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I don’t think anyone thinks they’re bad. But her mom in particular does act visibly annoyed by Coraline. She’s overwhelmed, she’s got things to do, it makes sense. But that can be pretty hurtful to the child.
I think as a child you would unless you are really, really observant. Then, as an older person, not necessarily an adult, you can understand the parents more while also feeling for Coraline.
I read that the original novel nearly didn't get published, as they thought that it would be too scary for young children. Neil Gaiman's publisher read it to their daughter, who lied about it not being scary, because she wanted to find out the ending.
I went to see Coraline in the cinema today and I noticed a detail I think you will appreciate! Coralines real parents care about her NUTRITION. The food they serve her looks gross, true, but it's usually plant-based (chard, bananas ect). And her real mother instructs her to take a multivitamin too. Other Mother cares more about how the food will taste and appear to Coraline than what it will do for her nutritionally. Her real parents care for Coralines overall health and wellbeing even when it means making her do/eat things that will make her mad at them, but the Other Mother only cares about keeping her attention.
This is why Beldam failed at making Coraline get attached to her. She did spy her. But failed to realize that Coraline was in healthy family. Beldam thought Coraline was so miserable that Coraline would choose her as her new mom and let her sew the buttons on her eyes. But in fact, those made up perfect things in Beldam's world were just fun things for Coraline, not her most desirable things. Coraline was just a bored little child, while Beldam's intention was to find a child who got constantly abused or neglected. That's why Beldam failed to get Coraline's approval.
I think overlooked would work. Wybie’s grandma was a twin, and her twin was taken but I don’t think she was abused or neglected. I almost wonder if her mistake was actually going for an only child.
Coraline’s father DID do this, he gave her things to do like listing everything thats blue, explore, which he knows Coraline enjoys ^•^ He provided a task for her to do that she will enjoy doing ::
In the book, her dad gives her the same list of time wasting activities, and her mom gives her some paper and tells her to draw something. Coraline tries to draw the mist outside. The dad’s list leads her to discover the bricked up door between their flat and the empty one next door. She then asks mom what’s behind it, and she gets the key to it. Both tasks end up coming full circle by the end of the book. This is also taking place over a summer break and they’re moving across the country. The parents still have to work during this transition, so they can’t really spend the time with her that they would all prefer during this week before she starts a new school. They’re good parents, they’re just busy trying to feed and house her, so she gets up to some nonsense during the down time, like most children do when bored. I actually like that they don’t treat her boredom as a crisis. It’s just part of life that she’s going to have to figure out how to cope with because everyone gets bored sometimes.
@@nharber9837 I try to draw mist when I'm quite seriously depressed. Yes, boredom is something kids have to learn to accept. But her parents are too busy to realize that she is not only bored. She needs her parents who are too busy to spare the time she needs. Maybe it's just a little bit of time of not sending her away. But they don't have it. They don't talk to her, they give her paper to make her go away. It all works out in the end. But how many times it does not? When does boredom become the feeling of abandonment, become depression, when does depression become chronic? When do parents finally have the time to really look and to realize that their job consumed them so much that they lost their child? To an other mother. To a computer screen, to the wrong friends, to whatever. How many parents blame the screens, the friends, whoever when something happens? It happens too often. But those are the stories nobody wants to read. Too depressing. Too close to reality.
I think that’s sad, because she really just told her kid, “There is no way you can add to this family. The very best you can do is not make things any harder.” People don’t really think about the little messages they’re teaching their kids. You don’t have to be an awful parents to accidentally teach your child something pretty hurtful.
This video made me understand why I was so terrified by this book when I read it as a child. I recognized my mother's abusive behaviour in the Beldam, but I knew that I had no "real" mother to escape to. It took me years to read the book again and to see the movie. I love them both now, so much that I forgot why it scared me so much the first time
Same! When I watched it as a preteen, I thought I was “stuck” with my Other Mother and I felt sad thinking that I didn’t have another option outside of my abusive mom.
And they also didn’t say to us “well, it’s important to feel boredom, embrace it, maybe you’ll go inside your brain and develop some new healthy hobbies”
THANK YOU for defending Mel and Charlie!! I _always_ thought that her parents were _normally_ much better with her, because she's 12, and in the film, she _expects_ them to pay attention to her. If they _always_ neglected her, she would have given up on their affection by now . This movie showcases a pretty healthy family dynamic, that's just currently under some stress. Notice that in the Other World, her parents apparently just, _don't work,_ 😂 and are as unstressed as children! That's _not realistic._ Coraline is just discontent with it because she's having to occupy herself. And I think that's another reason I love this movie. I'm 24, and I think I was one of the very last kids to be raised without smartphones, TikTok, and video games. My weekends WERE filled with me just finding something to do because I was bored. And that kind of boredom is SO IMPORTANT for a child's development. It's sad to see little kids these days have _no idea_ how to occupy themselves, because they're NEVER bored. They always have screens. Your video helped me realize exactly why this is my #1 comfort movie! It's _because_ the focal point of the story is a normal but _securely-attached_ family dynamic, with normal, flawed people. It's got magic and fantasy, yes, but the main focal point of the story is normalcy and childhood boredom. THAT'S why I enjoy putting it on in the background so much, in a way that I really never do with other films! The first half of this movie -- and especially its music -- has the cozy, nostalgic, quiet feel of any one of a thousand "normal, boring" Saturdays in my childhood. There aren't many films about healthy, _whole,_ 2-parent families with securely-attached kids. I had that, so I relate to this film!
