Henry Selick’s beautiful adaptation of the Neil Gaiman novel Coraline is a distillation of the best parts of the director and author’s work.
Coraline (Dakota Fanning) has moved to a new town and home with her writer father (John Hodgman) and writer mother (Teri Hatcher). Bright and adventurous at the cusp of teenagerdom where someone both is in need of their parents and repelled. Caroline discovers that there is more to the house than the strange residents. That discovery is a magical alternate world. One where people appear to be the best of their selves. One where Mother and Father do not ignore, Cats (Keith David) talk, and mouse performer feats of Carnival Daring. Beneath this perfect exterior hides something sinister that Caroline may not escape.
The film is as much a Selick’s as it’s Gaiman’s. The adaptation feels like a successful marriage of the two similarly minded artists. Part of what makes Gaiman’s novels special is the voice and adroit dry wit he brings to not just the real world but the world’s magic. The way that Selick’s film accentuates Gaiman’s whimsical and poetic words with visuals and characteristics of the normal and magical. Coraline, the film, understands the heavy lifting that Gaiman’s vocabulary does is the same that it must do in character design, voice work, set design, and camera work. Though someone who wants a one-to-one adaptation will be disappointed as Selick makes adjustments that are more cinematic though Gaiman fans may find issue with.
Coraline is the kind of dark fantasy that Gaiman and Selick specialize in, but we rarely get in cinema. More than a decade on the film has only grown in esteem as a neo-classic.
The Transfer
The new transfer is an improvement over the original Universal Release of the film from back in 2009. The over a decade of hardware and software improvements is shown here. The image is not sharper or clearer. It’s the color reproduction and contrast levels that really stand out. The film uses color to distinguish its world and a comparison of the two discs one can tell the difference. The 2021 transfer has just that much more pop to the color and that much more subtly to the contrast and black levels that definitely makes this an upgrade purchase for the Transfer alone.
The Extras
They include the following;
Audio Commentary With Director Henry Selick And Composer Bruno Coulais
Inside LAIKA: Discovering The Characters Of Coraline
Inside LAIKA: Revisiting The Puppets
Character Art And Concept Art Photo Gallery
The Making Of Coraline
Original Featurettes
Deleted Scenes
Feature-Length Storyboards
The archival Commentary by director Selick and composer Coulais is an informative track. Beginning with how the project came to be with reading Gaiman’s novel to how the film came to be stop-motion (including how A Nightmare Before Christmashelped) the track really gives details about the production from all sides. Details include how the adaptation differs from the novel, how he adapted the film, discussion of the process and how voice, animator, and design all inform on the visuals, how an animation film is built, the logistical trouble that was created in the years it took to complete, their use of 3D printing which was a first in Stop Motion and has become a norm (this was thanks in large part to Selick’s relationship with the creator of 3D printing), the inspiration of the visual look from illustrator Tadahiro Uesugi, the lack of influence of Dave McKean (who did all of the art in the book), the various ways they animated the specific characters (as techniques often varied from character to character), the 3D work they did (the film was shot with 3D in a unique way), and much more. Note Composer Bruno Coulais does not show up until the end credits. Selick’s tracks are always education, especially for those that are either interested in getting into animation or just interested in the format itself.
Inside LAIKA: Discovering The Characters Of Coraline (10:45) – is an all-new featurette that looks into the work that goes into creating a performance in stop motion. The featurette has some great looks at test footage and behind the scenes of the process and a look at each character and how they approached them including some great tests for each. Comments by director Henry Selick, lead animator Travis Night, lead animator Trey Thomas, animator Brad Schiff, animator Amy Adamy, animator Suzanne Twining, animator Juliana Cox, and more.
Inside LAIKA: Revisiting The Puppets With LAIKA’s Animation Team – this all-new featurette is a look at the various characters in the film. The 60 to 90-second featurettes are broken down by character and are essentially micro-commentaries by the animators discussing the animating the character.
The Beldam (1:16) – Comments by animator Phil Dale.
Mr. Bobinsky (1:40) – Comments by animator Brad Schiff.
The Cat (1:12) – Comments by animator Phil Dale.
