
#2: Oct 17th 2023 at 7:13:54 AM

And this is the commercial that you and I probably remember with the "Coraline" song playing

This genuinely needs to be preserved. You can't find the promo with this song playing anywhere else far as I can tell.

Here's the song by itself

Edited by FOFD on Oct 17th 2023 at 10:16:31 AM

Ultimatum Disasturbator from The Wiggle Room (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#3: Oct 17th 2023 at 7:25:24 AM

buttons

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
lbssb The sleepiest good boi Since: Jun, 2020 Relationship Status: is commanded to— WANK!
The sleepiest good boi
#4: Oct 17th 2023 at 7:31:30 AM

Ah, I love this movie, watch it every October. There's just no other animated film out there quite like it, it's magically haunting in all the right ways.

Disney100 Marathon | DreamWorks Marathon
immortaleditor Since: Aug, 2023
#5: Oct 17th 2023 at 7:46:19 AM

This movie is a classic. It hits like a freight truck if you were raised by abusive parents — especially an abusive mother — like I was.

uncertanSearcher It's always Season of the Witch from Germany Since: Oct, 2017
It's always Season of the Witch
#6: Oct 17th 2023 at 9:28:04 AM

I adore this film. Watching it in the theater as a young teen was like a formative experience for me.

Also easily one of my favorite movie soundtracks of all time.

Brandon Deadly Vu! from Between Thanksgiving and Christmas (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
Deadly Vu!
#7: Oct 18th 2023 at 10:04:56 AM

Coraline is another one of those movies that took me quite awhile to see. Eventually, while visiting one of my cousins, she decided to put the film on since I hadn't seen it.

Unfortunately this was shortly after my dad had passed away, so the famous "pillow parents" scene got to me.

Like creepy stories? Check out my book!
AegisP Kindhearted SSSSSNAKE Man Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Kindhearted SSSSSNAKE Man
#8: Oct 19th 2023 at 3:44:55 PM

I feel for you. that must have been hard for you.

As long as this flower is in my heart. My Strength will flow without end.
Rabbitearsblog Movie and TV Goddess from United States Since: Jan, 2014 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
Movie and TV Goddess
#9: Oct 19th 2023 at 4:19:26 PM

I absolutely love this movie! I actually read the book first before I watched the movie and I'm so happy that the movie was very faithful to the book. Also, it's nice to have a children's movie that's actually pretty dark and spooky and I think that this movie did a fantastic job at putting in lots of scary moments.

I love animation, TV, movies, YOU NAME IT!
wooden-ladybug93 Since: Feb, 2024
#10: Feb 25th 2024 at 10:06:04 AM

I actually saw a rerelease at my theater last August, my first time seeing the movie on the big screen. (Had to close my eyes at the near-naked Spink and Forcible part though)

Rabbitearsblog Movie and TV Goddess from United States Since: Jan, 2014 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
Movie and TV Goddess
#11: Feb 25th 2024 at 7:43:10 PM

The naked scene actually took me by surprise when I first saw this movie. I never thought that a scene like that would be in a children's movie (well, this movie is a bit too edgy to be strictly a children's film).

I love animation, TV, movies, YOU NAME IT!
Ultimatum Disasturbator from The Wiggle Room (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#12: Feb 26th 2024 at 6:52:46 AM

[up]

I forgot about this scene until just now!

The other mother is utterly deprived it seems.

Edited by Ultimatum on Feb 26th 2024 at 2:52:54 PM

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
wooden-ladybug93 Since: Feb, 2024
#13: Feb 26th 2024 at 12:56:19 PM

[up] If the Beldam (pretty sure that's the Other Mother's actual name) ever tried to lure me in with that act, I'd end up bolting the other door shut and never speaking of it again.

PhiSat Planeswalker from Everywhere and Nowhere Since: Jan, 2011
Planeswalker
#14: Feb 26th 2024 at 1:04:01 PM

[up][up]I love the subtle Foreshadowing in that scene that Miss Spink and Forcible are wearing old lady costumes - They don't have button eyes until taking the suits off.

Oissu!
wooden-ladybug93 Since: Feb, 2024
#15: Feb 26th 2024 at 9:28:32 PM

[up] I thought they already had the eyes?

Add Post

Total posts: 15
Top