Tbh, even if Ur a teenager and Ur used to not getting attention you won't just give up. Sure you might think you have but there is always that innate desire for attention that will come out. Even if you know it's hopeless
@@PercabethYessss - I suppose that is true for some kids. :) Some of my closest friends have come from very troubled and neglected childhoods, though, and they all always told me that they just eventually became entirely independent at a young age, and just took care of themselves because their parents wouldn't. They _did_ give up on seeking parental affection. But I'm glad that some people don't give up!
This is why I limit my daughter’s screen time. I even preemptively blocked channels like Cocomelon, Like Nastya, and others on my personal device because my daughter won’t have her own device until she’s grown or mature enough. I moderate what she watches and we watch it together.
The Other Mother was a parasite. She ate the lives of her previous captives. I think she literally needed Coraline in order to live. She was her food. And yes, by all means do a video on Wybie. I’m always interested in Coraline analysis. I found it particularly sweet when she was singing her Dad’s cheesy song for comfort, btw. I’m glad you mentioned that.
You say you’re interested in Coraline analysis? I really recommend the Theorizer’s video(s) on Coraline, it’s honestly amazing and helps to fill a TON of plot holes ^•^
I think the fact that Coraline has a secure attachment style is apparent because she didn't agree to sewing the buttons in her eyes. If she had a more anxious attachment style she would've relied more heavily on the Beldam's mother's attention and maybe gone through with it.
I remember the phrase that 'the worst thing for a child to always get what they want or never get what they want'. I think Coraline shows this dichotomy pretty well, the real world has Coraline board and unhappy with her situation so she goes to find the validation somewhere else but that somewhere else is not healthy for her. Being driven between two extremes never turned out well for anyone and the happy ending of this film is finding that balance between the two. I would like to apply an Absurdist philosophy to it all (I am a devotee of Camus); our heroine is living a bleak world that doesn't care but lives on in spite of that meaninglessness because she makes things that give her meaning like her relationship with her parents and neighbors and all her other interests. But to keep from going down the Coraline Theorist rabbit hole (which I found there is a lot more than I thought) keeping it simple seems the best; an interesting, if pragmatic, moral to a children's story: real life will suck sometimes, but it will get better so don't be mislead by someone offering sweets. It's very Aesop's Tales when you get down to brass tacks.
I've watched many, many, many theories and went down different rabbit holes about Coraline growing up, now we have an entire psychology analysis, I swear, I know more about her life than about my own
I think the car accident could also be a reason the other mother has sensed Coraline/ been able to target her so successfully, so much in her life is in flux with the move, already. But then her mother is injured - forcing her to face the fact of her parents' mortality on some level (consciously or otherwise). It's another important step in the process of growing up/independence, but no wonder she's struggling with all the upheaval they're going through! Also, its always helpful to me (UK based) to be reminded that they're based in the USA, so that accident will have had steep financial implications for the parents - car damage, insurance premiums, and potentially crippling healthcare costs! - no wonder they are so wrung out and worried about their deadlines. It all feels very real and plausible. Of course, she's frustrated and wanting more attention, but equally, of course they're more concerned with the wider practicalities.
I completely agree with your take on Coraline - like, the character. I think all of that is part of what makes her interesting. She is just a typical, healthy person going through a rough time. And that's part of what makes it so familiar. It's got that really easy accessibility because it could happen to anyone. She's not a chosen one, there's no fantastically whimsical origin, she's just a kid. And I really like your take on the Beldam. Never thought about her in the context of Anxious Attachment before. It's such an interesting lens to look at her actions through. And it fits quite a bit of the deeper stuff in the book - the Beldam talks about her own mother, when making the promise to let Coraline go. She mentions how she put her mother in her grave and when she found her mother crawling out, put her back. Fits that whole vibe of cyclical rejection. And of course, the "I love you" bit. Coraline mentions how she thoroughly believes the other mother loves her, but that her love was like a dragon loving gold. She's a possession to the other mother, like you say. That whole spider-in-the-web aesthetic to her was great for that. So, yeah. Really love this analysis. Good shit, dude.
at 11 mins 45 seconds, you get a really good look at the seed packets she places in the window. In many cultures, including the west, plants have symbolic meanings and semantics (please see "Floriography" for those who are interested). So in the order she has placed them: Pepper: a guardian plant, believed to shield from "negative energy" and offer protection from the unseen Bleeding Heart: Connected to love (unsurprisingly) but also to sorrow and empathy. Pumpkin: a symbol of abundance, prosperity and good fortune, but also dreams. Squash: Connected to seasonal changes, abundance, but also "magic" My point here is that there seems to be a connection between the symbolic meanings and semantics of the plants she "picks" to display in the window and the plot of the movie. I thought that was a cool tiny detail :) Edit: I forgot to include Tulips since they are mentioned at the end of the movie: Tulips: Symbolic of familial love and rebirth, the fact that they all plant Tulips together at the end I think relates to this.
