Therapist Reacts to CORALINE

[@lindadaheim3412]

I think my mom managed that clingy thing very good when we were little. She always let us take part in what she was doing: when she was washing dishes, we got a towel to dry them. When she was baking, we were allowed to make our own bread too. We sew, crocheted, knitted, baked, painted with her. We loved it and learned a lot. Thank you, mama!

[@sillycookie]

THATS SO CUTE and very thoughtful of her!

[@crownclowncreations]

My mom did the exact same with us! Couldn't ask for a better parent

[@UmiChan358]

You were so cool kids

[@poweredbymoonlight9869]

I wish my parents could have been like that but they never let me, and just told me to go away and was irritated. That IS neglectent of them. And they don't understand how neglectent that is.

[@Nashleyism]

@@poweredbymoonlight9869 My mom was the same. When I was a teenager, she was surprised and angry with me that I didn't know how to do things and that I wasn't eager to help her in chores. Also she was blaming me for all of that calling me lazy and incompetent.

[@Blizzeta25]

Something I learned YEARS later is that the song the Other Father sings is actually a warning to her. He’s literally telling her that the Other Mother is always watching her and trying to make her stay by making that world never be boring.

[@dreadedgamer23]

So, what you're saying is that only the Beldam, or Other Mother, was dangerous with the exception of those who she created to lure Coraline in more, even if a lot of those creations were on Coraline's side, even subtly. Other Wybie was obviously on her side, and the same is true for the Other Cat, but the Other Father had to use subtlety due to his constant close proximity to the Beldam, and the Rat Circus, otherwise known as the Other Neighbor, was actually on her side, a representation of the phrase that calls thieves and other unsavory people rats. However, something else about the Other Neighbor, is the fact that his existence also shows that most thieves steal because they have to. The rats of the Other Neighbor believed that they had no other choice, much like real rats don't have much choice between dying and being pests. Much like thieves tend to steal so that they can get by. Much like most unsavory people who don't do what they do for fun or because they think that what they do is right tend to do what they do due to a lack of perceived choices. What I'm understanding from your comment is that the Beldam represents those who do things for fun, the Other Father represents those who are forced to aid the first, hence why he aids the Beldam, Other Wybie is the one that regrets and tries to help the victim. Other Cat is the one who attempted to sabotage the attempt in the first place. Other Neighbor is the one who believes he has no other choice. The ghosts are the past victims who leave hints for the current to try to escape. Coraline is the victim who never truly believed that the better world was truly better. The one who escaped and saved future potential victims.

[@fudgen.a1249]

@@dreadedgamer23 Damn bro, you wrote a whole essay. A good one mind you, so don’t sweat it.

[@dreadedgamer23]

@@fudgen.a1249 Damn, I did not realize how long that was until just now.

[@wobbles1149]

“That ever laid their eyes on Coraline” wait it totally makes sense

[@LadyBloodOath]

indeed its one of my favorite jingles XD

[@Moonlight.Howlings.666]

One of my favourite fun facts about Coraline is that the medal Mr Bobinsky wears is the liquidator medal. It means that he helped in the clean up of Chernobyl which helps to explain why his skin is blue and he eats raw beetroots (they're supposed to help against radiation damage).

[@jupitersnoot4915]

See, I love it when writers and directors actually bother to pay attention to the tiny details that very few people will even understand. It just shows the huge amount of care and passion that went into the project.

[@TheMajoooster]

i've been obsessed with coraline ever since i was a child and have read every possible fun fact about it and this is the first time i've read about this fact. thank you for sharing that's so cool

[@beinggreenandunseen3171]

“Have beet. Make you strong.”

[@kaylahensley1581]

Never knew that beets help absorb radiation.

[@Chara-yp6zj]

That is an insanely cool, just... wow. So impressed.

[@haleybug2208]

Something i also realized is that, Coraline probably usually never bothered her parents this much before the move, but since theyve moved, and separated her from all her familiar friends and places, she has nothing else familiar besides them, and they're so focused on work and fixing their adult mistakes, they end up being impatient and short with Coraline.

[@danielaparicio7681]

Yea

[@journeyburney]

This happened to me during late 2020, where we moved into a new house and I started to take college classes during my junior year of high school. I needed love and attention and support from my parents, but intrastate of nagging them I had just learned to stay quiet. It led to me almost flunking a college class because I was too scared to ask for help

[@osmanthus_branch]

I think this film is also centered after the 2008 crisis, which is why they’re so stressed out.

[@snowbird1381]

Moving with a family is a very big risk because of this. on one hand, you’re uprooting your lives, and starting over, especially for a kid. But then, at the same time you do have to consider better job and living opportunities for your future. In the recent decade we’ve seen prices go up. during the pandemic, you saw families moving away from the city so they can get a break from all the lockdown regulations. Reason why I recommend that if you have children and you plan moving, try to move as little as you can. Really try to do it when they’re really young so they still have time to make friends in their new environment. Maybe help them find ways to stay connected with their friends And every other thing you can do to make it easier.

[@Julia-lk8jn]

That is so on point. I never quite liked that song, it seemed ... too sugary, to up-beat, with no sub-stance. Songs often have opposing voices or parts, a sort of conflict or at least contrast. This one's all "coraline, coraline, coraline, ..." like an obsession. Similar for his invetion: something that takes over your hands and moves them anyway it wishes (and who's even doing the steering of your hands?) so essentially, it determines where the entire body goes. It never was a fun song, always a bit creepy.

[@julkap4190]

I also love how the other mother dresses up like her real mother at first, and then later her clothes are more and more like her own (she also looks more and more like a spider). It's like she's slowly showing her true colors.

[@orangenostril]

I see what you did there

[@LadyBloodOath]

thats how toxic people work they get comfortable once they know they got you

[@clips540]

@@scoobertdooperson2695 that's not abusive, that's "I wanna eat you".

[@shanehe729]

the themes of this story feels so incredibly authentic and personal for me as a viewer/reader. the small, skewed world of the button family.. the “better dad” being controlled by “other mother”, and the cat that helped her cope with everything… the part that drives it home for me was when the right hand followed caroline back into her reality. we really carry our trauma with us even when we go out into the real world. as the camera pans out, we see the garden in the image of coralline/other mother, meaning the pattern could potentially repeat and she never truly escaped her monster.

[@josephinamungaray6118]

She tried to look motherly but later on she doesn't care about what she wears.

[@hleebeg]

As a child it's scary, as a parent, it's terrifying. The idea someone can lure your child away with the promise of a nicer life and then take everything from them is so horrific and at the same time it isn't anything new and because of that it's every parents worst nightmare at it's core.

[@EggoBeggo__]

Very much agreed .

[@SammieMousie]

OMG, I don't want kids and never have and because of that I never thought of that perspective. But reading it out loud, Gods it's absolutely terrifying.

[@thethirdtime9168]

@@etchasketch3077 I'd like to add to your perspective - it can also be horrible ideas. Many people have seen their children getting swept up in extremism in their teens, and especially busy people like the poor having more jobs or single parents are at risk because of how their kids feel neglected and like the world is full of rot and bad for taking their safety away from them. It can happen in so many ways, and all of them are scary

[@phasein5413]

True. Sadly two of my wife's cousins were groomed and then stolen by neighbors. It was done in such a way that, over time, my cousins were conditioned to simply hate their birth parents, and eventually they refused to come home. They ran away, supported financially by the neighbors. Even typing this, it's easy to see how this can sound "Good". That's the mask. It all looks good. It all sounds good. I hope they are safe...

[@fruzsimih7214]

@@phasein5413 A similar thing happened to the oldest daughter of a friend. The girl seems to have had borderline personality disorder, so her relationship with her parents was strained anyway. A family living nearby groomed her and made her move in with them at 15. The parents took the case to court but the judge said the girl was 'not a child anymore', so they couldn't make her come back. She is 20 now and hasn't had contact with her family for five years. (They are aware how she's doing though through neighbors and friends.) In the face of my friend's wife, you can now see a bitter streak from the terrible suffering she has endured. They still hope though that one day the'll hear from her again.

[@reddfrwsita]

as a child I always took to heart that scene with the soul's of those children saying that they don't remember their names but they do remember their real "mommy", it made me cry a couple of times because I can't imagine longing for years to see your mother again, and now that I moved away from her it's even more striking emotionally for me

[@propogandalf]

Yeah, it's also super sad to think of those parents missing their child and never getting any resolution to where they disappeared to

[@diamondrl0]

@Wolf-dog Cat-dog 2.0 did the grandma knew? Or the beldam took only her twin without letting her know? Maybe one was happy while the other wasn't.. Coraline then explained everything to her so I think she really didn't know but suspected something with the doll and the door. I have to know her story! Wish there was more

[@Rabbitzan]

I wish I could understand this sentiment better. My mother may have given birth to me but my grandmas were the ones I saw the most of. It is good that others have better relationships with their parents though. 😃

[@diamondrl0]

@Wolf-dog Cat-dog 2.0 yeah she definitely knew something bad was going on. Also, she got rid of the doll and got mad when Wybie took it. I wonder what she's gone through, that must've been awful

[@paperbag0018]

@Wolf-dog Cat-dog 2.0 also at one point of the movie Wybie shows Caroline a photo of her grandmother and her twin sister when they were kids, the photo was taken just before the twin sister disappearance . The photo shows the twin smiling brightly while holding a doll (the one the other mother used to spy in the kids) and Wybie’s grandmother is looking at the doll suspiciously/with distrust. Wybie also mentions that her grandmother used to live in Caroline’s house and that she didn’t like it and prohibited Wybie to go in there. She defiantly knew about the Beldam and that’s why she wanted to talk to Caroline at the end of the movie

[@SailorYue]

Another reason why Coraline is legitimately so terrifying, is in all honesty it's a perfect example of a type of grooming. Grooming doesn't always lead to sexual favors... Just look at what the other mother wanted

[@7fundays7]

She wanted to eat her!! She does like the taste of children I guess.

[@sarahlandis289]

Yeah, her literal soul

[@PandoraBear357]

Cults also groom people.

[@decrepitdebauchery]

@@PandoraBear357yep. its so nice to see portrayals of grooming that arent just an older man grooming a younger woman into sexual favors, cause its not to say that DOESNT happen (it very much so does) its just great to make children and people in general more aware of other types of abuse and grooming!

[@tic857]

Also just straight up narcissism and manipulative behavior. They love bomb you with all these gestures, and then ask you to repay them with something grand. And if you fail to deliver they explode in your face.

[@corvatrix9253]

I appreciate that once Coraline accepts the drab, gray "real" world, she makes a conscious choice to implement the things she loved about the dream world (friends with her neighbors, making space for Wybie and his grandma, planting colorful flowers in the garden, etc). Making her waking life more beautiful and doing the work to make it somewhere she wants to be.

[@LiluBob]

Yes, this is the key, the solution to the puzzle of life. Beautifully put, thank you.

[@TheOriginal_Unaleska]

What a beautiful message.

[@lillianwolfe8314]

This comment needs to be higher up!!!

[@Lunar_DeBrie]

I agree, boost this!

[@loretohidalgo3533]

It is a beautiful message about how we can try our best to be happy

[@fave525]

i saw a tweet that said "Coraline is so real. If a demon created a different reality where my mom loved me i’d get trapped there too" and honestly i can relate so much

[@loverrlee]

same :c

[@mepod7024]

Remember God loves you like a Father! I'm sorry for your pain, fortunately there is a lot of love out there!

[@DecayOpossum]

@@mepod7024 i read this as “god loves you as if you were his father” and was so confused. i was like “damn, i didn’t know i was the godfather”

[@littlemoth4956]

@@mepod7024 🤢

[@子琪7]

@@mepod7024 God loves us yet does nothing to stop all the suffering in the world.

[@kbomb234]

You know, I think this is also a cautionary tale for parents. That if you aren't meeting your children's needs, they'll get their needs from someone else. Whether or not that someone else is good for them

[@j.munday7913]

Yeah, but there is also value in teaching your kids to be able to meet their own needs as well so they can be well rounded adults one day. Its a fine line to walk but necessary.

[@AMStryx]

@@j.munday7913 That may be necessary some of the time, but there's a reason they say "it takes a village to raise a child." Human beings are social creatures to the point that it's proven you will go insane without connection to other people. Yet society makes it out like parents are supposed to got it alone with parenting, which is completely unreasonable and unrealistic since everyone needs help sometimes.

[@lucyandecember2843]

o.o

[@artimist0315]

@@j.munday7913 Yes and you should consider one thing at a time, and this isn't the right time. In Coraline's situation she is already facing a difficult moment in her life and she needs to feel comforted. She just moved to a new home she does not like - which was also my case when I watched this movie lol - and she is still a child, you can't assume she knows how to deal with this situation on her own. It is where is the thin line, you can't expect your child to spontaneously mature, you are the one raising them and teaching them life lessons. So many parents let their children face these situations fully alone, rather than keeping an eye on them and watching their back to see if everyone is all right. Of course you need to teach your child to be autonomous and solve things by themselves but one step at a time and watching for any sign they can't keep up yet.

[@rosettesionne9139]

In my country the parents will just beat the kids up if they see them talking to strangers even if it is then who created it so the child would be too scared to talk to other people. Yes it is abuse

[@bronamitchell1793]

I still believe the creepiest part of Coraline is the grandmother. Wybie mentioned she usually never lets tenants who have children rent from her, from the home she lived in as a child. But now that Wybie is at the age where Other Mother comes a calling, she offers someone else's child up instead. Her genuine surprise meeting Coraline at the end, that Coraline would be the one to defeat Other Mother gets me everytime.

