Coraline Film Analysis and Timeline

I have chosen to analyse this film opening as it consists of animation which is a popular choice for production companies e.g. Disney's 'The Nightmare before Christmas' and 'Monster's Inc.'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haW0vKj99tk - Reference to the 'Coraline' film opening.

 

From the very beginning, themes are established to the audience as the production companies 'Focus features' and 'Laika' are presented in a style of typography which makes them look as though they have been stitched into the fabric. The title of the film (Approx. 0:19 seconds) also has the same typography although seems more jagged than the other titles, therefore showing connotations of danger or threat within the film, therefore establishing to the audience that although sewing is highlighted as a theme, other themes such as danger can be assured to be within the rest of the feature film.

 

The first form of animation we are greeted with is the doll flying through the open window (Approx. 0:47 seconds), which already considering that the doll itself is distorted, establishes to the audience that the film could possibly contain fantasy and mystery, due to the fact the doll is floating through the open window. The idea of the doll floating through the window suggests a sinister tone, and once grabbed by the metallic hands, establishes to the audience that their thoughts on the film to be of a sinister, fantasy tale are true.

 

The low key lighting establishes to audience members that the film is not for the light hearted and the use of the mise-en-scene in the shot (Approx.. 0:52 seconds) shows a contrast between the innocence of the doll and the metallic hands which placed in onto the board with instruments which normally play with iconography usually associated with genres of 'Thrillers' or 'Horrors', which establishes to the audience that the film is darker, and possibly could been seen as a 'Children's Horror'.

The reason why I chose to call this film opening a 'Children's Horror' is due to the darken tone and atmosphere the film opening portrays e.g. the shot (Approx. 1:09 minutes) shows the innocence doll being de-faced quite literally, which could be found disturbing to some younger viewers. Again later on in the opening (Approx. 1:22)
Minutes) we are shown the dolls body being turned inside out by the fearsome hands made of needles, which establishes a sinister tone and again some views may find this disturbing.


The use of non-diegetic soundtrack uses the lyrics of 'Dreaming' which establishes to audiences that the film itself could be seen as a dream, and from a cinematic point of view, the use of dynamics in volume can engage the audience as they would wonder why the music suddenly got louder, and the same with the non-diegetic soundtrack quieting down. Non-diegetic sound effects are also uses e.g. The sand being poured into the doll shaped sack, from a cinematic point of view, can engage the audience and gives a high level of verisimilitude that audience members can relate to.


Referring back to the visual effects, the doll in question, is shown mostly in close ups and long shots, therefore taking more screen time than the hands of needles or that of the darker instruments. This then shows connotations of the doll to be of high importance and establishes to the audience that the film itself will be on focus on the doll.

With 'Focus Features' being an independent film distributor, and producer, audience members are less than what a mainstream company would have within the box office. None the less the reputation of for filling audience demands carries on and within this film opening, the audience seems to be aimed at those who are seeking mystical/sinister horrors.


Therefore I believe this films classification of a 'PG' is rightly so, because judging by the opening title sequence, although there seems to be no outlining threat, the atmosphere comes across as a sinister fantasy which some younger viewers may find disturbing.

 

Along with analysis I also created the title sequence timeline, also fitted with use of non-diegetic sounds.