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Writer's pictureSophie Seifert

Coraline theories to wrap your head around


All images credited to Focus Features

Twenty two years ago, Neil Gaiman wrote a book about a girl who traveled to another world. Little did he know, that story would soon be made into a major motion picture, and become a classic for kids and horror lovers alike. Coraline is a staple in the claymation community, with vivid images and intense storytelling that make it a cinematic masterpiece. One thing that makes it so unique is all the theories and easter eggs hidden within the movie; many speculate the details and layers of the film. In honor of Coraline being rereleased in 3D for its 15th anniversary, below are some Coraline theories for you to wrap your head around.  


Henry Selick, the director of Coraline, said “everything is done on purpose.” With a stop motion film, every single detail has been put there intentionally. Keep this in mind when reading about all the theories. 


The well is also the portal

Since the beginning of the movie, the well has been a prominent aspect. In fact, one of the first scenes of the movie is Coraline searching for the well, dubbing her a “water witch” according to Wybie. Apparently, the well is so deep, that if you got to the bottom and looked up, you would see a sky full of stars. While this might seem like just a poetic statement, it could also infer a much deeper meaning. In the other world, it’s always night time - just like it is at the bottom of the well. 



At the very end of the movie, Coraline drops the key to the other world down the well, the only place she thinks the beldam will never get to. But as the key falls down, we see that the tunnel of the well looks a lot like the portal to the other world. 


The grandma works with the beldam 

Wybie’s grandma, Ms. Lovat, is alluded to throughout the story but isn’t seen until the end. However, we know that her twin sister was abducted by the Beldam when they were children living in the Pink Palace.  We also know that the Beldam abducts children continually. “Grandma doesn’t usually let children stay in the Pink Palace,” Wybie tells Coraline at the beginning of the movie. “I guess she made an exception.” But why did she make the exception?


It’s possible that Grandma Lovat knew the Beldam was going to take another child soon. The Pink Palace is 150 years old, with one child being abducted every 50 years. This means it was time for another one. With no children close by, the Beldam’s next victim would have probably been Wybie. Knowing this, Ms. Lovat likely broke her “no children” rule to sacrifice Coraline and save her grandson. 


Mr Bobinsky was a Russian hero

Mr. Bobinsky, the eccentric and acrobatic man upstairs, is a weird character from the very beginning. His design is rather peculiar too, with stick-thin legs, hefty torso, and blue complexion. While his build may just be a stylistic choice, his skin coloration could be talented to his past. Mr. Bonisky is wearing the Russian Hero Medal for Service at the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster. His role in the event may be the reason his skin is blue - from the radiation. 


The boring blue boy was a victim - and now the spirit of the cat

This theory is a bit hard to wrap your head around, so bear with me. Every Coraline fan knows about the “boring blue boy,” painting, where he’s wearing an old blue coat and crying over a dropped ice cream cone. 


Everyone knows about the three ghost children as well - their eyes have been taken by Beldam, and one of them is Ms. Lovat’s twin sister. All three ghost children wear outfits specific to the time period they lived in, each around 50 years apart. In the very last scene with the portal, when Coraline is escaping the Other World, we see clothes scattered around the tunnel. The articles of clothing can be directly traced to the clothing that the ghost children wear.


In the top left corner, we see a coat that looks familiar - when you look closely, you can see that it’s the same coat that the boring blue boy is wearing. Why are his clothes with the other ghost children’s clothes? Remember, every single detail in the movie is intentional. Maybe he was a victim too!


Why isn’t he with the other ghost children? One popular theory says that his spirit is inside the cat. They have the same eyes, and it would explain why the cat tries so hard to help Coraline - because he knew what she was going through.


Coraline never left the other world

This final theory is the most important and shocking one of all. At the end of the movie, Coraline makes her daring escape out of the other world, rescuing her parents and the ghost children’s eyes. Everything seems normal - but in the last shot of the movie, the cat walks behind a pole - and disappears. This is obviously not something that could happen in real life. 


Throughout the whole movie, when Coraline goes from the other world to the normal world, she simply goes to sleep and wakes up. She never actually goes back through the portal. The Beldam could simply be creating the illusion of a real world, and every time Coraline goes back through the portal, she’s simply tangling herself deeper and deeper into the Beldam’s web. 



Conclusion

No matter what speculations you believe in, it's undeniable that Coraline is a cinematic masterpiece. Next time you decide to watch the claymation classic, keep these theories in mind to add a layer of depth and watch the movie in a way you never have before. Happy watching!

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As a former president of the United States, I think "Coraline" was a...maybe 5/10 movie.

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