[@Christiantheforestdweller]

Damn that's... That's so complicated. Like I get why she would do that but at the same time that's so truly evil having likely experienced it herself. I think the beldam probably met them both. After all, the doll looks like both of them so she was probably going for a two in one which means that the grandmother knows exactly what the beldam wants to do to coraline.

[@Mangaka718]

In the book there was no Wybie, so maybe it was an unintended connection? Though there's still not really an explanation for why she still let Coraline move in in the book, either...

[@stacey6112]

I actually think that the parents omitted the fact they have Coraline on the application as they needed to move quickly and cheaply. A couple of deep dives I’ve seen explained that theory and I think it makes sense.

[@Mangaka718]

@@stacey6112 you might be right about that, it's been a very long time since I last read the book so I might have forgotten or missed that detail

[@dragon_nammi]

Well, it might be that the grandmother figured that since nothing bad ever happened, and Coraline's parents needed a home, she thought it would be cruel to turn them away. Or that it would be fine given nothing bad ever happened in so long. She might have thought that perhaps she would be in the wrong to turn a family away over a superstition. Plus, it might help that Coraline herself is an older kid compared to her sister when she disappeared. Honestly Coraline being older seems to have been a big factor in her survival, as we see she's always a bit guarded around the Other parents and they never replace her real parents in her mind. Idk, there's plenty of reasons why the old lady would decide it's okay to rent to Coraline and her parents without delving into "oh my god she's going to SACRIFICE a child". Plus I'd say it doesn't make sense she'd "sacrifice" anyone, as the Other Mother would simply keep luring in children after Coraline, as the only reason she stopped was because there were never any children for her to eat. Although perhaps my assumption that the grandmother's sister was the last victim is wrong. The only cue I got was that Coraline listed the children off in the order of long haired girl, Huck Fin Jr, and then the missing sister. Although I will say that even if those other two children came after her, a long enough time may have passed that their disappearances could be deemed coincidences, and the Other Mother of course never leaves any evidence. My money is on Coraline's mom earning some pity points with that injury.

[@ariannaelmer9568]

I think this quote from the book perfectly encapsulates the message. The other father is trying to convince Coraline to stay, saying she will get whatever she wants. She replies “I don't want whatever I want. Nobody does. Not really. What kind of fun would it be if I just got everything I ever wanted just like that, and it didn't mean anything? What then?” I love how she says it wouldn’t MEAN anything. Life isn’t about getting everything we want but finding true love and meaning.

[@rachaelknudsen8801]

This is my favorite quotation from the book. Getting whatever we want all the time strips it of value and by extention, makes us stop questioning why we want what we want.

[@rebeccaconlon9743]

"Something given has no value"

[@ariannaelmer9568]

@@rebeccaconlon9743 I agree to an extent. Some gifts can have immense value. But like Jono said, it’s the intent of the giver that really matters.

[@tiffanykim2773]

Sadly alot of adults don't get that. Entitlement at its finest I guess.

[@schist7867]

Such a Gaiman line. ❤

[@justasmltwngir1732]

Apparently publishers thought that Coraline was too scary for children to enjoy, so Neil Gaiman had his editor’s child read it. The child said that it wasn’t too scary, so it got published. Years later when Gaiman asked she said that it was terrifying, but she needed to know what happened next. That makes a lot of sense lol.

[@memyselfandi7782]

Lol I thought it was his daughter at first

[@dulceleamsigame2508]

It is scarry, but man, is adictive !

[@SingingSealRiana]

Kids need safe scares, neither to much coddeling nor having all fears being real are healthy for the development of a child

[@contortionyx]

Yeah Neil Gaiman's pretty active on Tumblr and and one of the more common questions he gets are about how terrifying Coraline is and how it got made.

[@Debble]

Hahaha

[@MasterAttendant]

Other Mother is one of the most terrifying antagonists ever. Yes her true form is nightmare material but what's scary is how charming and nice and thoughtful she could be that you'll be persuaded into doing things you would otherwise not even consider doing.

[@zoe9190]

Its because thats what real world predators do to capture children. They know what the child wants to hear to be able to win them over. Happens everywhere in the world, in every country, even if you think it doesn’t

[@allynpierson3128]

I think that’s what terrified me about her most as a kid. She was so NICE, until she wasn’t. Solidly drove home a healthy fear of strangers 😂

[@CheshireCat-cm1si]

Miss M Isn't that a form of abuse, though? Being super nice and giving so that the person they're after will want to do whatever they say? Heck, the Other Mother gives Coraline plenty of gifts, wants to play with her, and (for the first acts of the movie at least) never stops smiling at her. But she's also making it very clear that Coraline spending any time outside of the Other World (or time with anyone in the real world) upsets her, and when Coraline starts learning what's actually happening, the Other Mother words her phrases so that it sounds like Coraline is the one at fault: "You may come out when you've learned to be a loving daughter!" "Darling, why would you run away from me?" "You selfish brat!" Okay, that last phrase was kind of a stretch, but you get the idea.

[@SingingSealRiana]

She a mother witch, case closed. Nothing is as scary as the corruption of a safe space, the perversion of who you should be most comfortable with...

[@SingingSealRiana]

@@CheshireCat-cm1si yeah, of cause it is abuse

[@owenbegowin9335]

At some point when I was little, my dad taught me that you only owe someone if you asked them for help/nice things. If they give it to you freely, there is no basis for them to say “but I did all of this for you, why can’t you do this for me?” If they wanted to be nice, that’s their fault. Not only was this helpful for not falling for manipulations large or small, but it helped me realize that it doesn’t get you anywhere if you try it… even if it’s just 7-year-old me playing minecraft with my dad :)

[@gracecodd4378]

This is what I'm going to be teaching my kid. I've been thinking a lot about how to address this topic, especially seeing as there's a manipulator/narcissist in our family. It's good to know that what your dad said helped you so I'm going to incorporate it into my parenting. Thank you for the insight

[@owenbegowin9335]

@@gracecodd4378Oh wow, I’m glad I could help! I didn’t think my comment could be useful to someone in that way. Sorry if this reply is a bit long lol, I just wanted to give a bit more context since I’m a stranger on the internet. First, I’m only now turning 18, so I don’t have any experience with teaching or parenting. This feels like some KZbinr saying “I’m not a lawyer this is not legal advice” or something like that lol, but I just wanted to acknowledge that there’s probably things I don’t see because of my perspective. Also, the example in my comment is a bit simplified. I was really lucky to grow up in a very safe household, and I grew up surrounded by good role models. It would have actually taken a long time of learning by example for that lesson to solidify into something I would keep with me, so my comment was just one of the times I remember better. Importantly for me it was always ok to ask questions and make mistakes, so I was able to learn through trial and error that it was easier for me to get what I want by being trustworthy and by showing that I could accept “no” as an answer. Parents can’t have all the answers, but kids can learn a lot on their own just by having support when they need it. I’m not sure how much of a difference it would make if I had a narcissist in my life, but I think I would be ok if I had someone who had my back even if I made mistakes. The trial and error might take longer, but I think I would eventually realize that even though this person doesn’t give me everything I want, the kindness, love, and respect they give has no strings attached

[@gracecodd4378]

@@owenbegowin9335 Thank you so much for the extra details. I'm so scared of my daughter getting hurt but like you said, having support and true love behind everything you do makes a huge difference. I'll keep in mind everything you said so thank you again for the insight. And I get what you're saying about you being young and maybe inexperienced but that doesn't mean you don't have good morals and teachings to share and teach other people. Sometimes the wisest of us are the youngest because they watched the older ones make mistakes

[@porcupike4127]

I really wish that someone was there to say this to me. But it's amazing that your dad taught you something so valuable. Hope you both still have a good relationship. :]

[@angeladog1284]

wow... that really just opened my eyes to how my dad used to manipulate me as a kid. I never used to ask for much, but I was spoiled. Every day he would come home from work with mountains of presents in his trunk that I'd never asked for, but when I wouldn't take his side in family court he got so mad at me based on "I bought you everything you ever wanted, why cant you just do this one thing for me so we can be happy?" It's been 10 years and haven't seen him since. Crazy

[@prettybird367]

To me the buttons for eyes are creepy because the purpose of buttons is to keep things closed, but eyes only work if they are open. Buttons for eyes are literally blindness.

[@aubreycarter7624]

Never really thought about it like that before, but dang, that makes so much sense!

[@ilive4anime.]

But, like eyes, buttons can be opened. Both eyes and buttons can be closed and opened. The reason buttons are creepy is because they are more associated with dolls. As buttons were the original eye "replacement". Dolls and humans are different for obvious reasons. Dolls are Dolls, you make them live the life you want them to. They have no say or will of their own, they do as you want them to. It's the association to dolls. Humans have will, are often disagreeable, have likes and dislikes. We are not dolls. You don't play with human life's, you play with with dolls. The movie makes the association of these button eyes to her becoming a plaything, something with no will of her own, and as decent Humans, having no will of your own just isn't right.

[@TheDragonsRose]

They're also associated with being windows to the soul. And when you communicate with people, you tend to look into their eyes. Without eyes, we become uncomfortable and it's hard to read their expressions sometimes. That's also part of the metaphor for Coraline retrieving the children's eyes, because that's where their souls are trapped.

[@dudestopwritingemailsinmyname]

Maybe it’s for not seeing what is happening when the buttons are on, I think the buttons show what the victims want to see and their souls are trapped. To be blind of what’s actually happening

[@spacebird107]

@@ilive4anime. i think your explanation is on point and very well articulated! it made me see the button eyes in a different, more sinister light.

[@cristiewentz8586]

I've watched Coraline several times- it's fantastically crafted. I too thought the parents were neglectful...and then I realized that it was only a temporary neglect. Coraline doesn't act like a habitually neglected child. The other mother had never met a child so well adjusted and self confident. That was her downfall. The contrast between the ghost childrens reaction to the Beldame and Coralines ultimate reaction to the other mother in their interaction really underlined it. The other mother played on coralines temporary neglect with a gigantic lure...bright and tasty and thrilling. A candy house for a hungry child....

[@nala6846]

So true. Her parents were just extremely busy from recently moving. It’s clear Coraline usually gets a lot of attention from them so when her parents couldn’t give her that attention for a few days/weeks (not sure of the timeline) she was super vulnerable to the Other mother’s temptations

[@ZephyCluster]

@@nala6846 Not just that, they mentioned an accident and her mother's neck was in a brace. For a non-universal healthcare country, medical bills can and have bankrupted people into homelessness. That catalogue they're focused on might have just been a last-ditch effort to put food on the table and keep the roof over their heads.

[@cristiewentz8586]

@@nala6846 I think any child would be charmed by being royally entertained. I've always thought the other mother failed because she didn't understand that a simply bored and lonely child isn't automatically vulnerable to her lures...

[@nala6846]

@@cristiewentz8586 Wdym? She definitely was initially vulnerable to her temptations which is why she followed the tunnel in the first place. She just wasn't "neglected" enough to want buttons sewn into her eyes.

[@pomelo9518]

When a normal person goes into a horror movie, it be like: Ew you think i fall for that

[@devoutmoon]

One of my favorite quotes from the book-This is when she defeats the Other Mother and begins to enjoy her reality. It’s really beautiful, and reminds me to find beauty in the ordinary and mundane. “The sky had never been so sky, the world had never been so world” ✨

[@silverdandylmao]

Oh wow quote is such a quote /srs i love ittt

[@lothitolkien4120]

That’s such a Neil Gaiman line as well

[@kate_alt]

That's such a beautiful quote! Makes me wanna read the book now

[@devoutmoon]

@@kate_alt It’s very easy, but very impactful read! Highly recommend x

[@bloatedcow1361]

Ah yes, the floor is floor.

[@hoo7797]

One detail that I really appreciate is how, when they sit down to eat, the Other Mother doesn't eat: she never has food in her plate, she gives food to the snapping dragons but doesn't eat herself; because her food is the children's lives. Meanwhile the Other Father, who's literally a hollowed pumpkin, eats a ton.

[@em_rip]

The ghost children always saddened me and frightened me because without showing the gruesome details you know what they went through. The second she sowed the buttons into their eyes, they were in anguish. Their last moments were of pure terror as she devoured them. The sad/screaming faces got to me like nothing else has. Hearing the young boy say he remembers his real mommy too just breaks you

[@helleswahn]

When they say the other mother draines their life was the saddest line in the movie to me. Manipulators and groomers really take their victims life away if you're "caught" by them

[@TheGoldenDunsparce]

@JD Burns You missed the best final arc of the movie after all that build-up! D:

[@jessicakakern4571]

@JD Burns it is all worth with at the end when you see their faces of terror are replaced with smiles and halos

[@twistedyogert]

The screaming one was the creepiest.

[@lilachodan4941]

🥺

[@sushiroll3795]

The Other Father's song, while being an absolute banger, is also a really clever piece of foreshadowing, mainly the lines "She's as cute as a BUTTON IN THE EYES of everyone who ever laid their eyes on Coraline" and "When she goes around exploring, Mom and I will never ever make it boring; OUR EYES will be ON CORALINE!" He was trying to warn her.