This movie has always been so special to me. I found so much comfort in Coraline's journey, and that she used escapism just like I did. Would love to see the Wybie video! He always seemed so endearingly awkward, but also desperate to make a friend. Yes, he was eccentric, but I always thought he just struggled socially and always gave off the vibe he didn't want to miss the chance of befriending Coraline. This could've just been me projecting, but I always imagined he was likely bullied in school and so he wanted to showcase who he really was before Coraline's opinion got skewed.
I like the idea that the previous 3 kids who's souls were eaten(every 50 years like IT), agreed because their parents and situation were so vastly different to Coriline's. Enough that the Other Mother's world was a saving grace. Wybie's Grandma essentially starving The Beldam(not letting children in the house), made her desperate for Coraline's soul. Not taking into account Coraline actually is at worst, temporarily being ignored by busy parents.
Something I always found interesting is that the other mother made this world supposedly to lure Coraline in perfectly. She made other wybie and the other father. Yet, other wybie and other father sacrificed themselves to help Coraline get out. If they’re apart of her, it makes me wonder if there was a piece of the beldame that did love Coraline and unintentionally changed that love or care into these other beings…leaving just the hungry and possessive parts of her self within.
Highly doubt it. I always interpreted it as her creations growing apart from her. Kind of like children are not copies of their parents, but go on to develop their own world-views.
I really like your interpretation! However, in a more canon-based look that would be because the Beldam used part of the souls os the previous victims to give life into the Others, victims that wanted Coraline to have a different fate then them, and thats why the Beldam was so desperate when Coraline was escaping her, because she had no more “soul parts” to keep herself alive. Essentialy she invested everything she had left, you can know more about it reading the novel😊
The beldam created Wybie and the Other Father to be easily controlled imitations of their real-life counter parts; pretty much, because both of these characters actually/genuinely care about Coraline, that’s the one thing the Other Mother can’t control (that “thing” being legitimate care for another being)
I can relate really heavily to her finding parents who seem interested in her and latching onto that. My parents are so disinterested in me (& my mother abusive, father was absent to my teens and barely interested after that) that I learned nobody was going to be there for me at all. I’ve said for years that I might as well be an orphan, they add so little to my life. It left me with a lot of sadness and I imagine I’d have a similar reaction if I suddenly had an “other mother” and “other father” who showed love and care towards me.
Oh disorganized attachment t, how well I know you… I’m actually quite interested in seeing this since I’ve learned about attachment types and complex trauma, so this is perfect timing! Love the very thoughtful and compassionate analysis, thanks for posting.
I didn’t realize that so many people thought Coraline’s parents were bad parents. Even when I was a kid I was just like, “Yeah man. They’re busy. The family needs money to live. And moving to a new place takes some adjustment. It’s fine.”
same here ❤😂 I was never scared of the story either which is weird considering how many people were really scared. I always thought we watched different movies 😅
I beleive when you don't grow up to have such a secure or a anxious attatchment you dont see it as easily as a kid. You see them neglecting and asume that's how they always are because as a kid you might see things in black and white, spetially when you get mixed signals. When I grew up I found it less scary and understood the family dinamic wasn't really bad, just not perfect and that's normal and even good. But actually I still find it scary, mainly because I experienced and grew up in domestic violence so I kinda had an other mother figure (my dad), but I couldn't scape him, he was part of my world. In a horror movie things that might be real or relational mechanisms that are part of your world, will frighten you more, this is why we are more scared when you see "based on real events", or why psychological horror is in a way more scary than jump scares. You basically see them reflected on your realty and you are scared because you finally see how awfull and harmfull they are.
I watched in in 3D just lat week too! It wasn’t perfect but when it worked it worked really well. The whole scene when she sees the other garden was positively gorgeous.
Like this video perfectly explains why I don't don't like the theory that Coraline never escaped because that kind of breaks the message of the movie I do like those theories but like I also don't I'm very conflicting when it comes to that
17:31 The town they moved to, Ashland, OR, is in the same valley I live in. I used to work in Ashland, and my husband went to uni there. Somewhat renowned for the Shakespeare Festival there, hence the tiny Billy Shakes brusking in the street.
I love the last part possession. Because i had never looked at it from that angle. From the other mother's pov. The reason she captured, groomed, manipulated, and controled everyone around her was because of her fears and anxieties. Perhaps she was a victim that turned into a predetor because of the environment she grew up in. As a wise man said before: HURT PEOPLE HURT PEOPLE. Thank you so much for the presice psychological analysis of Caroline. I needed it. And i loved it.
Coraline is such a classic! I hope theres something big to celebrate it's 20 year anniversary, which is coming up in 2029. I love Coraline as a main character. She's so fun and determined. I definitely tried to be like her when i was little I remember watching this movie, and the theme went over my head. "Nor everyone who gives you everything you want, doesn't always want what's best for you". The grooming metaphor went over my head as a kid and a teen.
