Fan Theories, TikTok Trends, and The Great Recession – Analyzing the Legacy of ‘Coraline’

On paper, everything about Laika Studios’ initial theatrical release of Coraline feels a bit like a fever dream: a stop-motion animated horror film geared towards children based on Neil Gaiman’s even darker namesake novella, released in early February during the tail-end of The Great Recession, whose lead talent included Dakota Fanning and Teri Hatcher. By the time it was released in 2009, films like The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) and The Corpse Bride (2005) had helped pave the way for stop-motion in the mainstream. But for a little-known studio like Laika (Coraline was one of Laika’s first projects), banking on the success of such a niche concept felt quite ambitious. Sure, Laika had Nightmare alumni Henry Selick take the helm on the film, but it seemed like there was a lot stacked against it: the Recession had folks frugal about spending, social media was still way in its infancy to be effectively leveraged for marketing, and it was facing the ever-present question posed to horror geared towards kids: is it too scary? The whole film is about kids getting buttons sewn into their eyes.

But despite all of this, the success of the film speaks for itself. There’s a reason why, this past August, it earned $53 million during its 15th anniversary theatrical re-release. There’s a reason why there was a recent viral TikTok trend of people dancing to the music of the film pretending they had “sewn the buttons” in exchange for something the Other Mother had promised them. I’d even go so far to say there’s a reason why if a sizable amount of the population hears the name “Coraline” now, there’s a decent chance they’ll think of a girl in a yellow rain-jacket with blue hair.

When I decided to look into the legacy of Coraline and why it has endured so strongly, two online creators instantly came to mind, and I was ecstatic when they both agreed to discuss the film with me. Havana Moon, known as BlueGh0sts on TikTok, is a self-proclaimed Coraline superfan whose videos about the film frequently pop up on my feed to my glee, and Horror4Kids is, as the name suggests, a creator who curates and analyzes horror media geared towards kids throughout the years who also loves Coraline.

Our thoughts and questions related to the legacy of the film are below.

Bloody Disgusting: In its 15th anniversary theatrical re-release this past August, Coraline grossed $53 million. What do you think is the appeal? Who do you think this audience was (new fans, old fans, etc.)?

Havana: Coraline is a movie that really changed the stop-motion genre. Watching any behind the scenes videos, interviews, or just examining the movie itself–it is so apparent they wanted to take it a step further. They took such care and pride in attention to detail, the fluidity of the character’s motions, even the texture of all the mini sets and textiles. I think all that care taken for the art shines through so strongly in the movie that it’s almost transfixing. In short, it’s such visual eye candy. Coraline is a visually stunning movie–every time you watch it you can notice something new. A large portion of the fanbase is folks like me who were children when it came out, and it holds a special nostalgic place in their heart. And new ages of children are discovering Coraline every day and loving it just as much due to its timeless style. It is also decidedly morbid and creepy for a children’s movie, so it also draws a large adult horror audience.

Horror4Kids: The aesthetics of Coraline honestly stand out like nothing else. Its dark, whimsical, Tim Burton-y eeriness combined with Neil Gaiman’s vision creates a timeless masterpiece. With never-ending fan theories and a successful return to theaters for its 15th anniversary this year, it’s not hard to see why people of all ages can rewatch this film over and over again.

Bloody Disgusting: A large subset of Coraline’s cult following, in my opinion, seems to span a lot of Millenial and Gen Z folks. The film came out in 2009, right at the tail-end of The Great Recession, and right around the time that social media began to boom. The film follows a family that’s recently experienced economic hardship, a glum atmosphere, and the allure of a supernatural creature offering easy solutions and luxuries. Do you think the context of the world at the time aided in the cultural impact of the film? If not that, what do you think made it stand out (and continue to stand out)?

Havana: I do think the time Coraline came out aided in its large cultural impact, but that time and circumstance were not the only reason. I don’t believe it to be a lucky coincidence. I think Coraline would have been huge regardless. I was 10 when it came out, and I think me and many of my peers were slightly more inclined to be entranced by a movie who’s central concept was a mystical figure offering glitz and glam in contrast to a dull, unexciting and un-luxurious home life. At the tail-end of the recession, more children could probably relate to this set of circumstances and yearning for more fun, more material possessions, etc. But I do firmly believe Coraline is such a love letter to the art of miniatures, color, stop motion, and all ages horror that it would have been loved no matter what. There are few films with horror elements targeted at children that managed to implement those horror themes in such a skillful way that it is enticing and effective to ALL ages–not just its target demographic. And Coraline is one of them.