[@peneloperomero646]

😵😵

[@thecollector5204]

Also "She's a peach, she's a DOLL, she's a pal of mine"

[@lillianwolfe8314]

He was always on her side!!!

[@bruh-hs3vx]

I also saw someone post one time that he said the word "eyes" 3 times in the song, hinting at the lost eyes of the 3 ghost children. I didn't go back and check but I hope it's true cause that would be some 13/10 foreshadowing

[@aylaandersen]

Plus the Other Mother saying he was "happy as a pumpkin" or something along those lines when she told Coraline to find him in the garden. Oh, and another quick thing I heard was that two loops on a cursive o means whoever wrote it was lying. There are two loops on the o in 'Home' when they give her the cake that says "Welcome Home"

[@lauras5359]

Coraline terrified me as a kid and it still scares me now. I love the messages behind it though, “not all the people who are nice to you have good intentions”.

[@angelemeana2754]

May God bless you and your family and help you Give your life to Jesus Christ and repent. I pray that God will lead on the path to Jesus Christ and send the Holy Spirit to be your helper. I pray this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ I pray Amen! Jesus Christ loves you. Give your life to Jesus Christ and ask for forgiveness for ALL OF YOUR SINS. Even the ones committed in the past and repent. He’s coming soon. Please pray and repent.

[@fiery_scream]

@@angelemeana2754 This inspires no one. You're being weird and annoying lol.

[@minhvan1216]

ok

[@zoey398]

@@angelemeana2754 no

[@CalifornianCuttlefish]

yeah

[@TheOriginalStarwalker64]

This is exactly why Coraline was so relatable. My childhood was spent swapping between parents who indulged my desires, and parents who completely denied me those indulgences and more

[@Frankiebug21]

I find it super interesting that he thought "wow what terrible parents" until he had kids, because in several ways I felt the opposite. the first time I watched this I thought Coraline was a brat, and it was only as I got older that opinion softened, because she's obviously a child going through a big change and having issues with that, clinging to the two stable people who are shrugging her off.

[@hannahvannoy1051]

I think it's both. she's being a bit of a brat, but she's going through a big big change and with that comes big emotions and not dealing well with something like boredom. Meanwhile the parents have 1) just moved their family and 2) been in a car accident that obviously came with some medical bills. They're doing their best to get their family through this financial, emotional struggle (even physical! notice how the dad's office is filled with boxes, because they haven't had the time or ability to unpack everything yet), but have forgotten to save some of that emotional connection for their daughter. both sides are understandable, but it's extra hard to get through things when your support system ALSO needs a support system.

[@obsessedmalou]

@@hannahvannoy1051 Also, whenever parents are trying to get a child to go along with a big change like this, they try to spice it up, paint a really good picture. Maybe leave out all of the practical stuff, like the transition would obviously take a while. Ideally they would have been able to get the house in order as a family, at least a little bit. Instead parents are stuck at their computers. So Coraline probably had very different expectations of what life in the new house would be like. Due to unforeseen circumstances parents are unable to live up to their promises. And the weather sucks.

[@hannahvannoy1051]

@@obsessedmalou so true! And the weather DOES SUCK haha

[@sharkbait568]

its concerning they saw nothing wrong with her parents methods of dealing with their current situation, coraline wasnt asking to be around her parents all the time, only when she was told she couldnt do anything on her own because her mom said no, did she even try and talk to her parents. theyre not terrible, but theyre not good by a long shot, try telling coraline to garden on her own and to not track mud by cleaning her boots, that way shes occupied and can experience autonomy on her own time. the fact they try to justify the way her parents act when keeping her in a box with nothing to do speaks to how concerning it is that they confuse clinginess, with being stressed in he own right.

[@neilstone3583]

I disagree. Her mom could have just let her go play in the mud and non of this would have happened. Most child psychologists will tell you that if a parent is too strict it is bad just like being too indulgent is bad you need a balance. They expected her to just sit there and do nothing that's not reasonable

[@Mel-jr5cz]

Something about this movie I noticed just now: BOTH fathers sing. The Other Father sings his piano song full of vim and vigor, and her real father sings his "Twitchy Witchy Girl" song. Her real father does sing, he does dance, but he does it like an actual middle-aged person with a job--off key, full of heart, and without musical accompaniment. Though Coraline's parents could pay attention to their daughter more, they actually love her, and show that there is genuine fun, beauty, and love in reality. It's the harsh, overly exuberant Other world that blinds her to those moments of REAL loveliness and excitement. And in the end, when Coraline walks to the well to finally defeat the Other Mother, she sings the "Twitchy Witchy Girl" song, because of course she does. It might be corny, but it's sweet, it's real, and it's comforting, unlike the Other Father's song which only sought to delight in the short term with literally nothing behind the eyes.

[@TrelliessRose]

The other father's lyrics were the warning.

[@pie1o1morris46]

In the book there's also a part where she recounts how one time her dad got stung by a bunch of wasps so she could get away

[@ndfdm5705]

@@TrelliessRose Yeah. I think that adds to Melody original point though. The other dad did care- because he was designed to care - and that caring nature was invested in choice of words in the song to try and warn her. The song itself is just flashy attempt to upstage true dade. In dad song it's off key, it's corny but it's true and from the heart. There is no ulterior motive interrupting it in anyway. I think though that if other dad was free of his controller though he would suggest coraline return to her true father. The other dad, even if well intended, was designed to always be a competitor, a leech effectively for Coraline attention by trying to mock her original family and their humanity.

[@bosniakslayer6614]

Other father is actually a good guy , he tries to warn coraline multiple times but has to keep it subtle because other mother has eyes everywhere

[@HazbinCovenWitch]

The Other Mother is the evil one. Her creations aren't evil necessarily. Except the rats. Her spies. The Other Father and The Other Wybie were good. I think it's about the _intentions_ that they were made for, that makes them good. Wybie for example, was made to be a _friend_ for Coraline.

[@killawattz9773]

Also can we mention how beneficial it is for Caroline to be such a brave and tough character. It was always important to me as a kid growing up and watching this movie to realize that she never gave up. She always went for what she wanted and knew what was best for her, despite naysayers or people trying to manipulate her to get what they wanted.

[@byeyaveanicetime6520]

Coraline?

[@kaitlynmorgan4613]

its coraline lol

[@jotajmg]

@@kaitlynmorgan4613 she is probably latin american, Caroline is an actual name in most spanish-speaking countries. however Coraline isn't.

[@kaisetic3150]

@@jotajmg I'm from an English speaking country and Coraline isn't a name here either but Caroline is as far as I'm aware. It was a point in the movie that everyone thought her name was Caroline lmao

[@jotajmg]

@@kaisetic3150 well, then at least we are all in the same page :v.

[@AstroTom]

You said exactly what I always felt watching this as a kid. The ghost children always scared me. Not because I was scared of them but what she'd *done* to them.

[@bellarose1562]

100%

[@daisymilks]

I think it's interesting how Coraline is cool and mysterious for children watching, but very creepy and almost disturbing for adults. I remember watching it as a child and being mesmerized by the characters and the artwork, the color palette. now it has a special place in my heart but I'm too scared to rewatch 😭

[@tutusketches]

idk about you but it traumatised me when i was younger - the cat and the other mom as a spider stayed with me for years after just one watch

[@trinaq]

Precisely, it traumatised me as an adult AND a child, both in different ways. As a child, it was the animation, as an adult, it's the psychology themes.

[@daisymilks]

@@tutusketchesyeah I'm looking at the other comments and it seems like a lot of kids were just scared 😂 I wonder if there's just something wrong with me LMAO

[@sunnydong9069]

@@daisymilks Personally loved the look of the film as a kid, and still love the film as a 26-year-old. I just dig the aesthetic so much, and am always fascinated by the look of stop motion animation.

[@Itchiroras]

I think as a kid some saw it as fun etc - and as you grow up you start to see The creepiness of it. Though i was equally creeped out as a kid as i was when i re-watched coraline

[@singingofsilver]

I studied this movie in class for an English assignment two years ago, and my teacher focused mostly on the lighting, colours, and sound effects of it all. The non-diagetic sounds are ominous music tracks that put you on edge, while the diagetic sounds are whimsical and cheerful. The real world's colours are muted and cold, sticking to muddy colours like browns and desaturated blues. Coraline sticks out against it all in her bright yellow coat and vibrant hair. Upon entering the other world though, her orange pajamas match the warm, oversaturated lighting. However, her hair is still out of place, with blue scarely used in the scene of her first trip through the door. The pajamas suggest that she fits right in, but the stark contrast of her hair says the opposite. Her clothes are changeable, but her hair colour isn't. I love this movie so much, every aspect of it is facinating.

[@Mermzies]

Holy shit,this should have more likes. I was wondering about the things the producers did to make coraline still seem out of place in the other world and this makes so much sense. Really cool observation omg

[@jacobwansleeben3364]

To have the colour of her clothes fit in while her hair contrasts, it's almost as if the movie is symbolising that her heart is saying "yes" to this strange alternate world while her head should be telling her "no". Or maybe I'm reading too deep into it.

[@goldberta]

There's a psychology to color...blue meaning honesty trustworthy and most often linked to truth and authenticity.

[@singingofsilver]

@@Mermzies thanks! There's tons more to it too, like the significance of camera angles and a fun detail on the cake of how 'welcome' had a single loop on the o and 'home' had two loops, and having two loops on an o has been shown in a graphology study that it indicates that a person is lying, as if displaying that she is welcome but is certainly not home and foreshadowing how she can go but can't stay... yeah, sorry, I just love this movie ahaha

[@elijahpatterson3583]

Something I just noticed, the Other Parents have perfectly symmetrical faces. Coraline has a slightly crooked face, her nose and mouth turn up on her left side, just like her Mother and Father respectively. The Other Parents have perfectly symmetrical faces, and humans don't. I think that adds to the Uncanny Valley a little in the film

[@inktob]

omg its true

[@kaisokusekkendou1498]

Humans look for symmetry.. in fact, the more symmetrical a face is, the more "beautiful" we consider it. It definitely adds to how the entity is trying to make this world seem "perfect". I'm not sure if it adds to the uncanny valley, but perhaps the juxtaposition of symmetrical face whose only "blemish" is those button eyes... it makes it stand out more.

[@TheKeybladeKeeper]

@@kaisokusekkendou1498 it actually does contribute to the uncanny valley - we look for symmetry but when we have perfect symmetry it looks unnatural

[@MikoTishh]

I forgot his name but the boy with the button eyes unable to speak has a symmetrical face but his head is always tilted to one side. Which shows that he is not "in lined" with this other world the way everyone else is

[@funguschungus1415]

in the coraline book the other mother was always described as resembling her mother, but just ever so different. “She looked a little like coraline’s mother, only… Only her skin was white as paper. Only she was taller and thinner. Only her fingers were too long, and they never stopped moving, and her dark red fingernails were curved and sharp.” The description is very unsettling, only slightly resembling her mother, and as the book goes on coraline only identifies more little differences in the other mother to her real mother. it’s a really great read if you get the chance!

[@xxJETSETxx]

The reason the 3D works so well on this movie and not on others isn't because it's stop motion, it's because everything is in *focus*. Most movies, your director is using cameras to put certain things or characters in focus and others not, which means when you put on the 3D glasses, no matter how hard you look at something, it will never snap into focus. With this movie, you feel immersed, because you can chose to look just about anywhere at just about any time, and it all remains in focus.

[@ScrambledAndBenedict]

Coraline is living proof that you don't need to be gory, or even violent, to be scary. It's proof that a movie doesn't have to fall into total goreporn territory like the Saw films in order to be genuine, gutteral horror. Also, something I love about Coraline, is the parents don't actually have to go through any kind of "redemption" arc. Not only is it fairly reasonable how they act, but also it's made fairly clear this isn't the norm for them: the mom is injured, and the dad has a looming deadline, so they are a lot farther out of their comfort zone than they normally are and thus there's no reason for them to "redeem" since the situation will resolve itself in time.

[@spencerroush431]

Not only is the film not gory, it uses vibrant colors and very few jump scares. There's nothing cheap about the fear. It's all earned.

[@laomein6199]

Just watched re released remastered at Amc yesterday. It was absolutely sublime. The colors. The ost. The painstaking details in absolutely every scene. The haunting and nearly perfect audio design. It felt almost over indulgent to sit for 2 hours in absolute awe. Almost dropped a tear when the credits rolled

[@chayalapid1598]

I actually watched it when I was 4 or something, it made such a huge impact on my life, I can't wear or even touch buttons.. I hate the thought of them. Its crazy to me how can a "kids" movie like that be so horrific...

[@kaoryakasaka6835]

Unpopular opinion, but Coraline is way scarier than the Saw movies. In the Saw movies you just see spherical characters in vacuum who never got any development get murdered in a progressively more predictable very bloody way. We don't get scared about what might happen to the characters, because we don't care - there is a new character to get killed almost every movie. While Coraline's actually creates a lot of suspense, and while we know something is fishy and everything will go wrong sooner or later, we don't know how or when. And the visuals and dialogue really creeps you out. Coraline has done it way better because the feeling of unknown is much scarier than random meaningless bloody scenes.

[@ScrambledAndBenedict]

@@kaoryakasaka6835 I agree. I'm hesitant to even call Saw a horror movie. It's more like the Final Destination series: throwaway characters and an excuse plot to show off gruesomely over-the-top gore porn. It's shocking, yeah, but it's not scary.