YES! PLEASE! More videos on attachment theory! I have an exam comming up and I just can't for the life of me differentiate the insecure types! They all intermingal and situational to the point where there are barely any difference at all!
A very simplified summary is that anxious attachment is somebody saying "I need you in order to survive, don't put me out of your mind!" Avoidant is saying "I can survive just fine on my own, thanks. I don't need anyone." And disorganised is saying "I can't figure out what I need. Sometimes it's all of you, sometimes it's none of you."
you have such a calming voice, big contrast to the existential horror of this beautiful film. Yes, please do more Coraline videos, I was a weird teenager who binged watched the Coraline theories, yours are based in reality and have psychological evidence. oh yeah, I think when the Other Mother is screaming, "I'll die without you!" she's being real, looks like she feeds on children and their 'time energy' so she's being real. My own personal theory is that the Pink Palace neighbours are the trapped older souls of the ghost children. and just like the Psycho house, I think there could be a Freudian analysis about the ID, Ego, Superego
Thank you! I learned so much about myself, those around me, ex-partners and my own parents throughout this video. Please do a third, I am definitely here for it!
I agree with your analysis of the overarching elements of coraline. What I walk away with for coraline’s parents is that they’re good parents, but not perfect ones, which no one can really be. I found moments, though, where I could envision her parents handling things differently and reaching a better outcome.
Beautifully said ❤ it had me sobbing on the floor thinking about why this movie always gave me such an aching pit in my stomach of loneliness. I have an anxious attachment style that I’ve been working on but I’ve also been groomed and unfortunately assaulted too many times and in all of those cases, I was offered love or friendship or connection or safety and it was taken away. So what I feel watching this movie is a bit of a reflection of what I felt during my lowest points. The need for a savior to take me away from having to save myself from the nightmare if that makes sense. It all connects and is a very powerful film no matter how it’s interpreted. I’d be down to see more videos on it from you!
A thing you mentioned about the mice spelling her name, a lot of people in the real world call her Caroline. As a base of control, a kid wants to control their name and how they’re known to the world. Especially with a unique name
Just have to say how much I loved this video, I love the way your break things down and explain them it soothes my brain, thank you for the great analysis video :)
Next video idea: Character analysis of the movie “The Craft” I feel like the main villain played by Fairuza Balk has so much depth, complexity, and nuance. I think you would give a great analysis of her mental state and the reasoning for her actions. Also it’s just an amazing movie!
I live for these iconic films that I can watch and then watch this. It's harder with series I haven't watched or don't want spoilers for. I have (not on this one) actually gone and watched the film you talked about just to see your point of view, which is fascinating. Thanks for these!!!
although as a child i was never allowed to watch the film, (did try to with my sister but only got to the pumpkin scene with the other dads death) I always felt a strong connection to it. Though my Mum didnt/doesn't work, she always did volenteer work for my school, the community or the church, which would make her quite busy a lot of the time, and though my dad does funerals and can work from home, he also goes out to meetings a lot. also having an older sister (who specifically at the time i was coralines age) "hated me", i would feel bored and isolated most of the time. I took solace in imagining worlds of joy, playing with my dolls and making happy little rooms for them. I would never say my parents are neglectful (they are most certainly not), they always supported every choice's , would inform me of potential consequences and didn't alow me to do certain things of course. But to an 11 year old kid (who was just diagnosed with autism and anxiety with potential of ADHD) during the pandemic, i felt alone and would reject emotional encouragement for isolation into my fake families i created for my dolls. I connect to deep childhood films about kids views on menacing and life changing situations as i can relate to them a lot.
I am 3 minutes and 40 seconds into this video and he just described my relationship with my parents inadvertatntly when he described 'anxious attachment' and it was..... Very eye opening....
I don't know why but this video actually made me cry sm, this movie has been such a comfort movie and I really relate to Coraline at the beginning of the movie I swear 😭
Anytime I told my parents I was bored, they'd tell me to clean something around the house. I quickly learned not to tell them when I was bored. Also, when the camera pans over the Coraline garden, I faintly see Sid the sloth.
I would love to see your videobidea about Wybie. The fact that you've successfully connected and explained attachment theory within Coraline is awesome (how has no one else done this yet?)
For those of us who have a more challenging background: Jill Salberg published articles about what she calls Empty Attachment. It's when trauma goes back several generations and was often silenced completely. As a kid, you grow up with the silence. I know it's taken me literally forever to figure out how this worked out for me. I've related up to a point to Coraline, because I could see how her family actually is very natural unlike my own. I totally love how they made it, the mud and fog, the weird bits, the circus❤, but I'm actually rewatching now to teach myself to relate more to the people than i used to. It makes me think about lots of things and it feels safe which is awesome... Okay thanks for reading the novel, back to the video!
I was just thinking to myself that Coraline reminds me of myself as a child and the beldam reminds me of myself as an adult (obviously a little more tame) but it was a trip watching you explain the parallels
I really liked the way the film explored the way that Coraline eventually discovered how much her parents actually did love her even if they weren't giving her what she wanted all the time. I think that's a realisation that a lot of children come to at some point, and it's not always the easiest pill to swallow when it's easier to hate sometimes.