Horror4Kids: I would imagine that the cultural and economic context of Coraline‘s release in 2009 played a massive part in the way that it resonated with Millennial and Gen Z audiences. Many families were struggling financially at the end of The Great Recession, mirroring the film’s portrayal of Coraline’s family also dealing with their economic hardship. The concept of Coraline trying to escape would have more than likely resonated with younger viewers who were also experiencing uncertainty or even displacement in their own lives. My parents had just divorced and I vividly remember those feelings. On top of that, the rise of social media around this time allowed fans of Coraline from all over the world to form communities that thrived and flourished. Especially on Tumblr!

Bloody Disgusting: Over the years, countless theories have spawned surrounding Coraline, from background characters being agents/spies of the Other Mother, to the idea that Coraline never made it out of the other world at all. What is it about the film that you think lends fans the feeling of agency/authority over the events of the film? What do you think about the theories?

Havana: To me, Coraline feels like a beautiful, dazzling, hazy dream. Something you want to reach out and touch. Its visuals and storytelling are incredibly effective in giving the audience an immersive viewing experience. I think people feel like the movie/story is their own because watching it almost feels like you’re falling into it. You feel the same magic and mysticism Coraline Jones feels. And the story’s commitment to that mysticism, and Laika’s love for fun little visual easter eggs, leaves a lot of room for wondering and guessing and theorizing. We see just a glimpse of this assumedly ancient creature, and it definitely isn’t her first rodeo. That already has you wondering about where it came from, if this is always how it plays its game. Of course the great thing about art is that everyone feels differently about things. But unpopularly, I feel that a lot of the theories don’t make much sense and almost cheapen what I find lovely about the movie, and what I liked about it as a kid. Coraline is all about appreciating what you have, a classic “grass isn’t greener” tale. It’s about being brave and courageous and strong and overcoming. So to theorize that she actually didn’t overcome, she didn’t escape, and something generically dark and evil and tricky happened instead feels far less interesting to me.

Horror4Kids: I think that the open-ended nature of Coraline—both in its story and its visual cues—is what drives so much fan engagement. Even though the film is quite rich in detail, there are many elements that are unexplained, giving fans room to fill in the blanks with their own theories and interpretations. This really entitles viewers to feel a sense of ownership over the narrative being presented. This feeling grows with access to social media. For example, as you noted, the subtle, sometimes eerie behavior of background characters could suggest hidden layers of meaning, encouraging fans to ponder on their true intentions. There are whole Facebook groups dedicated to this! Also, the mystery of whether Coraline truly escapes the Other World plays into this as well, leaving the possibility open that the movie has a darker ending than what’s actually depicted.

Many of the objects in the film—the button eyes, the mirror, or the key, carry heavy symbolic weight, allowing viewers to analyze their significance in great detail. The idea that Coraline may have never escaped adds a level of psychological horror, which is appealing to fans who enjoy dissecting and reimagining the story. I’m not rooting for it by any means, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see that in the future, Coraline becomes one of the first films to have an AI sequel.

Bloody Disgusting: There’s currently a viral TikTok trends of folks dancing to the music from the Mice Circus sequence of the film with a filter that gives them buttons for eyes joking about falling prey to promises from the Other Mother (like wiping away their credit card debt). TikTok is also a huge platform for the aforementioned theories about the film. How much do you think social media aided in the legacy/longevity of the film?

Havana: In the last decade social media has changed in a lot of ways. I think more content and conversations amongst online communities revolves around nostalgia, rehashing and analyzing things we used to love and sharing them for more people to discover. I’ve seen several fandoms for films and books and televisions shows I’ve been a part of for years get huge spikes in attention. Aside from that, since the majority of online spaces revolve around sharing, especially image sharing, there are always folks cosplaying Coraline characters, making art, and editing videos. Pre-Internet, these intense fandoms were always an existing constant for every piece of media, but now there is an avenue for more people to discover that outside of IRL spaces. So the Internet has definitely played a massive role in the longevity of several pieces of media.

Horror4Kids: Social media, especially visual platforms like Tumblr, Instagram, and now TikTok, has played a significant role in extending Coraline‘s legacy. The interactive nature of these social platforms allows fans to actively engage with the film beyond simply watching it. There is now the option to create memes, theories, and viral trends, like the TikTok button-eyed dances, which not only revive interest in the film but also introduce the film to new audiences. This kind of fan-generated content is a marketing team’s DREAM as it keeps the film relevant. TikTok in particular really thrives on short, visually appealing content and Coraline‘s dark imagery, partnered with its catchy, whimsical soundtrack makes it absolutely perfect for this platform. The possibilities are endless!

Fans are able to collectively dissect and build on ideas through videos, discussions, and fan art, essentially granting Coraline infinite life. Social media has quite literally transformed Coraline from a cult classic into a multi- generational, ongoing conversation. On Horror4kids, the most popular X post (tweet) was about Coraline. The most popular Instagram post BY FAR? You’ve guessed it, Coraline!