[@aubreycarter7624]

One thing that Coraline illustrates really well with the Other Mother is that it is the people closest to you (parents, step parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, etc.) are the most likely to abuse or manipulate you. Most people teach "stranger danger," but that is not as common as someone whom you have a close relationship with that is actually dangerous.

[@frogbear02]

nice seeing someone use "whom" properly for once!

[@Sun-God2]

Is this necessarily just about family members, or anyone who is close to you? For example, a guy you met on a trip, and now you are very close and intimate etc.

[@aubreycarter7624]

@@Sun-God2 Coraline specifically showcases family members, but I think it can apply to anyone who is close to you.

[@springchickena1]

this movie making you feel things again, dearest?

[@golden_opal6050]

'keep your friends close, your enemies closer.' dunno how thats revelant for sure ya just made me think of it.

[@umbra.mortuus]

26:47 “golubushka” is actually a word in Russian, and I must say it fits perfectly with the context. Literally in means “little dove” (feminine) and used as a way to say “my dear”, or “honey”, or “sweetheart”, something like that. It is a bit archaic. “Golubushka” is exactly what this Russian-kind-of monster would say in this kind of situation. When i see my language used like that, it warms my heart. Usually people don’t bother and just make jokes about “vodka” and “babushka”, but in Coroline voice actor even pronounced the word correctly. Also the whole monster design is clearly inspired by the famous Russian ballet “The Nutcracker”, made by Pyotr Tchaikovsky (the original story was written by E.T.A. Hoffmann though). The writers clearly did their research, and i admire them for that.

[@karinatronina3238]

+ "nikogda" = never

[@inktovsi]

Man, can't help feeling sad whenever I see someone russian out of context on the Internet.

[@umikomidaradzuki7985]

+ vsegda = allways

[@Nella2606]

I was looking for this comment 👍🖖

[@jalifritz8033]

Thank you for the information

[@radicalgal]

A pieces of character I really like is coraline’s response to the other mother asking if she would like anything else (the dinner scene) and she doesn’t say something like “I would like a drink,please” she is straightforward with her needs “ I’m real thirsty”. It gives more insight into her being self assertive. Love the detail in creativity

[@ARedMagicMarker]

One thing I noticed about the Other Mother is that for as much as she cooks, she's the only one at the table who doesn't eat the food. She always has a place set for her, but there's never any food on her plate.... but she feeds sausage to the flowers at least. I think the flowers eating the meat is a hint to her true nature --- a pretty flower or something nice on the outside, but an apex carnivore/predator in reality, and that she gets her sustenance in other ways.

[@prowers2623]

Like children's souls

[@stickstories2750]

@@prowers2623 like the butthole mouth grim reapers from Hogwarts

[@barbatostea]

@JeeseDooBoogaloo that's was an actually bug so that confirms she doesn't eat normal foods

[@shanehe729]

almond mom vibes 😅

[@jenniferkenneally5386]

@@shanehe729 LMAO

[@sapphirewings8638]

They just gave me a free therapy session with this one video. When they started talking about escapism and all that stuff, that kind of made me realize why I'm always so hooked to my laptop. I always get so upset when my laptop is taken away because I don't have that outlet anymore, that place where I can escape reality. It's videos like these that make me take a closer look into my psyche which allows me to understand myself as a person more and more each day. Thank you.

[@ladywiththelantern]

Agreed. It hit close to home for ma too. KZbin blurs the lines between informative and escapism. It is a problem I am going to have to get a grip on. What a truth bomb.

[@vixiestarfire]

Oh I definitely have a problem with disassociating and escapism 😅 especially while driving I need to focus more

[@frozenburrit053]

So what you're saying is that imagining I'm doing my own concert while listening to a music video is unhealthy? Well damn

[@courtneycherry5582]

I do the same with my phone.😅

[@thecrimsonwolf2456]

Same here, but I’m trying.

[@bomber3165]

My grandmother was a manipulator. It got so common that my family would tell each other "careful, there's a fish hook in that" if we saw her setting a trap.

[@SingingSealRiana]

Both my older brother and I are terrified of talking with our mom. We do not have the best relationship either, but thats a thing we can perfectly relate over

[@whatchyagonnado]

Hmmm i like that...

[@atlascove1810]

Well at least they knew...

[@pvtpain66k]

My ex-finace has mental issues, but before we know anything was wrong, she would blow up over a percieved slight, and we used the phases "don't poke the bear" to warn each other when we knew she was gonna explode or "The bear is awake" if she was already set off.

[@skylarthompson299]

@@pvtpain66k what was wrong?-

[@infinitepossibilities2862]

26:12 I just noticed this. The other garden looked scarily like Coraline's face, but this one. . .it looks like a face, but not quite right. It's not perfect, but it's trying. Another wonderful symbol.

[@elisezimmerman9603]

It looks more like the other mother

[@nope8741]

Fun little fact about the cake too. Some might have already heard this but in the practice of calligraphy (Edit: I have been informed that it's actually graphology, sorry!), different numbers of loops mean different things. One loop on an O tends to mean the writer is telling the truth, whereas two loops tend to indicate lying. In the word "Welcome" on the cake, there is only one loop in the O, but in the word "home" there is two. Coraline might be welcome there, but she isn't home.

[@amandapanda5087]

I didn't know that, that's pretty interesting!

[@appalachiabrauchfrau]

is that because of the speed of the person's handwriting? When I write while I'm still processing what I want to say I do so slowly and deliberately, when I do that my Os have two loops. Could be seen as very calculated picking and choosing of words. When I write from a stream of consciousness or my honest thoughts with no pausing I write very fast, and so my Os only have one loop, if they have any at all.

[@AaaAaa-rf3cj]

Hey, this actually is called graphology! It's the study of handwriting and loops to the right is outward lying, loops to the left is lying to self. Graphology is so incredibly fascinating and you can learn so much about a person, along with true feeling in writing. I personally use it to check in on friends when their handwriting is showing concerning mental state signs, or looking out for what people to get closer to or not. I really really recommend learning about it!

[@nope8741]

@@AaaAaa-rf3cj Oh wow, that's really interesting! Thanks for correcting me, I'll definitely look into that :)

[@Sunbeargirl-]

Interesting... personally I still find the two loops more beautiful, though.

[@SpunkyFloof]

i found it interesting at first that he made a song for her and it was a kind gesture and sweet, but he isn’t doing it “for her” he is actually WARNING her. The lyrics tell coralline what will happen if she stays in that world for too long, so doesn’t that mean those other creatures are stuck under her control, and her world is always against her but they cannot fight back considering her power. All they can do is warn the innocent children that enter it

[@akuhappy3246]

He is kind

[@Vinemaple]

It's foreshadowing for what he turns out to be. Like all of the [SPOILER REDACTED], the Better Father manages to throw a wrench in the [SPOILER REDACTED] when he gets a chance, even a small one.

[@sleepysnorlax9384]

Yeah, him being controlled by the other mother is even further symbolized by the piano, that is literally playing him instead of the other way around.

[@SpunkyFloof]

@@sleepysnorlax9384 exactly

[@shadowmonster9129]

Examples of this being shown: “She’s a doll” meaning the doll is the other mother’s eyes “She’s a peach” meaning she’s just food to the other mother “She’s a pal of mine” meaning coraline can trust him. “When she comes around she’ll never get bored” meaning this world is designed for her, so she’ll want to be here forever. “Our eyes will be on coraline” meaning she’s always being watched

[@floresdeisla]

I love you guys for talking about Coraline! One big thing I think was a missed opportunity to talk about is the fact that Jonathan says "sometimes it gets better, sometimes they don't." But notice that once Coraline gets rid of the key to the Other World, she starts making decisions herself to change her lifestyle. Such as inviting the neighbors and Wybie's grandmother, thus making her parents start gardening for the outside party. She's setting the initiative herself to change her real life, thus it IS getting better! Sometimes it's about you being willing to change your circumstances in order for your life to get better in the first place. Even if little steps.

[@MrOrcshaman]

Authors that respect what children can handle, I always appreciate them. Scary concepts but not gratuitous, it allows children to help overcome fears.

[@confuddling8909]

A detail I just noticed is that at 18:20 the Other Mother’s fingers are sign language for “I love you” but she specifically gestures towards Coraline’s eyes when she makes the gesture! Even without words, she’s indicating that the only thing she loves about Coraline is her eyes 👀

[@dbseamz]

Ironically, that same gesture is the one SpiderMan is famous for using to shoot webs. Don't know if that was a deliberate allusion to the Beldame's spiderlike true form or just a coincidence, but either way it sort of fits.

[@lucifang]

@@dbseamz Spiderman makes that hand shape so his 2 middle fingers can reach the hidden button that shoots the webs. Tobey Maguire's version is the only one who can shoot webs naturally, but they had to keep that hand shape due to how iconic it is.

[@not_emm8328]

@@lucifang maybe toby Maguires spiderman does that so that his tendons in that portion of the arm flex, and help his web (glands??) shoot lol

[@ethaniel7551]

Brooo

[@bleepgloop]

I never noticed that! It's like how in Tangled, when Mother Gothel shows affection to Rapunzel, she's only holding her hair. Like one scene she kisses her hair instead of something like her forehead. The minute details in animated films to show manipulators is insane

[@lyreparadox]

I went to a great talk by someone from Laika (the studio that made Coraline) and found out that the faces of the characters aren't made with clay, like traditional stop-motion. They're intricately 3D printed models that are swapped to create different facial expressions. They printed *thousands* of them. It's part of what makes the characters so lifelike. The faces are so consistent in their expressions, that every little detail is intentional.

[@larctrinx8960]

Just thinking about that, as a semi crafty person, makes my head hurt. All of that sanding.....

[@SkipperJane]

I believe Selick did the same thing with Nightmare Before Christmas. I remember seeing a picture of a whole box of Jack heads. I’m also obsessed with Coraline’s tiny knit sweater.

[@MeemahSN]

And the eyes are fucking massive

[@isav7305]

Laika's got behind the scenes videos for their films on their channel! You can see just how passionate everyone is for every project

[@madestmadhatter]

Stop motion is an umbrella term for a series of still frames linked together to imitate the appearance of movement, claymation is specifically when the subject is made of clay, there are plenty of stop motion animations where the faces aren't made of clay, most earlier films used simple puppets with no facial articulation.

[@NathanielBarryLastra]

One of the little things that makes the Other Mother scenes so terrifying is the fact she and other characters stare at YOU directly. Not Coraline. You. In the real world her parents don’t really look at her directly. Scenes are safe for the viewers because it is clear that we are observers in the safety of our seats. When the Other characters stare at us directly, suddenly we are no longer safe. We are seen. We are vulnerable. And what’s worse is we can’t see expression in their eyes because they are buttons.

[@meh9677]

True. I didn't think about that.

[@CaptainSportExtreme]

Also she's always smiling and I got to admit, it's a very creepy one, she could play the animated Joker for real

[@Xenpen6]

True also... their eyes are buttons and they are insect people... kind ansettling too

[@taynahibanez9952]

I never noticed this... Now this movie just got another level of unsetling to me.

[@seantaggart7382]

Indeed Thats why fourth wall breaks can be Really Scary Because suddenly it feels like the barriers between the worlds are gone

[@TheMystical-123]

This video means so much to me as the therapist was explaining exactly what I went through as a kid with a predator and manipulator. I love the way he explained the psychological traits behind every action the fake parents of Coralinen did. This helped me understand the man that abused me mentally,psychologically, physically and emotionally into a more deeper, correlative interpretation of understanding and even wrote down some notes in my notebook to help me remind myself that I am a survivor of my past living hell. The fact that he said that young people tend to just follow along to what their manipulators are asking them to do, compared with adults where they think more consciously, made me realize that it's so true. kids and teenagers are more innocent and vulnerable and that's exactly what predators look for and seek on to. And I can't believe I had to be one of them... I love the person that dedicated their time to actually read this. Thank you

[@djancak]

you're welcome

[@gracecodd4378]

I can't imagine the pain that must have caused you. I really hope you're doing better now and have/will find peace. Keep looking after yourself and remember that none of it was your fault. He knew EXACTLY what he was doing, and he was just a nasty, vile man. Stay strong

[@TheMystical-123]

@@gracecodd4378 thank you so much ❤️❤️ May you always be blessed. Life is better now 💯

[@gracecodd4378]

@TheMystical-123 I'm glad to hear. May you always be blessed too ❤️❤️

[@muchanadziko6378]

tbh, Coraline's dad idea of having her explore the house is a great one. If only after the "it's 150 years old" he would follow with "there must be hidden rooms, corridors, mysterious or interesting stuff left behind somewhere around here" This way he would still achieve his goal, but could inspire the kid to really get invested in the search.