I cannot believe I haven't checked on this channel in a hot min and I've missed out on multiple vids on one of my absolute fav movies! what a perfect halloween treat, I'm starting here and will enjoy the rest lol!
I know you from the Good Will Hunting series, as you've said it's the reason you started this channel and your most known series of videos, it helped me to understand myself a lot better, and how to try and hear/help people I care about better as well, you always try to be objective with what you teach us, and I really appreciate that because I prioritize being objective when interacting with people and their experiences, being completely honest UA-cam didn't remind me of your channel so I haven't kept in touch with your content (which means I have a lot of your videos waiting for me, yay! It helps me to learn and not get bored while I work!) This is the first video I've watched after a really long time and I must say I usually hate sponsors in the middle of videos, but man, I'm really happy to see that you're getting sponsors for your content knowing you wanted to live doing youtube, I couldn't help but smile when I realized that you were transitioning into a sponsor I have now turned on the bell so I won't miss your vids, I hope that sub count gets higher, you deserve it =]
Ahh that's really kind of you to say! UA-cam has been a long old journey that's genuinely changed my life. I just hope it can keep on going because it seems like I still haven't run out of things I want to discuss
16:25 😮 this just made me shiver.... uhmmm why do i feel this is aimed to compare growing up with social media and growing up without social media, this is insane but awesome❤
THANK YOU!!! I’ve been saying this about Coralines parents for years! They weren’t necessarily bad parents overall even if they weren’t doing the best in the timeframe of this movie. Even at the end of the movie her PJs are all stitched up. As a 15 year long coraline lover this whole vid was a great take on the movie
I knew Coraline's mom truly loved her when she looked genuinely sad after Coraline said "That's what you always say", refusing her mom's promise to make it up if things go well.
Hey buddy I love your videos because they explain things to me in ways my own brain can’t. Seeing that, how do I stop hating myself when I know I deserve it?
There’s a lot of Easter eggs in this movie about the whole Coraline universe, the foreshadowing and buildup is incredible. If you haven’t read the book yet, I highly recommend it
I like your video. I think it’s a very adult perspective to say it’s cute that Caroline’s ideal life is what she already has just no work for the parents. I wonder if any kid would imagine the same thing until they are told that they could dream whatever they want. I don’t have anything to back this up but I think there is a limit to a child’s imagination is often their personal experiences. Alternatively who said this is Caroline’s ideal life? If it wasn’t Caroline herself then how do you know it wasn’t just the other mother’s manipulation of the tricks she used on other kids? The other mother giving children what they already have but better is blending fantasy and reality. After all, isn’t a lie easier to accept when is presented as natural and familiar? What do you think?
Although the parents aren’t terrible I think we can all at least agree that they’re a little neglectful. The crazy dreams and the fact that she almost “fell down a well” and the reply being “uh huh” from the parent is wild. I’m not saying her parents are terrible, but they could’ve been less neglectful. Maybe found better ways to communicate.
Oh definitely. If their behaviour was like that all the time, or even more frequent than just the couple of day stress we see here, it could be very damaging. Luckily Coraline was previously formed a very secure attachment, this period is brief, and they seek to repair atterwards
@@mylittlethoughttree This is true, I think your video is opening me up to realizing what healthy love looks like. Parents who really love their children don't just give them whatever they want, in fact there may be many instances where they cannot do that. But love is never condemning those you love for not being happy with you. Coraline's parents knew that they couldn't always satisfy Coraline, but didn't condemn her completely for it. Love is allowing those you love to feel disappointment towards you. That is a healthy sentiment that I am not used to based on my personal background.
I watched another video that has a convincing case where even at the end, she never actually made it home. That the attention her parents gave was the false security that the beings wanted her to have to make her feel safe and back at home. I was skeptical but there are a lot of hints that seem like she just went into another version, dimension or world of what she tried to escape
I agree with the observation of the other mother as the projection of Coroline. I had a friend I had to cut out who is diagnosed with NPD and APD; Coroline as a child along with the other mother being a strange reflection of what happens when those behaviors don’t get healed remind me a lot of my old friend. The other mother is like if Coroline instead only formed the false beliefs as her narrative of herself. My old friend reacted and tried controlling me just like the other mother, and she even admitted to the fact that we are all but things to be used by her when she wants and exactly how she expects us to, like a microwave or toaster; yet when she felt any microscopic change that I could be pulling away and not falling for the fake fantasy world she was creating, she’d become volatile and say she didn’t know what she would be capable of if I left… Just a lot of similarities I notified and curious if those two personality disorders/tendencies could be at play with at least the other mother towards Coroline
I love Coraline and just saw it in 3D, and read the book as a kid. BUt I didnt realize how much I relate to her until watching this video. I have similar world like Coraline and being an only child too.
