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?

https://hollywoodandlit0001.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Coraline_03a+Mother+Establishing+Shot+2.png 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?

https://hollywoodandlit0001.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Coraline_03a+Mother+Establishing+Shot+3.png Mother talking to Coraline in Act 1 (Fig.1.7)https://hollywoodandlit0001.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Coraline_03a+Mother+Establishing+Shot+5.png Mother working in Act 1 (Fig.1.8)https://hollywoodandlit0001.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Coraline_03a+Mother+Establishing+Shot+6.png 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

https://hollywoodandlit0001.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Coraline_04a+Father+Establishing+Shot+1.png Coraline's father working in Act 1 (Fig.1.10)https://hollywoodandlit0001.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Coraline_04a+Father+Establishing+Shot+2.png Coraline approaching her working father in Act 1 (Fig.1.11)https://hollywoodandlit0001.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Coraline_04a+Father+Establishing+Shot+3.png Coraline and her father in Act 1 (Fig.1.12)

Wybie Establishing Shots

https://hollywoodandlit0001.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Coraline_05a+Wybie+Establishing+Shot+1.png Wybie in Act 1 (Fig.1.13)https://hollywoodandlit0001.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Coraline_05a+Wybie+Establishing+Shot+2.png Coraline and Wybie meet in Act 1 (Fig.1.14)https://hollywoodandlit0001.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Coraline_05a+Wybie+Establishing+Shot+3.png Wybie in Act 1 (Fig.1.15)

Family Establishing Shot

https://hollywoodandlit0001.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Coraline_06a+Family+Establishing+Shot+1.png Coraline's family dinner in Act 1 (Fig.1.16)

Miscellaneous Act 1 Shots

https://hollywoodandlit0001.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Coraline_09a_1.0+Living+Room+1.png The living room at night in Act 1 (Fig.1.17)https://hollywoodandlit0001.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Coraline_Canted+Angle+1.png A canted angle shot in Act 1 (Fig.1.18)https://hollywoodandlit0001.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Coraline_MeS+Boy+Portrait+1.png Boy portrait in the living room in Act 1 (Fig.1.19)https://hollywoodandlit0001.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Coraline_MeS+Boy+Portrait+2.png Boy portrait in the "other" living room in Act 1 (Fig.1.20)https://hollywoodandlit0001.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Coraline_Night+1x01.png Other mice at night in Act 1 (Fig.1.21)https://hollywoodandlit0001.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Coraline_Swirl+Motif+1.png Coraline looks out the window in Act 1 (Fig.1.22)https://hollywoodandlit0001.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Coraline_Night+1x02.png Coraline in Act 1 (Fig.1.23)https://hollywoodandlit0001.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Coraline_Night+1x03.png A mouse in Act 1 (Fig.1.24)

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