[@loverrlee]

That’s exactly how she finds the creepy door to the Other Mother

[@muchanadziko6378]

@@loverrlee yes, I know Im talking about good vs bad parenting. It's ok that the father needs to work right now and Coraline needs to leave him be. But the way he says it is wrong. He should inspire her to explore, not say "go explore...I NEED TO WORK"

[@MeemahSN]

@@muchanadziko6378 Agreed. Turn it into a fun game for her to be occupied with while he works, that way he gets what he wants, but Coraline can actually enjoy the activity

[@pseudotangerine9687]

In the book, that is kind of how he gets her to explore in the first place! He gives her a pen and paper and tells her to list the amount of doors, windows, and everything blue, but she still gets bored regardless

[@TheWolfsHowl666]

@@muchanadziko6378 CORAline as she says in the movie

[@kadeykoo2575]

Its always interesting seeing people make commentary on Coraline. When I was in the fifth grade, my english teacher had her whole class read the book. Then as an assignment we had to write a letter to the author and make an persuasive argument for the book to be made into an movie adaption. To motivate us she even told us she would personally mail all of our letters to the author. The whole class was excited for the assignment because we all loved the book. Apparently she also did this with the kids in previous years. I don’t know if she ever mailed the letters, but I will say that I don’t recall any of us getting our letters back. I like to imagine that my class helped this movie become a reality.

[@aromaladyellie]

You should ask Neil Gaiman; the man's on twitter and could answer.

[@lucyandecember2843]

o.o

[@ghostbotmellow706]

@@aromaladyellie he is pretty active on tumblr as well

[@unrellated]

It didn't. As soon as Neil Gaiman was done with the book, the first thing he did was have the manuscript sent to Henry Sellik. They started work on the movie before the book was published.

[@Caelum7913]

That's so cool

[@dolphin64575]

To add to the discussion of Coraline's boredom, it isn't just that she's alone with her parents, it's that she's alone with her parents after moving away from her friends, and her parents are working so much they don't have time to go shopping. And her mom recently got in a car accident. That's a lot for a kid to deal with on her own.

[@gothicMCRgirl]

It is, and I do like that you see reminders around the house that her parents are not always this way with her (there are pictures of them having fun as a family, dad is playful when he’s not swamped with work, mom made plans to garden with Coraline before the accident happened, etc). Like, they are normally a united family. It just so happens that we, as an audience, are witnessing them during a tough time in their lives when things are not so great and fun things are put on the back burner for the time being. These things happen, sometimes we go through bad times as a family and in those situations you just have to prioritize what’s important in the moment. You don’t have time for fun stuff, you’re too stressed, too tired and you just want to get through it. Obviously Coraline is a child and for her this is unbearable, but the parents really are trying their hardest.

[@coco604]

Couldn’t have said it better @GothicMCRgirl. I think that they are simply very stressed at a very difficult time in their lives and their stress is manifesting in slightly ignoring their kid. It’s also clearly temporary, I.e. due to the situation they are in and not the type of parents or people they really are. Some people in this comment section saw them as neglectful or that they didn’t really care about her, but I didn’t read rhat at all.

[@netlawyerdc]

It's addressing very similar issues that PIXAR's INSIDE OUT was dealing with (and there is a good Cinema Therapy ep on INSIDE OUT) - being a kid and moving away from your friends and your parents having their own things to deal with so you don't feel important. Neil Gaiman dresses it up in horror as an allegory and PIXAR dresses it up a different way - but it's a pretty universal feeling. Even in INSIDE OUT, Riley tries to go back (escape) before she realizes that her parents really love her and they just had their own things going on.

[@kstar1489]

@@gothicMCRgirl are they trying their hardest though? The seem incredibly cruel in their dismissal of her.

[@gothicMCRgirl]

@@kstar1489 I do think so, yeah. Are they perfect? No, of course not. They’re exhausted, pulling all-nighters and their patience and tolerance is running on thin, it’s obvious. Should they respond so dismissively like that? Probably not. But honestly, we all get that way sometimes. It isn’t right, but we all do it, especially when we’re exhausted. That doesn’t make Coraline’s parents monsters, it just makes them human. And as you can see at the end of the movie, they’re trying to make it up to her (by going gardening, by getting food, by going out in celebration after the catalog is a success, by giving Coraline those new gloves she wanted). I do think the parents are trying their hardest, otherwise they wouldn’t have even attempted to make it up to their daughter towards the end.

[@meliodasgloom1818]

The thing that always tripped me up was that Other fathers song has like 8 different warnings to Coraline. It's cool that even a creation of Other Mother still wants this kid to run free.

[@xjenzy5623]

It really hit me hard when they started talking about escapism as I'm someone who *only* leaves their house for school and daydreams literally 90% of their time at school. I come home and watch youtube, movies, play video games and daydream because as they said in the video, I don't like my life and doing these things makes it bearable.

[@appalachiabrauchfrau]

if you're still in school then that means you still have the security net there of your youth, and the tools that forced social situations/networking/scheduled days your schooling pushes you into in order to get your life on track to be something you can enjoy. It's all right there, you just need to learn how to take advantage of it and learn to not fear failure. Once you are out of a structured environment and no one is forcing you to go anywhere or do anything then it gets MUCH harder to get a reign on your executive functioning skills. That's how people end up buried in debt and with an empty phone book. Ask for help, if not from your parents then from your school counselor or student advocate. Almost every college, as long as you are a full time student, affords you free sessions with their therapist. If you're in high school then even better, you've got a leg up on older-you, though you might not see it now. The young are afforded a certain breadth for social error that you won't have when you're in your adult years, make mistakes while people will still shake their heads and go "kids these days." Do something new every week, reach out to someone who you wouldn't normally, volunteer, adopt a high way, try things you think you'd hate, shave your hair off and wear full denim outfits if you feel like it, choose a language and learn every time you're in the bathroom or on a bus. Time is our most precious resource, you will never, ever, ever get this second back, or that second, or this minute. It's gone, forever. That's not to make you feel gloomy, but if put in the right perspective should make you feel like you've won a cosmic lottery. No one else will ever live those seconds quite like you either. It's your choice what you do with them, ultimately.

[@monito3575]

@@appalachiabrauchfrau that is some really valuable advice I really needed to hear this thank you🌺

[@monito3575]

This is literally me (except for video games and I'm at uni) I feel like a walking shell of myself. I've often been thinking of using a minimalist phone or something or put some restrictions on my phone (that someone else has the password to) bc if I can't set my own boundaries, or don't respect them, maybe this is the best solution. Edit: if people are still reading this I found that my phone has a focus mode and I can block specific apps like Yt and I have to specifically request to have a 5/15/30 min break and it helped me a lot. I hope it will get me closer to fight this type of escapism! Maybe this information helps those who may read it.🌺

[@xjenzy5623]

@@appalachiabrauchfrau thanks so much for the advice, though i don't think im confident enough to tell anyone about my situation irl. But i will definetely try to do something out of my comfort zone at least once a week. Again, thanks.

[@randomrye2238]

@@appalachiabrauchfrau damn I needed that advice today. Thank you dude.

[@Moonlight.Howlings.666]

Did you know the book Coraline wasn't supposed to be published as a children's book? When Neil Gaiman tried to publish it one of his editors said it was too scary. So he recommended she read it to her daughter and ask her opinion (Her daughter was a kid at the time). So she read it to her and the girl said she wasn't scared. Well later at Coraline the musical Neil Gaiman was sitting next to the girl and told her the story and she said "Oh I was terrified, but I needed to know what happened next so nobody knew." CORALINE WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE PUBLISHED!!!!!!

[@misabelrodriguez1163]

"CORALINE WANST SUPPOSED TO BE PUBLISHED!!" Now that's the most terrifying about the whole thing, being deprived of one of Neil Gaiman's best work

[@syrusangi8743]

The editor's daughter was a real one and took one for the team.

[@SingingSealRiana]

It would have been a shame

[@dulceleamsigame2508]

Now that explains my trauma, but thanks to that little girl, I love Coraline

[@pokaay3163]

We’re so lucky then. Great story overall and the movie exposed the concept to a lot more people who might’ve needed to see it.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

I'm part Russian on my dad side. I'm pretty sure the word is голубушка (pronounced gah-loo-boosh-ka) which is another word for darling, though it literally means dove. It's nice when a studio actually does their research about a language and culture rather than rely on stereotypes. Especially from Laika since the studio is named after a Soviet dog who went to space. 9:36 The voice you're hearing when the Other Father sings is actually John Linnell from They Might Be Giants! They were hired to do the soundtrack but due to creative differences, only one song made the final cut. As much as I love the song, people of culture know the best They Might Be Giants song will always be the Higglytown Heroes theme song. It is such a bop

[@ZGKIV]

I F***ING KNEW IT. I KNEW I RECOGNIZED HIS VOICE.

[@olgadm2241]

Correct

[@nekonyx]

OMG I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS THEM BUT IT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE

[@Valeria-sx7uv]

You are right, it is голубушка

[@mars_mayday]

oh my god, you just unlocked a core memory with Higglytown Heroes

[@FunnyDasha7]

I love this movie so much it's one of my top favorites, there's so much symbolism. Like at 16:05, for the cake, when there's two loops on the cursive O. In graphology that usually is means that the person is a liar; the top "welcome" has one loop while the "home" has two. She's welcome in the other world, but she is not home. Also the other Mr. B was saying голубушка I think, it means dove.

[@tbeighle5131]

I’ve seen this movie a dozen times and I’m just now noticing small details like the other mother filling in her eyebrows and her beauty mark, while the actual mother has blonde eyebrows and wears no makeup. The other father also has amazing hair volume, while the real father looks as if he might have thinning hair or hair plugs. There’s also Coraline’s nails - she’s wearing a semi-transparent nail polish that’s consistent with children’s nail polish kits I got as a young girl. Every detail is so spot on that it makes the entire movie that much more amazing.

[@ATruckCampbell]

Another detail, the upstairs neighbor was a Chernobyl liquidator, as indicated by the liquidator medal on his chest, explaining why he is blue and eats raw beets.

[@poweredbymoonlight9869]

Even the other mother's nose isn't crooked but straight!

[@ramrd5779]

@@ATruckCampbell why is he blue and eat raw beets exactly?

[@batool2000rox]

@@ramrd5779 radiation makes your skin blue, and beets are supposed to protect from radiation (like when he told coraline "have beet, make you strong")

[@Mateo-nz1xl]

Nobody talks about buttons sown in place where eyes were even though it's most striking thing in a movie so hopefully this gets enough upvotes for more people perplexed about it to see... "Eyes are a window to the soul", and having no eyes or covered eyes means lost soul. Not just here it has been done in posters, album covers, many places, intentionally or not that's what I don't know. On a lighter note lost things can be found, "know thyself" but that's another topic.

[@adeleeyre5429]

As someone with DPD ( depersonalization disorder) who spent the larger part of adolescence completely isolated due to an overbearing parent; the points you guys touched on about escapism rang so very true….. Trust me when I say, disappearing into a dream world or entertainment may sound like heaven, but it becomes the lowest level of hell if you find yourself stuck there unable to even process reality .

[@blueblaze5160]

You put my situation into words pretty damn well. Any idea on getting out?

[@weaouw]

As someone not diagnosed with that, but another disorder with dissociation as a symptom.. Yeah... Mine is also chronic and never dissipates. I've lived in a dream world for probably around 10 years now. It's an actual living hell. A nightmare world.

[@turgor127]

People who overcame depression and say that suicide is not the answer have no idea. They have no fucking idea.

[@thetiniestpirate]

@@turgor127 I didn't 'overcome' my disorders but I did make it to a place where I recognise suicide isn't the answer. I hope you get to find some of that too my guy x

[@childoflight3388]

This was my immediate thought when he started talking about escapism. I have struggled with dissociation since I was a kid. As an adult escaping into the fantasy world of books and movies was so appealing but in the end it left me isolated. The real world was overwhelming and dull until I started to see the beauty in everyday living. I practice being present and dealing with my emotions instead of numbing them.

[@amyturkharp]

I remember watching Coraline with my boyfriend for the first time and him being horrified at how dark it was. I had told him it was "a lovely film" 😂 I grew up with a manipulative parent, and so movies and media like Coraline actually make me feel safe, strangely, because I recognise the feeling it conveys, that everything is wrong, even though you're being told it's right and you can have everything you want. There's something about Coraline's creepiness that I find beautiful, delicious, even grounding. Stories like this help people like me to understand themselves. I still get chills every time I watch the scene where Coraline escapes, and the Other Mother screams, "don't leave me, I'll die without you!" Because I have met those people in my real life and seen the lengths they'll go to, to stop you making your own choices. That's the real horror this film so beautifully illustrates.

[@vi0let831]

Same but I had an emotionally absent parent and a physically absent parent (due to work) lol, this movie was my childhood

[@LezzyBugO3O]

I also get chills when she's crying out to Coraline saying she'll die without her. I was in a toxic friendship with someone years ago that made me feel like crap and demanded I always made time for them, but then they'd always cover it up with their "good qualities" so that I would stay because I thought "well no one's perfect and they still care for me, right?" While this toxic friend never said anything like they'd die without me, the FEELING of them constantly wanting me around even if it was to treat me like their doll they could toss to the side at any moment was still there (same with how the Beldam wants Coraline around all the time until she one day eats her)

[@TheOddityFair]

What’s especially unsettling about that, is it’s very literal. I’ve always theorized that the Beldam goes after children, not just b/c they are easier to manipulate, but b/c of their youth. Their souls are young, & she gets all of the years that they had left to live when she eats them. So, when Coraline escapes w/ the key, the Beldam knows that she will never come back. The Beldam won’t get a new soul to eat, & even worse she’s lost the 3 other souls she’s used to sustain herself. (Notice how the physical eyes of the ghost kids shrink the farther back you go?) So she knows this is the end. Her door is locked, she can’t physically force Coraline to stay anymore, so she’s desperate. And in her primal fear she is completely honest & transparent for the first time. Here, we get to see what & who she really is: an old, desperate creature that hunts w/ trickery, all out of tricks. With literally only her life left to lose, she lays everything out there even if it’s futile.