I love the ghost children. They are haunting and creepy, but they've also fallen prey to the baldam, which I find it fitting then. We get to see what happens IF Coraline did say yes. This closet is the place where the Baldam litterally hides her skeletons and after she sheds her "loving" apperance she transforms into her ugly side, her true side and then everybting afterwards, the curtains fall and Coraline no linger sees the other world as magical.
The movie and book are quite different, and the tone the parents take is very different in the book. They are far more absent-minded and dreamlike from Coraline's perspective in the book. In both stories, the crux of the narrative is Coraline's growth from dependency upon entertainment to self-sufficiency and appreciation for her parents as they are. What she starts out wanting is an understandable fantasy of parents who always give her attention when she wants it, who cook meals suited perfectly and solely to her appetites, and who give her whatever she desires-exotic clothes, living toys, a paradise of entertainment and diversion just for her. What she learns, however, is that a person who gives and gives material things like that is taking something from you spiritually -even if you don't know it at first. No one gives without getting something in return, even if it's just personal gratification. And the Other Mother consumes Coraline's being and essence, and alienates her from those who love her enough to give her boundaries and keep her grounded in reality. Coraline's real parents work from home, but still take time to suggest activities for her to amuse herself- ecplore the house with objectives to fulfill, draw an abstract concept of mist to stretch her mind, write a story, visit neighbors. While Coraline feels neglected by their absence, these are feelings that are managed by personal growth, not by her parents abandoning their work to cater to her. She develops inner resilience by exploring and building Independence from her parents. The Other Mother offers the opposite - distractions that promote no growth, that take away Coraline's need to imagine and her drive to engage, and ultimately consume her. It's almost a metaphor for parenting that just spoils children with material goods and platitudes while robbing them of inner resources to cope with difficulty. The Other world is almost reminiscent of Fantasy Island in Pinocchio, where children are lured by promises of no work or responsibilities but pay a dire price for choosing the easy, pleasurable path. Coraline's attachment is so strong to her true parents that she is able to miss the flaws that she hates, because the perfect section of the Other Mother is recognizably unrealistic and Coraline comes to realize this. She develops almost a measure of empathy and understanding of her parents as humans outside their roles as her caretakers- a huge step in growth for a child, and a testament to the strength of the bond the family shares, even if Coraline doesn't initially recognize that. Just my opinion
if i told my mom i was bored when i was little shed chase me around witith a towel whipping me and taunting me "still bored? Still bored?!" *scores a hit* "what about now?". Her husband found this hilarious unless i cried. Then the violence started. Id have fallen prey to the other mother very easily lol
I definitely have the avoident attachment. My mom would want us arpund and yet not at the same time while being loving and yet scary. Its felt like such a normal thing, never knowing which vs I would get until I got older. I could never pin point why id get so anxious being around her but when I was I had a good time. I think its why I dont like changed too much by others. It makes one very confused cause itsnlike I have my mom but then the other mother mixed in as well like a weird combination of both. It got worse when I became an adult. My mom couldn't learn to let go until one day we fought(physically and yelling) and I cut her off. We made up and shes done a lot better, which in turn has allowed me to go to her place to text her when I want to and slowly has increased the I have. Which I understand why she is the way she is, her own childhood wasnt good so she constantly battles agaisnt those parts of her that wants to suffocate me and my siblings but also wanting our independence. Generational truama is a whole other beast to deal with😅
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So glad I'm not the only one who doesn't see Coraline's parents as 'bad parents.' They're literally working to keep their family and home afloat.
IKR. It makes sense that Coraline thinks that they're bad though, because of her age.
I don’t think anyone thinks they’re bad.
But her mom in particular does act visibly annoyed by Coraline.
She’s overwhelmed, she’s got things to do, it makes sense.
But that can be pretty hurtful to the child.
We don't know how they were before. And by Coraline's lines, she's usually neglected
I think as a child you would unless you are really, really observant. Then, as an older person, not necessarily an adult, you can understand the parents more while also feeling for Coraline.
When I watched it young I thought they were bad now as an adult I understand what was happening
I read that the original novel nearly didn't get published, as they thought that it would be too scary for young children. Neil Gaiman's publisher read it to their daughter, who lied about it not being scary, because she wanted to find out the ending.
I see you everywhere
They were right (I watched the film in theaters when it came out at 6 years old and then refused to watch it again until I was 18)
@@HexagonSun990i have an inside joke with myself where i exclaim “TRINA Q SIGHTING!”. we must have really similar interests aha!
I went to see Coraline in the cinema today and I noticed a detail I think you will appreciate! Coralines real parents care about her NUTRITION. The food they serve her looks gross, true, but it's usually plant-based (chard, bananas ect). And her real mother instructs her to take a multivitamin too. Other Mother cares more about how the food will taste and appear to Coraline than what it will do for her nutritionally. Her real parents care for Coralines overall health and wellbeing even when it means making her do/eat things that will make her mad at them, but the Other Mother only cares about keeping her attention.
That is good, thanks for adding it!
Good point!