Coraline Jones (1:15) – Comments by animator Brad Schiff.
“Other” Father (1:05) – Comments by animator Phil Dale.
“Other” Mother (1:10) – Comments by animator Phil Dale.
Wybie Lovat (1:02) – Comments by animator Brad Schiff.
The Making Of Coraline (36:14) – This carry-over from the original Blu-Ray disc is still an excellent making-of documentary. The 36-minute documentary covers all aspects of the production leaving literally no stone unturned. Featuring comments by director Henry Selick (who acts as a host of sorts for the documentary), voice actor Dakota Fanning, novelist Neil Gaiman, Maddy Gaiman (who is the inspiration for Coraline), voice actor Jennifer Saunders, voice actor Teri Hatcher, voice actor Dawn French, voice actor John Hodgman, and more behind-the-scenes crew. The featurette is broken down into 10-sections but there is a “Play All” function.
Evolution of the Story
Inspiring Design: Character Design and Art Direction
Directing the Voice Sessions
Mapping Puppets
Coraline’s Closet
Setting the Stage: How does your fantastic Garden Grow?
Its Alive
I’ve Seen Fire and I’ve Seen Fog
The Eyes Have It
Wrapping Up Coraline
Creepy Coraline (5:03) – an archival featurette discussing the horror aspects of the film and how they created the various creepy crawlers that inhabit the world of the film.
Voicing the Characters (10:47) – an archival featurette discussing the various actors that voiced the characters of Coraline with comments by voice actors Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Keith David, Robert Bailey Jr, John Hodgman, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, and director Henry Selick.
Deleted Scenes (8:44) – director Henry Selick introduces the 6-deleted scenes with animation in various forms of completion. Note, the final deleted scene is a compilation of “odds and ends” cut for timing.
Still Galleries – the newly produced galleries include the following;
Character Art (2:06) – the 25 pieces of character art run automatically but can be navigated using the Chapter Stops on your remote and can also be paused.
Concept Art (2:06) – the 25 pieces of concept art run automatically but can be navigated using the Chapter Stops on your remote and can also be paused.
Behind the Scenes (2:06) – the 25 behind-the-scenes photos run automatically but can be navigated using the Chapter Stops on your remote and can also be paused.
Trailer (2:25)
Feature-Length Storyboards (94:02) – much like Shout Factory/GKIDS editions of their Studio Ghibli films they have smartly included the storyboard version of the film. As “animatics” have become a vital part of the animation process this it is great they are including, especially for anyone interested in any form of animation including stop-motion. It’s a great way to compare the finished product and how much character and subtly the animators place into the completed animation.
The Final Thought
Coraline in its newest edition shines. Shout Factory’s release of this LAIKA Edition is a must-own. HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATIONS!!!!
Coraline gets a fantastic new edition thanks to Shout Factory and LAIKA Studios. The Blu-Ray comes with a new Transfer and new Extras.
The Film
Henry Selick’s beautiful adaptation of the Neil Gaiman novel Coraline is a distillation of the best parts of the director and author’s work.
Coraline (Dakota Fanning) has moved to a new town and home with her writer father (John Hodgman) and writer mother (Teri Hatcher). Bright and adventurous at the cusp of teenagerdom where someone both is in need of their parents and repelled. Caroline discovers that there is more to the house than the strange residents. That discovery is a magical alternate world. One where people appear to be the best of their selves. One where Mother and Father do not ignore, Cats (Keith David) talk, and mouse performer feats of Carnival Daring. Beneath this perfect exterior hides something sinister that Caroline may not escape.
The film is as much a Selick’s as it’s Gaiman’s. The adaptation feels like a successful marriage of the two similarly minded artists. Part of what makes Gaiman’s novels special is the voice and adroit dry wit he brings to not just the real world but the world’s magic. The way that Selick’s film accentuates Gaiman’s whimsical and poetic words with visuals and characteristics of the normal and magical. Coraline, the film, understands the heavy lifting that Gaiman’s vocabulary does is the same that it must do in character design, voice work, set design, and camera work. Though someone who wants a one-to-one adaptation will be disappointed as Selick makes adjustments that are more cinematic though Gaiman fans may find issue with.