[@Yamismol]

I remember watching a video on someone explaining that she hadn’t seen Coraline until she was married to her husband because her mom didn’t allow it. Her husband was shocked and sat her down immediately to watch it because he’s never meant someone who hasn’t seen it growing up. She realized that the Other Mother’s behavior was near identical to her moms. Her mom banned the movie because she knew if the lady saw it she’d realize she was being manipulated and abused.

[@ekaterinastroevitch6351]

You just put into words exactly what happened to me, I never really understood why this movie made me feel so much at home and safe. Thank you

[@priscillabazan3572]

I remember writing a 7 page essay about this movie but there are no words to describe how much detail the creators had added in this film! Great video

[@NYM0]

While i agree that the parents here aren't necessarily bad parents, they defiantly had communication issues with Coraline which had a major strain on her attitude towards them.

[@bluesira]

Thank you! Everyone is saying the parents aren't bad at all, just "busy", but they definitely expected Coraline to understand things like an adult.

[@MargauxNeedler]

Bad parenting vs bad parents overall

[@insertchannelnamehere9637]

@@MargauxNeedler that’s the best possible way to describe it. coralines real parents had bad parenting skills. her Other Parents were (obviously) just bad parents

[@Jenna_Talia]

Yeah I think a lot of parents focus too much on sugarcoating things. When I was growing up there were a lot of examples of things that I didn't understand, but once they were explained to me plainly, I understood and stopped bitching or whatever. People would try to dress the concepts and teachings up in kid speak but that just made things harder a lot of the time. Kids are smarter than you give them credit for. Being honest about not exactly being this superhuman who can juggle all these concepts isn't all too bad, just as long as you teach them they still aren't a burden.

[@infernotheprotogen5736]

Something I still find to be cool attention to detail is that the other mother's plate is always empty when they eat. The only time we actually see her eat is when she eats a beetle much later into the movie. Fitting seeing as she's a spider, only eating things like bugs, but to me also solidifies her hunger for coraline throughout the film. She feeds off the children she traps and as the movie goes on she gets more desperate to keep coraline, clearly getting more hungry until she gets outright aggressive.

[@vangoghsnight4268]

This one! I also think that she really snapped when Coraline refused to have buttons sewn into her eyes. Her smile looks extra fake while Coraline was tryna go up the stairs.

[@ivanhenderson31]

Great point and insight. Gotta watch again to catch these things.

[@solstice_soda701]

I love details and though this may mean nothing, the other father's eyes are sewn to have 'x's and other mother's is sewn with a '+'

[@KireiC]

I remember catching that detail and it being very another very creepy layer on the unsettling cake.

[@Yayofangamer16]

@@solstice_soda701 The Other Father is literally not alive. He is fake in every way. So it makes sense

[@Peachori]

During that one scene with Bobinski in the circus, it always terrified me when he said; "Not even that anymore." because it goes to show that the moment Coraline said no to her eyes being sown in with buttons, it was all over in a matter of seconds.

[@gothicMCRgirl]

And adding to that, it’s also unsettling that the Beldam’s creations are sentient and can think for themselves, at least to an extent. Other Wybie cares for Coraline and tried to save her, Other Father felt awful about what he was doing and also rebelled against the Beldam near the end, the rats sounded morose and sad when they said they weren’t even a copy of Bobinski anymore, they deteriorated into being stuffed vermin again. It’s creepy, but it’s also a little sad.

[@Peleski]

I think the secondary characters are breaking apart because the mother can't maintain the illusions. She needs a fresh child to consume. If she could maintain the illusions, what they say about staying would be more convincing.

[@Barnowl65]

I just finished reading the book and I am SO GLAD the movie did not include the scene where, while looking for the "eyes", Coraline goes into the basement and finds a hideous, disfigured blob monster that used to be the Other Dad that attacks her. That shit was TERRIFYING.

[@crystalchorus]

When the other mother says, “I bet he’s as hungry as a pumpkin by now.” Takes on a WHOLE new meaning when you’ve seen the ending…😖

[@ami7153]

The other mother was a real dark jokester.

[@singingofsilver]

It was such a weird line in the moment too-

[@Nada-qn2rg]

I don't get it?

[@crystalchorus]

@@Nada-qn2rg when Coraline first meets her, she's cooking and asks Coraline to grab her other father saying, the hungry as a pumpkin line. Later in the movie when the other mother reveals her darker side we see that the other father was created from a pumpkin.

[@Nada-qn2rg]

@@crystalchorus oh, I see. Never realised that 😅

[@kibijuice]

Also! Another reason for the Other Mother looking oddly unsettling even before her transformation it’s because her design is sharper and it’s also filled with triangles, meanwhile Coralines mom is rounder. In character design triangles are usually used to convey danger!

[@Callimo]

Oh that's an interesting observation!

[@Rolling_Girl_falling_forever]

What else is used to convey danger in character design? I’m curious o:

[@Callimo]

@@Rolling_Girl_falling_forever Going by Disney methods, usually using either dark colors, especially green to convey that this person is "mean" or spooky in a way. They tend to have exaggerated facial features, exaggerated makeup/hair/clothing. Ironically, looking at the Belldame and Coraline's Mom, the Bellesame's version of Coraline's mom looks... "older"? somehow.

[@laughingbear2581]

I always thought the buttons were super creepy, because the eyes are the windows to the soul. With buttons, you can't see their souls or their intentions.

[@oliveb5768]

Exactly!

[@amandapanda5087]

I know what you mean

[@ayushpurohit8266]

Because there is no soul

[@VoxBox27]

I just watched the film recently and it made me realize that I was also being groomed and manipulated by my mother to stay with her and never leave… Way scarier of a movie to realize you are sitting in your own personal Coraline while watching it. But now I am away from her and in a more supportive environment thankfully.

[@nerdyguygamer]

"I did all of this for you, but you can't do this for me" I GREW UP WITH THIS ALL THE TIME The love and care we have for each other should be given without strings attached. a so called loving gesture that expects something in return is called a FAVOR

[@alexg2282]

I was talking to my sister the other day about how the kids that let her sew the buttons were living in times where child abuse was much more common and accepted. Vs Coraline who was extremely lonely, but still taken care of. So when the contrast between the other mother's world and theirs is much more stark for these other children (I'm assuming)

[@jaredliew998]

Plus in the eras those children were living in, things like sexism and racism were still seen as acceptable. One can only imagine what abuse they went through that made getting buttons sewn into your eyes seem like the lesser of two evils.

[@hoodie_string]

i had to have it not be 69 anymore bc i like to ruin funny number (im imature i know)

[@msr5565]

Haha thankfully I wasn't

[@gRinchY-op5vr]

Does explain why the previous 3 children would have easily let The Other Mother sew the buttons while Coraline questions alot and sees the red flags with the promises in return for letting her do that

[@MercurialMoon]

it's just so sad that the other kids would rather have buttons sawn into their eyes than going back to the real world... :(

[@realVoltairex]

One thing I really love about the movie is the symbolism. The snapdragons, for example, in the language of flowers represent deception. The dragonflies in Coraline’s room represent change, adaptability, transformation and self-realization.

[@BeatrizViana13]

Man the whole “being the shadow” following a parent around the house is literally still me today and I’m 20, no school, no job, can’t go out, all due to health issues so i just stay home 90% of the time, and my mum stays home to care of things. So she’ll be walking around doing things, and I’ll just follow her around telling her random stuff, like the lore of a game i play. When she’s really busy i try not to pester her too much, but when she’s like, washing the dishes or ironing clothes I’ll be there right behind her with my chatterbox on

[@BeatrizViana13]

@@Ugubgugb i was born with Marfan syndrome and my case is quite severe, I’m disabled which makes it hard to do a lot of things, i also suffer with depression and anxiety which made going to school during quarantine nearly impossible, i was fully burned out by the time i reached 2nd year of highschool so I had a convo with my mum and we both decided it would be best if I dropped out. I plan to finishing highschool in the future and I hope to find a job I can do from home because it’s just too tiresome for me to leave the house everyday. Rn I’m waiting on a very important and quite serious surgery so even if I want to I wouldn’t be able to do much. After I’m fully recovered maybe. Doing chores is hard for because of severe back pain, when I do try to help her then I just end up suffering myself. What I can do without going through much pain I’ll do it a heart beat so. It’s not really a case of “I became like this” it’s more that I’ve always been like this, but now I’ve endured a “normal” life for a long time. I know the cause but there’s just no other way at the moment. Am I a failure as a 20y/o? Yes. But again, at the moment there’s no other way for me to live. I’ve been trying to go out more times because i just gen don’t leave the house. I have 2 friends who understand my condition so sometimes they plan hangouts with my complications as the main worry. But still going out with me is not typically fun so I rather them go do their thing than me going and making everyone worry.

[@Jollyinha]

God, you've described my situation almost to a T. Anxiety, depression and autism leave me stuck in my house as well, following my mom around

[@sarahlandis289]

@@BeatrizViana13 how do you think you're a 20 year old failure because you can't do stuff due to health issues? I'd agree with you if you chose that as your life but it sounds like you didn't. And you're looking for a job too which sounds like you're trying to do everything that you are capable of. You're not a failure honey. It sounds like you are doing everything you can.

[@sarahlandis289]

@@BeatrizViana13 Sorry, not trying to lecture you. It just sounds like you're being harder on yourself than is accurate.

[@BeatrizViana13]

@@sarahlandis289 I’m just very self conscious about my situation, the few friends I have are either already working or going through uni, my brother is quite literally the example of a golden boy, or at least was because now he developed a bit of an attitude, but skills wise he’s both smart and athletic and he earns a great salary for his age. My mom gave up her work for me and although she has said multiple times it was her choice and not my fault, the fact still remains that if I was born healthy she would be able to work on her area which she was very passionate about. Plus the years I did go to school, I was bullied for who I am, since I was a kid I was basically told everyday at school that’s it was my fault and that I should just be ashamed for being born (kids can be cruel but idk to what point they are to blame, since most of the times they’re just a reflection of their environment), my depression came mostly from that. I know it is not my fault, and I know there’s nothing I can do other than keep living, I know if I had other choice I’d turn my life around, but there’s just that little voice inside of my head that blames me for everything I’ve gone through.

[@tayloranderson8153]

I also think it’s important to note that Coraline’s parents have a ton on their plate at the moment. They just made a big move, they had an accident, and their catalog is due. Also, you pick up on the fact that they’re on a budget while waiting for the catalog to sell. I think there are so many little moments where you can see tenderness, but it’s important to note that this is a small handful of moments right after chaos. I would bet that they are good parents who are going through a tough transition.

[@KimberlyByrdV]

100%, and I can relate.

[@eldritchabomination9726]

I would like to add, in the book (assuming I remember correctly) Coraline talks about how her parents used to be before the move, which made it seem less like neglect and more like a temporary issue

[@dustyragdollz]

Bro, as someone who has super protective parents this hit way to hard. I've never seen Coraline but dear lord it came right for my throat. Having been home-schooled and never really even going outside unless it was for "family vacations" or groceries, you can see how extreme daydreaming and escapism are a problem for me. Also with the being afraid of the outside world and paranoia n stuff. What they said about escapism really made me think.

[@shadowcatgamer2521]

Bro, THIS comment came for my throat, and I haven't even watched the video yet. I wouldn't call my parents overprotective, but I also don't go out often because I have no real-life friends (and am slowly losing my online ones too), and my parent's chronic illnesses make going outside semi-infrequent. Daydreaming and escapism takes up a fair amount of my time.

[@otakumangastudios3617]

I’m so sorry that was your experience homeschooling. Just so other people know though, this is by no means a common particle of homeschooling. Again I’m very sorry that as a result you were sheltered.

[@Knux5577]

I relate to this and it's making me step back and think

[@leoparathesweekgeeky7244]

Yep, pretty similar to my experience being honeschooled as well. Love bombed all day but only so long as I am doing everything exactly as they want. I still have days of crippling perfectionism because of it.

[@otakumangastudios3617]

@@leoparathesweekgeeky7244 my gosh! I’m so sorry! Where did you guys grow up, if you don’t mind me asking? Because where I grew up, homeschooling was a progressive, open minded thing, where we were a large and diverse community whom would intermingle on a pretty regular basis. Again I’m very sorry that was not your experience, and I feel sad and every time I hear of someone that actually fits with the homeschool stereotype. I hope you can find much comfort

[@caitsil3366]

I absolutely ADORE Coraline because it walks that fine line between creepy and wholesome the whole time. And when it gets creepy it reeeally gets creepy.

[@briaweea02]

THIS is it! You hit the nail on the head. Creepy and wholesome until it truly grips you when everything starts to show its true, dark shape

[@georgearbuckle7029]

Not a single recent kids movie could hold a candle to Coraline due to the lessons it taught to kids and it’s way it went about it

[@cameroncoates4863]

So I see a lot of people mentioning how the song is foreshadowing the other mother's true nature but in the next scene where they gave her a welcome home cake, there's a double loop in the 2nd O. In typography, a double loop in an O is indicative of deceit. Meaning that while she will always be welcome, she isn't actually at home.