This is why Beldam failed at making Coraline get attached to her. She did spy her. But failed to realize that Coraline was in healthy family. Beldam thought Coraline was so miserable that Coraline would choose her as her new mom and let her sew the buttons on her eyes. But in fact, those made up perfect things in Beldam's world were just fun things for Coraline, not her most desirable things. Coraline was just a bored little child, while Beldam's intention was to find a child who got constantly abused or neglected. That's why Beldam failed to get Coraline's approval.
I think overlooked would work. Wybie’s grandma was a twin, and her twin was taken but I don’t think she was abused or neglected.
I almost wonder if her mistake was actually going for an only child.
"Dad cooks, I clean, and you stay out of the way" had me thinking "No wonder she's bored for the love of blob give this kid a real task!"
Coralie is an explorer
Coraline’s father DID do this, he gave her things to do like listing everything thats blue, explore, which he knows Coraline enjoys ^•^
He provided a task for her to do that she will enjoy doing ::
In the book, her dad gives her the same list of time wasting activities, and her mom gives her some paper and tells her to draw something. Coraline tries to draw the mist outside. The dad’s list leads her to discover the bricked up door between their flat and the empty one next door. She then asks mom what’s behind it, and she gets the key to it. Both tasks end up coming full circle by the end of the book.
This is also taking place over a summer break and they’re moving across the country. The parents still have to work during this transition, so they can’t really spend the time with her that they would all prefer during this week before she starts a new school.
They’re good parents, they’re just busy trying to feed and house her, so she gets up to some nonsense during the down time, like most children do when bored. I actually like that they don’t treat her boredom as a crisis. It’s just part of life that she’s going to have to figure out how to cope with because everyone gets bored sometimes.
@@nharber9837 I try to draw mist when I'm quite seriously depressed.
Yes, boredom is something kids have to learn to accept. But her parents are too busy to realize that she is not only bored. She needs her parents who are too busy to spare the time she needs. Maybe it's just a little bit of time of not sending her away. But they don't have it. They don't talk to her, they give her paper to make her go away.
It all works out in the end. But how many times it does not? When does boredom become the feeling of abandonment, become depression, when does depression become chronic? When do parents finally have the time to really look and to realize that their job consumed them so much that they lost their child? To an other mother. To a computer screen, to the wrong friends, to whatever. How many parents blame the screens, the friends, whoever when something happens?
It happens too often. But those are the stories nobody wants to read. Too depressing. Too close to reality.
I think that’s sad, because she really just told her kid,
“There is no way you can add to this family. The very best you can do is not make things any harder.”
People don’t really think about the little messages they’re teaching their kids.
You don’t have to be an awful parents to accidentally teach your child something pretty hurtful.
This video made me understand why I was so terrified by this book when I read it as a child. I recognized my mother's abusive behaviour in the Beldam, but I knew that I had no "real" mother to escape to. It took me years to read the book again and to see the movie. I love them both now, so much that I forgot why it scared me so much the first time
Same! When I watched it as a preteen, I thought I was “stuck” with my Other Mother and I felt sad thinking that I didn’t have another option outside of my abusive mom.
For me I recognized that I had both like a weird Frankenstein vs of the other mother and my real mom.
We didn't dare tell our parents we were bored. They would give us a list of chores to be done.
That's one area where I was lucky with my dad 😂 my mum, not so much, but definitely my dad
That was always such a weird response like, why would you give me a list of the most boring things I could possibly do when I just told you I’m bored
@@Futurebound_jpg Exactly, lol
And they also didn’t say to us “well, it’s important to feel boredom, embrace it, maybe you’ll go inside your brain and develop some new healthy hobbies”
Bored will force you to take a deeper dive
THANK YOU for defending Mel and Charlie!! I _always_ thought that her parents were _normally_ much better with her, because she's 12, and in the film, she _expects_ them to pay attention to her. If they _always_ neglected her, she would have given up on their affection by now . This movie showcases a pretty healthy family dynamic, that's just currently under some stress. Notice that in the Other World, her parents apparently just, _don't work,_ 😂 and are as unstressed as children! That's _not realistic._ Coraline is just discontent with it because she's having to occupy herself. And I think that's another reason I love this movie. I'm 24, and I think I was one of the very last kids to be raised without smartphones, TikTok, and video games. My weekends WERE filled with me just finding something to do because I was bored. And that kind of boredom is SO IMPORTANT for a child's development. It's sad to see little kids these days have _no idea_ how to occupy themselves, because they're NEVER bored. They always have screens.
Your video helped me realize exactly why this is my #1 comfort movie! It's _because_ the focal point of the story is a normal but _securely-attached_ family dynamic, with normal, flawed people. It's got magic and fantasy, yes, but the main focal point of the story is normalcy and childhood boredom. THAT'S why I enjoy putting it on in the background so much, in a way that I really never do with other films! The first half of this movie -- and especially its music -- has the cozy, nostalgic, quiet feel of any one of a thousand "normal, boring" Saturdays in my childhood.
There aren't many films about healthy, _whole,_ 2-parent families with securely-attached kids. I had that, so I relate to this film!
