Coraline

Analyzing Characters and World in Act 1 of the Coraline Movie

Cara

Cara

— 4 min read

What do the following shots tell you about the characters or the world of Coraline?

Establishing Shots

The Pink Palace in the opening sequence of Coraline (Fig.1.1)
  • What is your eye drawn towards? Why?
  • What is the mood or atmosphere of this shot?
  • What do you think is the most important thing in this shot? Why?
  • What is this shot trying to "establish" or tell us about this place?
Establishing shot of Coraline's world in Act 1 (Fig.1.2)
  • What is your eye drawn towards (if anything)? Why?
  • Describe the mood of this shot
  • What does Coraline look like in this shot? Why do you think that is / what does it show / suggest?
  • What does this shot establish? What is it telling us about Coraline? About the world that she's in?

Coraline Shots

Coraline exploring in Act 1 (Fig.1.3)
  • What's interesting or different about this shot?
  • What's the "distance" of the subject (Coraline)?
  • Where are we drawn to focus our attention?
  • What is Coraline doing here?
  • What does this shot reveal about her?
Coraline exploring her new home in Act 1 (Fig.1.4)
  • What is Coraline doing here?
  • What is the angle of this shot?
  • What is she looking at?
  • Where is our eye drawn to look here? How can you tell?
  • How does this shot make you feel?
  • What is the mood of this shot?

Mother Establishing Shots

Coraline speaking with her mother in Act 1 (Fig.1.5)
  • How would you describe Coraline's mother based on how she looks here?
  • Can you say anything about Coraline's relationship with her mother / their dynamic based on what you see here?
Another view of Coraline speaking with her mother in Act 1 (Fig.1.6)
  • What does this shot suggest about their relationship? How can you tell?
  • Who has the "power" in this shot? Are there details that reinforce this?
Mother talking to Coraline in Act 1 (Fig.1.7)
Mother working in Act 1 (Fig.1.8)
Coraline's mother responding to Coraline asking about the small door in Act 1 (Fig.1.9)
  • What is the dynamic between Coraline and her mother in this shot?
  • Who has the power in this shot? How can you tell?
  • What do you notice about the composition? The angle?

Father Establishing Shots

Coraline's father working in Act 1 (Fig.1.10)
Coraline approaching her working father in Act 1 (Fig.1.11)
Coraline and her father in Act 1 (Fig.1.12)

Wybie Establishing Shots

Wybie in Act 1 (Fig.1.13)
Coraline and Wybie meet in Act 1 (Fig.1.14)
Wybie in Act 1 (Fig.1.15)

Family Establishing Shot

Coraline's family dinner in Act 1 (Fig.1.16)

Miscellaneous Act 1 Shots

The living room at night in Act 1 (Fig.1.17)
A canted angle shot in Act 1 (Fig.1.18)
Boy portrait in the living room in Act 1 (Fig.1.19)
Boy portrait in the "other" living room in Act 1 (Fig.1.20)
Other mice at night in Act 1 (Fig.1.21)
Coraline looks out the window in Act 1 (Fig.1.22)
Coraline in Act 1 (Fig.1.23)
A mouse in Act 1 (Fig.1.24)