[@MercurialMoon]

i love how coraline is a cautionary tale for both parents and children

[@wasatchwizard4770]

Part of what makes the other world so creapy, despite how fantasiful it it, is focusing on Coraline's doubt. Also the other mother keeps invalidating her, even though it's a perky voice. "Go get your father" "You mean my other father?" "Your better father"

[@whitneynelson9124]

"Also the other mother keeps invalidating her, even though it's a perky voice." Just like master manipulators in real life.

[@lil4cm4yf1eldz]

I noticed that as-well ( commented about it before I saw this! ) but food is such an easy way to manipulate kids into doing things. I had a friend who was with abusive adoptive parents, she had meetings with a therapist meeting every week. And they threaten to starve her if she told her therapist anything bad. And when she said she wouldn’t they’d give her her favorite foods. She now has an ED because of her adoptive parents abuse. It is so easy to manipulate kids with food.

[@as3957]

I wonder how she would get along with Umbrage.

[@discordlexia2429]

@@as3957 Rowling is a monster and it shows in her work. Please reference something that contributed positively to humanity instead.

[@sebastianlucas704]

​@@discordlexia2429Where did this come from?

[@HolyLogios]

Another symbolism I noticed: The moon. The moon has always held a specific symbolism in many cultures, specifically relating to life and death. With waning (dying), waxing (generating), and rebirth/death (full moon and new moon). Throughout the whole movie, we only see the moon in three phases. When she is in the other world, the moon is a waning crescent phase, hinting at the amount of danger she is in. When she was in the most danger, the moon was technically an eclipse and lunar eclipses were thought to be a omen or sign of danger. The moon during when she was finally safe (having destroyed the hand and threw away the key), was a unclouded full moon and many cultures viewed those as a symbol of peace, safety, and prosperity.

[@hiiloveu1521]

Also the more obvious symbolism of the light being covered by darkness. In the other mother's world there's always a shadow looming over the moon, and only in the real world, when Coraline is safe, the moon is fully visible without anything blocking it's light

[@thewanderingwriter4448]

I think the creepiness factors into how too perfect the Other Parents are. Living in reality, we notice and eventually get used to the imperfections of people. With the Other Parents, they look and act great but they also seem too vibrant and flawless. It’s this instinct that something doesn’t feel natural with them, because “perfect” people don’t exist. My favorite character is Bobinsky, the circus performer with the mice. In the real world, he’s skeptical and accusative of Coraline, but he does eventually warm up and shows that he isn’t mean, just eccentric (which Coraline also eventually sees). It’s a good lesson that people can have good qualities even when they’re not perfect, and sometimes their imperfections can be identifying traits of themselves. Another example is Wybie. He’s a talkative kid, but in the Other World, he doesn’t talk. Coraline had expected him to, which meant that although he is annoying to her, Coraline would have accepted that part of Wybie until the Other Mother claimed to have “fixed” him in order to cater to her. Something that makes Wybie “Wybie” is taken from him, taking a piece of his identity/individuality, and making him less “real”, no better than a doll up until we see that he does care about Coraline, and even that’s taken away from him. Punished for being his own person, from becoming “real” just like the Other Father. A perfect person would have no qualms about what the Other Mother is doing, and yet it’s their imperfections - their compassion - that led to them helping and even saving Coraline.

[@aliyahpulido953]

15:33 On Coraline's first visit to the Other World, the Other Mother says "Hungry, aren't you?" I watched this movie as part of one of my English classes and the professor explained that this wasn't about Coraline being hungry because she skipped dinner before bed, prior to going through the tunnel for the first time. This was about Coraline's feelings of neglect and her being starved for attention and because she wasn't being loved the way she wanted her parents to love her, and she was getting that attention in the Other World.

[@cutiepie120048]

😮✨

[@WonderlandWeb]

Basically: “The dude sat on the blue seat” English teacher: “The blue represents the dude’s emotions as he’s currently sad and sadness is connected to the colour blue. Such beautiful writing”.

[@alteregobruh]

@@WonderlandWeb Well, in movies, symbolism definitely does exist. In real life a blue seat is simply a blue seat but in writing the seat has no reason to be blue unless it either represents something or it builds the world more (blue 80’s type diner seats come to mind, things like that) In writing, every word has a purpose. If a word has no purpose, the word doesn’t need to be there. So, “The dude sat in a blue chair,” in literary writing means he’s either sitting in a specific chair in his area that has different colored chairs, or the chair represents something. In writing, it is blue for a reason. That’s how writing works. I can tell you aren’t interested in writing lol…

[@yellowstarproductions6743]

That sound interesting

[@hollyholly3172]

@@alteregobruh meticulously written comment! I love it. I wouldn’t know how to type this out but you did it so well! I see so many comments like that made by people trying to dismiss meaning behind media etc and you hit the nail right on the head for those types. They simply aren’t interested in literature to see and enjoy the meaning behind it. So a lot of them just brush it off.

[@taramooney9084]

I was 9 when the movie came out. I tried watching it, but I started having sleepless nights, and my Mum jokingly banned it from our house. I was 18 when I decided to rewatch it, and it was only when I was older that I could appreciate the animation, the world-building and the storyline. I was more terrified of the idea that there could be imposters in my house and someone could take my parents away. I am also an identical twin, like one of the ghost children. The idea of losing my twin or her being taken away is horrifying and heartbreaking.

[@Godsbelovedkid]

That’s really funny for me cause I’ve never been scared of it like EVER besides after the other mother starts to crawl after coralline in the web ugh gets me every time

[@carolinaherrera69420]

omg i was the same age when this movie came out too! i actually BEGGED my mom to take me to watch it. she hated it, but i loved it. in fact a few years later i bought the dvd copy and watched it OBSESSIVELY! i related to coraline, being an only child, left handed, loved exploring, had a complicated relationship with my mom, im sure i wouldve fallen into the web of the other mother so easily. of course it wasnt until i was older that i understood why it was so scary for most people.

[@m.josena4485]

@@carolinaherrera69420 I feel bad because I can’t understand why other people are scared though I do feel sadden mainly by thr ghost kid scenes (I’m not an only child but we’re basically the same lmao)

[@HamiltonIsLife]

@@m.josena4485 a lot of people find stop motion in general scary. And I think I liked it until the mom became a spider. And also sewing your eyes, not nice. Dead ghost kids, not nice.

[@Moonlight.Howlings.666]

It's great that this movie shows the child's perspective of things. I mean, Coraline's parents are shown as boring adults who do not pay any heed to her, but if you look at it from an adult's perspective, it is obvious that they 1) are hurrying to finish their work in time; 2) are obviously tired after the move (especially Coraline's mother, who in addition has a trauma and has to wear the neck cone); 3) have financial difficulties, as seen from the scene at the shop. But, alas, Coraline had to get it the hard way...

[@SingingSealRiana]

In the book it is even more obvious, her parents are not bad, they are just not great. You can not possibly always entertain your kid

[@j.munday7913]

And from Coralines perspective her parents are neglecting her for soooo loooong, but in the grand scheme of things it was a couple months maybe during a very hectic seasonal work time, a move and her mother being injured.

[@lonelyronin2428]

oh, that was a neck brace?! never seen one in person, so I thought that was just her drip.

[@tiffanyh629]

@@lonelyronin2428 what kinda drip are you seeing to think a neck brace is a fashion statement lmaoo

[@eileensnow6153]

@@tiffanyh629 I always thought it was a turtleneck sweater, I never noticed the brace

[@Mykes25]

It's nice you guys pointed out how different you felt about coraline's parents when you're single and now you have kids. I never had kids but I did understand how the parents felt in the movie why they can't provide for her the time and attention she needs. I was always looking for reactions that I felt similar to mine and I only heard it here.

[@Amantducafe]

It's amazing how mature and adjusted Coraline is, which is the downfall of the witch. Her parents are not neglectful and we can see it in the end when they are planting the garden that they really care for her, they are never rude or abusive they are just tired and with a temporary problem due to the accident but you can tell they both have a loving relationship and take good care of Coraline.Which is why Coraline enjoys the pleasures of the other world but is not willing to sew buttons in her eyes.

[@emmaphilo4049]

They are not abusive, I believe they are just in a difficult couple of month. Well they are average parents, not perfect, not awful. Mostly good but could improve.

[@standard-carrier-wo-chan]

@@emmaphilo4049 Yeah, they're just pinned in a hard place for a bit, but Coraline took it as them suddenly not loving her anymore. Not gonna lie, I've felt like this about my own parents for a bit, when life started taking a toll on them. Work just got to them, and the loss of attention just gets to me. I'd get angry at them and would've nearly got into my rebellious phase if it weren't for the internet. So many interesting stuff, and it kept me occupied long enough until my parents sorted their stuff. If that version of me found a door to the other world instead of the wonders of internet, I would've experienced pretty much the same stuff as as Coraline too. As a child, you don't notice it when you're loved and cared, but when they started to move away from the usual pampering, boy did you feel it hard. It makes you feel like they're hating you. A couple months seems short for adults, but for kids it feels like forever and a half.

[@Jenna_Talia]

It's so well written. I love that nobody is immediately at blame and it's an understandably real scenario. Coraline is a child who needs attention and her parents want to give it to her but can't because they're overworked and tired. Coraline, being a child, can't understand that they're not superheroes and gets restless thinking they don't love her.

[@kittycatkyla2344]

If you read the book, its stated that Coraline is the oldest child that has moved into the house. If I remember right, the others were all under the age of ten and Coraline was 11. So an almost teenager versus true children, it makes sense that Coraline was more set in her boundaries/comfort zone and knowing where wrong and right end.

[@Amantducafe]

@@kittycatkyla2344 There's a book? Interesting! Also age as a factor is very important, seems like the witch got too greedy by going for an almost teenager.

[@lavendercavern]

Came in procrastinating and jumping down the Coraline rabbithole, left with some very specific and important life advice. Thank-you Cinema Therapy for calling my escapism out.

[@CinemaTherapyShow]

You're so welcome!

[@trinaq]

Upon multiple viewings, you'd notice that Other Mother never eats, since her plate is always empty at mealtimes. Rather, she "feeds" on the energy and love of others, namely Coraline.

[@Firegen1]

Ooo good notice

[@SingingSealRiana]

Beside the bug, but that is living matter too

[@rosedeci767]

My most favorite part of the whole movie is the end scene where they show the garden, showing that it can perhaps in the future, end up like the one on the other side. Basically saying that yes life may suck, but with dedication, you can make your life the way you want it to be

[@teapartypenguin1353]

That's way better than the theory that Coraline never escaped the Other World

[@heyfell4301]

@@teapartypenguin1353 theories like that will always exist and will always be popular because they're easy to make and shocking to hear. "Hey, remember that happy ending? Here, it was actually super dark this whole time"

[@BrightWulph]

@@heyfell4301 I've always disliked dark theory's like this, especially if it's based off a movie that's based off a book. Like it just disregards the original source material in order to be "dark and edgy".

[@heyfell4301]

@@BrightWulph yeah, me too, I love theories but these ones are the type that just kinda kill discussions while obviously not being what the authors intended. For example: "Ash from Pokémon was actually in a coma". Like... cool, you have slight bits of evidence, but do you really think this is what the writers intended to do? Does it look like they want this happy kid's show to be actually just a depressing tale of a dying boy? It's always kinda dumb when you think about it, and Coraline is no different in this regard, the book and the movie themselves are already dark enough, you don't need a dark theory for them.

[@BrightWulph]

@@heyfell4301 Like dark theories can be fun, but when they grow so popular that people start to think of it as canon is super annoying. I especially hate the pokemon one about Ash, like guys it's cool that there's like small shreds of evidence, but lets not pretend that it's actually true. Think there was a similar one about Adventure Time too, about the main character being in a coma and dying. I agree about Coraline, both sources are dark enough. The fact the film ends on a good note is what makes it special, it's the reward for sitting through all the darkness and terror that the main character went through. Just having it still be "oh she didn't really escape because blah reason" is just negating the horror that we as the audience just went through. It'd be like if A Christmas Carol ended on Scrooge dying instead of turning over a new leaf and becoming a nicer person. More dark because, why tf not. No reward for going through an emotional journey, no "seeing the light" and changing his ways. Just the cold grave he was destined to go to. -_-

[@mydeershikaxoxoga]

I like that different portrayal of Coraline's family in the book and in the cartoon presents us different moods and characters of the girl. In the book she is mostly bored, while in the cartoon version her parents are really emotionally neglect her and sometimes give an illusion of the choice (like when she didn't like an obviously disgusting dinner and her parents told her either that, either nothing; in the book she just likes mom's cooking more, so instead of dad's meal she eats supermarket pizza that day). So in the book her understanding of the situation is almost immediate, but in the cartoon she wants to stay longer; the book shows her as much softer girl, while the cartoon does as a spicy one. In both she is resilient and has her core value.