Bloody Disgusting: Would you consider Coraline gateway horror? Why do you think Coraline appeals to both children and adults (if you agree that it does)?

Havana: Absolutely! I think for a lot of kids, or people sensitive to more adult horror, this was the first time they saw something that was creepy. Something that was fun but morbid, something with creepy crawlies that flirted with the idea of death. I saw Coraline in 2009 when I was 10, and it definitely got me interested in horror, ghosts, the occult, etc. And a lot of my [online] audience echoes similar experiences whenever I bring up Coraline. As I was saying before, I think the tone and themes are crafted so intentionally and beautifully. It goes right up to the line of what is scary but acceptable for a younger audience without confining itself to its target demo and can be fun or scary for anyone. I think Coraline isn’t just about button eyes and spider step-moms and scary visuals. There is a psychologically twisted aspect to it that isn’t TOO overwhelming for children, but can make an adult’s skin crawl if they think about it for too long. It’s a story that is perfectly eerie and could keep you up at night. A tiny door in your decrepit Victorian home with an unsettling sewing needle wielding copy of your mother in it? Even at 25, I just went to a friend’s new place and they had one of those tiny crawl space doors in their room that doesn’t open, and we both got creeped out and Coraline came to mind.

Horror4Kids: Yes, Coraline can without a doubt, definitely be considered gateway horror. In fact, I don’t really know what else to call it. It introduces younger audiences to the genre by balancing eerie, unsettling elements with a sense of adventure and wonder. The film’s creepy atmosphere, along with its themes of deception, danger, and facing fear, primes younger viewers for more mature horror later on (that includes real-life traumas, especially familial). However, it does so without overwhelming them with graphic violence, terror, vulgarity or sexual themes.

Instead, Coraline uses psychological tension and dark fantasy to evoke fear, making it a perfect entry point for kids into the horror genre. For children, Coraline offers an exciting and spooky adventure. For adults, it taps into deeper and more mature themes. These include the fear of complacency, the dangers of being lured by “too good to be true” promises, and the anxieties around neglect and vulnerability. Adults can appreciate the psychological horror of the story, particularly how the Other Mother preys on Coraline’s insecurities and desires. The level of creativity and talent displayed in the stop-motion animation alone appeal to both children and adults alike. Children might focus more on the spooky fantasy aspects, while adults pick up on the nuanced themes.

Bloody Disgusting: Is there anything special about Coraline that you wish people were more aware of/wish was discussed more?

Havana: When I was a kid I read the graphic novel of Coraline, which of course had tons of artistic depictions of the characters. Those visual references look COMPLETELY different than what Laika came up with for the film. And I just appreciate so deeply the time they took to study each character and their personalities in the novel, and create entirely new visual designs based on that. Coraline has a lot of lovely subtle visual storytelling. Like how they made Mr. Bobinsky blue because he was a Chernobyl liquidator (he even wears a badge). I just wish people talked more about all the care that went into the film. Like Althea Crome, who did the tiny micro knitting for the film, including Coraline’s iconic star sweater. You can see videos online of her ACTUALLY knitting tiny clothes with material that is so tiny it’s basically the width of a strand of human hair, and knitting “needles” fit for dolls. That kind of craft and patience is insane to me, and Coraline wouldn’t be what it is without artists like her.

Horror4Kids: One aspect that I wish received more attention is the stop-motion animation. We know Tim Burton’s name, we know Neil Gaiman’s name, but what about the lead stop- motion animator? They should have that recognition too. While many discussions focus on the film’s aesthetic, theories, or its role as gateway horror, the stop-motion animation gets overlooked or underappreciated, in my opinion. Stop-motion animation is a very labor-intensive process, requiring animators to move the characters frame by frame, capturing each slight movement with a camera. For Coraline, this meant creating 24 frames per second of film, resulting in approximately 129,600 individual frames for the entire movie. Each second of animation could take days to complete, depending on the complexity of the scene. It adds a tangible, handmade quality that enhances the feeling of the Other World. The slight imperfections and jerky movements in stop-motion give the film a surreal quality, reinforcing the idea that something is “off.” It’s nothing short of brilliance.

Fifteen years after the film’s initial release, Henry Selick’s 2009 stop motion film Coraline is once again headed back to theaters for the Halloween season. In the wake of Coraline scaring up $53 million at the global box office this past summer, the film returns to the big screen nationwide for another limited-time engagement in newly remastered 3D and 2D formats.

From Fathom Events, Coraline comes back to theaters on October 31 & November 1.

Tickets for the spooky season re-release are up for grabs now.