Coraline is the kind of dark fantasy that Gaiman and Selick specialize in, but we rarely get in cinema. More than a decade on the film has only grown in esteem as a neo-classic.
The Transfer
The new transfer is an improvement over the original Universal Release of the film from back in 2009. The over a decade of hardware and software improvements is shown here. The image is not sharper or clearer. It’s the color reproduction and contrast levels that really stand out. The film uses color to distinguish its world and a comparison of the two discs one can tell the difference. The 2021 transfer has just that much more pop to the color and that much more subtly to the contrast and black levels that definitely makes this an upgrade purchase for the Transfer alone.
The Extras
They include the following;
The archival Commentary by director Selick and composer Coulais is an informative track. Beginning with how the project came to be with reading Gaiman’s novel to how the film came to be stop-motion (including how A Nightmare Before Christmashelped) the track really gives details about the production from all sides. Details include how the adaptation differs from the novel, how he adapted the film, discussion of the process and how voice, animator, and design all inform on the visuals, how an animation film is built, the logistical trouble that was created in the years it took to complete, their use of 3D printing which was a first in Stop Motion and has become a norm (this was thanks in large part to Selick’s relationship with the creator of 3D printing), the inspiration of the visual look from illustrator Tadahiro Uesugi, the lack of influence of Dave McKean (who did all of the art in the book), the various ways they animated the specific characters (as techniques often varied from character to character), the 3D work they did (the film was shot with 3D in a unique way), and much more. Note Composer Bruno Coulais does not show up until the end credits. Selick’s tracks are always education, especially for those that are either interested in getting into animation or just interested in the format itself.
Inside LAIKA: Discovering The Characters Of Coraline (10:45) – is an all-new featurette that looks into the work that goes into creating a performance in stop motion. The featurette has some great looks at test footage and behind the scenes of the process and a look at each character and how they approached them including some great tests for each. Comments by director Henry Selick, lead animator Travis Night, lead animator Trey Thomas, animator Brad Schiff, animator Amy Adamy, animator Suzanne Twining, animator Juliana Cox, and more.
Inside LAIKA: Revisiting The Puppets With LAIKA’s Animation Team – this all-new featurette is a look at the various characters in the film. The 60 to 90-second featurettes are broken down by character and are essentially micro-commentaries by the animators discussing the animating the character.
The Making Of Coraline (36:14) – This carry-over from the original Blu-Ray disc is still an excellent making-of documentary. The 36-minute documentary covers all aspects of the production leaving literally no stone unturned. Featuring comments by director Henry Selick (who acts as a host of sorts for the documentary), voice actor Dakota Fanning, novelist Neil Gaiman, Maddy Gaiman (who is the inspiration for Coraline), voice actor Jennifer Saunders, voice actor Teri Hatcher, voice actor Dawn French, voice actor John Hodgman, and more behind-the-scenes crew. The featurette is broken down into 10-sections but there is a “Play All” function.
Creepy Coraline (5:03) – an archival featurette discussing the horror aspects of the film and how they created the various creepy crawlers that inhabit the world of the film.
Voicing the Characters (10:47) – an archival featurette discussing the various actors that voiced the characters of Coraline with comments by voice actors Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Keith David, Robert Bailey Jr, John Hodgman, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, and director Henry Selick.
Deleted Scenes (8:44) – director Henry Selick introduces the 6-deleted scenes with animation in various forms of completion. Note, the final deleted scene is a compilation of “odds and ends” cut for timing.
Still Galleries – the newly produced galleries include the following;
Trailer (2:25)
Feature-Length Storyboards (94:02) – much like Shout Factory/GKIDS editions of their Studio Ghibli films they have smartly included the storyboard version of the film. As “animatics” have become a vital part of the animation process this it is great they are including, especially for anyone interested in any form of animation including stop-motion. It’s a great way to compare the finished product and how much character and subtly the animators place into the completed animation.
The Final Thought
Coraline in its newest edition shines. Shout Factory’s release of this LAIKA Edition is a must-own. HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATIONS!!!!
Shout Factory’s Blu-Ray Edition of Coraline is out August 31st
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