[@mastrheartsxiii]

I wouldn’t call her parents neglectful in either

[@mydeershikaxoxoga]

@@mastrheartsxiii they didn't care about her eating (I'm talking both the situation with disgusting food and the scene with the fridge), they didn't met her emotionally (ignored, told her that she was a distraction, instead of making healthy boundaries and explanations), talked badly about the neighbors and each other with her around or directly to her, creating uncertain feelings etc. Beldam's creation was successful not for the fact of miracles, but for the fact that Coraline had some attention and was openly told that she was loved and treasured. In the case of her real mother we see it only to the end of the cartoon - like in the scene with an empty fridge, when Coraline is not just giving a tantrum anymore, but expresses very justified devastation, and mother feels the loss of her daughter; or on the first night after the fight with Beldam, when Mrs. Jones gives her the gloves Coraline had asked before in the sign of improvement. Coraline's family wasn't bad, but there was neglect present (and it was not that much about living conditions, but for the fact that the parents didn't express their love openly and usually told her that she bothered them), and the cartoon uses it nicely, showing both: that children need to look for happiness in real life, not in someone's sick creation, and that parents need to be emotionally available for their kids, as this is the most simple and important thing they need - just some tulips and lemonade in the family garden :)

[@joryharris8002]

@@mydeershikaxoxoga They just moved so fridge was empty. One fucking meal ain't neglect. Kids don't have to be up your ass to meet their needs. Adults should not drop everything to please their child. You are obviously a kid who does not understand reality. You missed the whole point of the film, reality. Sometimes you have to make your own meal or eat nothing. Sometimes your parents won't always be there. Sometimes you will be unhappy. Sometimes bored. Grow up.

[@mydeershikaxoxoga]

@@joryharris8002 🤡 you are the one, who clearly understood nothing. They didn't just moved in, the scene with a fridge happened near the end of the cartoon and they were in the city a few times, parents were just too busy with the catalogue. Cartoon won't show you every time someone neglected a child's meal, that scene was for that purpose. Parents MUST emotionally care about their children, because emotions are the huge part of children development. You are creating a false dichotomy "they are neglected or up your ass". Coraline in the book was a bored child. Her parents were able to communicate with her in a healthy way (not that you know something about it), give her options and boundaries; most importantly they didn't act like their own child, that acted in a natural way, was a burden for them. In the cartoon the parents didn't even try to talk to her: they either ignored her, either talked badly. And they knew it :) Especially near the end, when her mother felt guilty about food, and that was the first time she talked to her like mother talks to her child. But considering you are the adult, who is shitting with fire because someone pointed out that someone parenting needs improvement, you either the dude whose parents popped out a child and didn't know what do with it, either a parent, who has a disgusting attitude towards own children and feels his ego broken over that fact. Both, I think)

[@gabrielabatista6016]

@@mydeershikaxoxoga as a child of emotionally neglectful parents, yes, that. I always knew that my parents and my grandparents loved me, and I never lacked any basic necessities, but they never had time or energy for me. I was always "I just got home, I'm tired; can't you do that by yourself?" or "I'm busy/tired, can't you do it yourself/do something else? (Aka, something that didn't required them)". I didn't wanted them to be with me 24/7, I just wanted a little bit of attention, for them to hug me and say that they love me more regularly. The lack of affection and constantly being told that I'm annoying, being a bother, that they couldn't deal with me, etc. (and sometimes rather aggressively) was what always bothered me. I couldn't even just go make friends because I wasn't allowed to go outside alone, and I always have had the worst social skills ever, so 90% of the time I was by myself. (And just to drive the point, the only person I consistently talked to on a regular basis was my grandma, so until I was around 13 I still used slangs from the 60's because my grandma used them; I still use some from time to time, though everyone always looks at me like I'm speaking gibberish) I know kids can be clinging and annoying sometimes; but, parents, YOU created that little being, it was YOUR choice to bring them into this world, so give them a bit of attention, show and tell them that you love them, and don't treat them like every interaction they have with you is tiring and a big nuisance? Is it such a hard thing to do?

[@mentalrebllion1270]

I’d also like to point out that, other than the music, there is probably a few social cues that may be throwing him and making him feel creeped out. Such as the other mother at the meal. She puts nothing on her plate and doesn’t eat. In fact, you never see her really eating at these meals she presents. This is just one of a few social cues we take for granted that are there and might give us a feeling of unease if they go missing, even if we haven’t yet put our finger on them being the missing piece.

[@2Ten1Ryu]

Yeah, that's also interesting because throughout history there have been so many stories about "forbidden food" and eating it unknowingly or sometimes knowing making you enter into some sort of contract you can't escape from. like Eve eating the apple or Persephone having to stay in the underworld because she ate something there.

[@Angel_Kittichik]

@@2Ten1Ryu Or fae food, from the faes of one of the older iterations. "Eat their food and they basically own you" type of deal with them.

[@LordingtonLotus]

finally, someone else noticed that she doesn't eat!! I've been wondering for a while if I'm the only one who noticed that cause NO ONE talks about it

[@mentalrebllion1270]

@@LordingtonLotus I think they bring it up in the extras actually.

[@lilmao4482]

The only time she eats, is when she eats the Cocoa bugs

[@dawnmccarthy1]

I always figured that the parents couldn't give her attention because they had to settle a lawsuit for the mom hitting the truck, leading to maybe selling the home and moving to a rental space? And needing to finish the catelogue so they could buy groceries?

[@CrumbisBumbis]

I just wish Coralines parents had redirected her in a kinder way when they were clearly irritated. Like real parents, they're very much allowed to be frustrated but it's saying things like "will you stop pestering me" that I think does really impact a child's sense of self. Parents need to communicate their needs as well even if it's gently telling your child that you don't have time to do what they want. Going back to what was said at the start, even if something isn't neglectful in the eyes of the parent, that doesn't negate the impact it may have on the child, even after they have grown to understand the reasoning.

[@butasimpleidiotwizard]

Thank you for saying this, I intensely hate this movie because it triggers my trauma so bad lol, I think its a good movie it just makes me start shaking to see how her parents act especially since I have only watched the movie once, when I was 11 and watching it with my parents who treated me exactly like that all of the time, I have really major self worth issues and social anxiety and probably a personality disorder specifically because of being treated like I was annoying and a problem and a bad child for having completely normal and reasonable social needs. I think in Coraline the implication is that it's kind of temporary but for me it wasn't and even as an adult my mother still talks to me like this. I know they were stressed and busy, but if they couldn't be patient and kind at the same time then they should not have had kids, the impact that can have is extremely serious. I had terrible nightmares after watching it too, I really really hate it.

[@ThatOliveMrT]

I don't have kids but I was surprised the Dad didn't take a moment to try to bore his daughter with his work. Why he does or doesn't like it. If the child does get bored they'll be driven to find something on their own. I would like the idea of being able to teach a child the art of milking a paycheck while keeping the boss pretend happy

[@maarakailet1]

@@butasimpleidiotwizard Came to say this exactly. My parents were very supportive financially or physically, but very neglectful and abusive emotionally. I've taken a lifetime to come to terms with that. The amount of sheer self loathing I did and still do endure is excruciating. There is a reason people say parenting is hard. It's not enough to just put food on the table and roof over your head. You have to help a child grow into their own person. Learn to be confident in themselves and still be aware and cautious in the world. The only reason I'm doing relatively OK now is that I found a very supportive spouse that understands mental illness and doesn't shame the days that depression keeps me in bed. He doesn't make me feel bad for not being able to work, and just encourages me to do things that make me happy and continue to work on healing.

[@blu.dru_]

THIS! ^^^^^ Just because you're the parent and you have tremendous pressure you're under, does not give you the right/excuse to be rude. Adults push this on kids, but somehow seem to forget it when it applies to their own lives. 😬

[@caspiansovinski]

The funniest thing is that Coraline's parents don't seem as negligent in the books as they do in the movie. And that's probably because we get flashbacks of when she was younger and how much they trully care about her. The movie only shows the present, which make them seem aloof and non-caring

[@madestmadhatter]

Until you get to the end when they've had time to settle in and have finished there work

[@celestee2264]

The story about Coraline's dad and the bees still warms my heart (poor dad tho)

[@nataliawashington872]

@@celestee2264 right they should’ve included that in the movie would’ve been a nice message about bravery

[@oracleofthemundane9593]

On my latest rewatch of Coraline, it struck me that Coraline may feel guilty about what happened to her mother, in that me-centered way that kids can do. She does (somewhat angrily) tell her mother that it wasn't CORALINE'S fault that her mother hit that truck. That suggests to me that Coraline was either in the car with her mother or saw it happen or perhaps her mother was on an errand to get something for Coraline. Kids can be so very good at assuming they caused a traumatic event. But Coraline's mother says, rather gently, that she never blamed Coraline. To me, that's the tell that illustrates their past normal dynamic. But they're in a new normal now, where her mother is in pain (and possibly cutting back on any pain medication either to save money or to keep her head clear to work) and unable to attend to Coraline as she had done previously, not to mention the stressors of moving to a new house. Coraline doesn't have that perspective because she's a child, though she's perceptive enough to pick up on the undercurrents.

[@dbseamz]

I like that interpretation way more than that of the person commenting on a different video that they thought Coraline had been (at least partially) responsible for the accident and her mom "never _said_ she was" so as not to make Coraline feel worse. Both because that kind of thoughtfulness seemed out of character for her mom who had no qualms about being rude to Coraline on several other occasions, and because yeah, kids DO blame themselves for bad things they were even tangentially involved in.

[@gabrielafonseca4034]

I went to the 3D too. I always go to the movies when there's the least people, but there was a little girl there, with her mom, and she was screaming terrified. She's probably in therapy now

[@_nightingale]

At the time of watching this, my parents had recently divorced and my dad remarried. This movie terrified me as a child because it was too real. My step mom tried so hard to be a perfect mother to me (literally my "other mother"), while my real mom was going through financial troubles and couldn't always be there. Coraline hit WAY too close to home...

[@moujayay]

Oh I went to the same but I was already a teen , almost adult then. But the same results. My mom wasn't there enough while I didn't want to accept the other mom (or my dad) as family. It really did not good s to how my dad treated me the prior years as the "adult" of us siblings. I wasn't even 14 then...

[@bw3839]

ugh, same but different- my mother"s mental health deteriorated throughout my childhood and it was like watching her become the other mother. The first time I watched this movie, I had a panic attack because it was all so familiar. I am sorry this movie resonates with you like that- it's so hard being a kid sometimes.

[@batking4342]

@@bw3839 i also have a panic attack everytime I watch this movie. Watched it at my stepmom's. They'd take me places. Do so many fun things with us! But she was horrible and I had a spineless other father (only father legally). It was WAYYYY too damn real. Hit way too close to home So i feel ya

[@yea0000]

same except my stepmom was so perfect only at first then she turned manipulative much like other mother 😒 then my real mom wasn’t present. and my dad just let me be manipulated. i don’t blame him though because he was manipulated too, and going right along with the manipulation was the only way for us to survive at the time

[@oneangryboi408]

Hey, I'm glad that your step mother tried to be good for you. Way too many stories I hear where step parents are just terrible people. I hope she continued to be such for you.

[@Erlynbebe]

i also loved how coraline is the only colorful character that sticks out in the real world but blends into the other world because like you guys said, its created for her to fit and suit her needs. the movie is great! still havent read the book though lol

[@lionessoftor4139]

The worst is when the abusers are parents because you don't know it's wrong until you get older and it's VERY hard to adapt to a better life.

[@enochia]

This is sadly very true for a lot of kids. They don't know it's wrong until it's already affected them

[@Jenna_Talia]

and a lot of kids internalize whatever shit they endured and justify it in their head (cough, corporal punishment and "hitting kids doesn't do anything bad, look at me I turned out fine! [flinches at any sudden movement and/or is irrationally violent.]) And schools focus a lot on stranger danger especially in well developed communal suburbs where stranger danger genuinely isn't an issue. Schools often tend to ignore or put far less emphasis on parents, teachers and friends being manipulative or dangerous despite that being so much more common. It's far easier for a parent to lead their child astray than it is for a total stranger to do it. The stranger has to both build trust and secrecy with the child before doing whatever they're gonna do. Parents have the former two things in spades.

[@axescilias]

agreed, i grew up thinking how my mum treated me was normal, but when i went to my friends' houses i thought it was odd the way their parents treated them i recently became an adult and im worried for adjusting to get into adult life when i move out

[@thebigbrain99]

@@Jenna_Talia I'm happy that you brought this up because when it comes to parents people think that because you're a parent you automatically are the best choice in a child's life when it's not even always the case. In fact personally for me I found that some parents didn't really set a good example as they should have and that's why in home environment is very important when a child is growing up because of the home environment is not stable then the kid won't so always find it very disheartening when people look only on the surface and completely not only ostracized but also demean and chastise the child for having anger issues or boundary issues or any other mental thing going on when it's their environment that's the issue. I don't know if this is off topic but it's just something that I reminded me of.

[@craftex1018]

One interesting detail that is in one of the clips you guys used is the cake that reads 'welcome home'. It's written with a double-loop through the O in home, which is a symbol of the word being a 'lie'. There is only one loop in the Welcome. Meaning she is welcome, but she is NOT home.

[@julinas1878]

I felt like the Coraline 3D drew me IN DEEPER ("inside a diorama" was actually a good description) versus other 3D movies of the time that felt like they jumped OUT to DROP things on my head... it was amazingly immersive, and I loved it

[@wuvbandit]

It gives a sense of uncanny, which stems from familiarity. The 3D clay mation gives the vibe of an old toy you used to have. You can also say that familiarity is also present with the other mother kind of stuff. I suggest looking into the concept of fabrication and developmental animation (like Jan Svankmajer's Jabberwocky), it's really cool!