Coraline (2009) Henry Selick
Jess Moorhouse
Introduction
The opening title sequence of
Coraline has a story of a doll being
disassembled and re assembled in to
a representation of the main
character, this is a introduction in to
the sinister parallel world. When we
meet the other mother, the audience
know it’s not what it seams from the
introduction.
The opening title sequence quite unusual because it
doesn’t clearly introduce much of the narrative,
characters or location. Later in the film it is revelled
that the creation of the doll is the other mothers and
her way of trapping children. In addition it uses
foreshadowing and themes to create a mysterious
introduction. The main themes of the sequence
being twisted innocence.
Titles
The titles are presented as
sewing on a warn fabric
background. The shots fade in an
out in black.
The music changes when the tile
appears showing the importance of
the title. The music is piano with
some illegible singing adding to the
mystery. The singing is very high
pitched. The music creates the
atmosphere of the titles.
There are titles that fade in and out
through the sequence they are always
poisoned as to not cover any of the
important things happening on screen.
Mise en scene
The colours are very green and dull. The lighting is
very dim and flat giving a cold feel to the
sequence.
The angle of this shot, gives the impression
of a operating theatre which gives the
uneasy contrast between a child's doll.
This destruction of the innocent
child like doll is a very dark
representation of Coraline and her
neglecting parents.
Cobwebs signifies neglect.
Contrast between dull background and
yellow thread is a foreshadowing of Coraline’s
yellow jacket being in dark situations.
The first and last shots
The first and last shots in the opening
title sequence are a direct comparison
to each other. These two shots
introduce the transformation between
the two worlds.
This is the first representation of the main
character we can and from the cute smile,
freckles, coat and quirky hair she's a typical
character for a cartoon. The button eyes give the
doll a deliberate creepy quality.
The change in sky
colour indicates that
this is happening in
the evening.
Sound track
Non diegetic
When the first shot fades in the music changes
with the piano fading out and strings and bells
becoming more prominent. There is also the a
man calmly and quietly singing like a lullaby also
adding to the idea of innocence and childhood
there is also the sound of a woman humming
adding to the confusion of the whole narrative.
In contract the metallic sounds in the
background connotes the metal creepy hands.
When the window closes the music fades.
Diegetic
There are some diegetic sounds of the
metal hands at work, the pouring of the
sand, sewing machine at work. This gives a
atmosphere of security no one can hurt
you while their preoccupied with work.
The final sound if of the window closing
signifying the end of the sequence.