Tbh, even if Ur a teenager and Ur used to not getting attention you won't just give up. Sure you might think you have but there is always that innate desire for attention that will come out. Even if you know it's hopeless
@@PercabethYessss - I suppose that is true for some kids. :)
Some of my closest friends have come from very troubled and neglected childhoods, though, and they all always told me that they just eventually became entirely independent at a young age, and just took care of themselves because their parents wouldn't. They _did_ give up on seeking parental affection.
But I'm glad that some people don't give up!
theres no way this is how i find out that the characters ive always associated with my parents have the same names as my parents
@@kayden8093 Woooooaaah that's so cool!! 😆
This is why I limit my daughter’s screen time. I even preemptively blocked channels like Cocomelon, Like Nastya, and others on my personal device because my daughter won’t have her own device until she’s grown or mature enough.
I moderate what she watches and we watch it together.
The Other Mother was a parasite. She ate the lives of her previous captives. I think she literally needed Coraline in order to live. She was her food.
And yes, by all means do a video on Wybie. I’m always interested in Coraline analysis. I found it particularly sweet when she was singing her Dad’s cheesy song for comfort, btw. I’m glad you mentioned that.
You say you’re interested in Coraline analysis? I really recommend the Theorizer’s video(s) on Coraline, it’s honestly amazing and helps to fill a TON of plot holes ^•^
I think the fact that Coraline has a secure attachment style is apparent because she didn't agree to sewing the buttons in her eyes. If she had a more anxious attachment style she would've relied more heavily on the Beldam's mother's attention and maybe gone through with it.
I remember the phrase that 'the worst thing for a child to always get what they want or never get what they want'. I think Coraline shows this dichotomy pretty well, the real world has Coraline board and unhappy with her situation so she goes to find the validation somewhere else but that somewhere else is not healthy for her. Being driven between two extremes never turned out well for anyone and the happy ending of this film is finding that balance between the two.
I would like to apply an Absurdist philosophy to it all (I am a devotee of Camus); our heroine is living a bleak world that doesn't care but lives on in spite of that meaninglessness because she makes things that give her meaning like her relationship with her parents and neighbors and all her other interests. But to keep from going down the Coraline Theorist rabbit hole (which I found there is a lot more than I thought) keeping it simple seems the best; an interesting, if pragmatic, moral to a children's story: real life will suck sometimes, but it will get better so don't be mislead by someone offering sweets. It's very Aesop's Tales when you get down to brass tacks.
The middle pillar. 😅
I've watched many, many, many theories and went down different rabbit holes about Coraline growing up, now we have an entire psychology analysis, I swear, I know more about her life than about my own
I think the car accident could also be a reason the other mother has sensed Coraline/ been able to target her so successfully, so much in her life is in flux with the move, already. But then her mother is injured - forcing her to face the fact of her parents' mortality on some level (consciously or otherwise). It's another important step in the process of growing up/independence, but no wonder she's struggling with all the upheaval they're going through!
Also, its always helpful to me (UK based) to be reminded that they're based in the USA, so that accident will have had steep financial implications for the parents - car damage, insurance premiums, and potentially crippling healthcare costs! - no wonder they are so wrung out and worried about their deadlines.
It all feels very real and plausible. Of course, she's frustrated and wanting more attention, but equally, of course they're more concerned with the wider practicalities.
I completely agree with your take on Coraline - like, the character. I think all of that is part of what makes her interesting. She is just a typical, healthy person going through a rough time. And that's part of what makes it so familiar. It's got that really easy accessibility because it could happen to anyone. She's not a chosen one, there's no fantastically whimsical origin, she's just a kid.
And I really like your take on the Beldam. Never thought about her in the context of Anxious Attachment before. It's such an interesting lens to look at her actions through. And it fits quite a bit of the deeper stuff in the book - the Beldam talks about her own mother, when making the promise to let Coraline go. She mentions how she put her mother in her grave and when she found her mother crawling out, put her back. Fits that whole vibe of cyclical rejection.
And of course, the "I love you" bit. Coraline mentions how she thoroughly believes the other mother loves her, but that her love was like a dragon loving gold. She's a possession to the other mother, like you say. That whole spider-in-the-web aesthetic to her was great for that.
So, yeah. Really love this analysis. Good shit, dude.
Interesting angle. I love stories like Coraline because they are multifaceted and you can always look just a bit deeper.
This film is a masterpiece and the book is also. I wish we had more films like this again. Learning to conquer fear is important for kids.
at 11 mins 45 seconds, you get a really good look at the seed packets she places in the window. In many cultures, including the west, plants have symbolic meanings and semantics (please see "Floriography" for those who are interested). So in the order she has placed them:
Pepper: a guardian plant, believed to shield from "negative energy" and offer protection from the unseen
Bleeding Heart: Connected to love (unsurprisingly) but also to sorrow and empathy.
Pumpkin: a symbol of abundance, prosperity and good fortune, but also dreams.
Squash: Connected to seasonal changes, abundance, but also "magic"
My point here is that there seems to be a connection between the symbolic meanings and semantics of the plants she "picks" to display in the window and the plot of the movie. I thought that was a cool tiny detail :)
Edit: I forgot to include Tulips since they are mentioned at the end of the movie:
Tulips: Symbolic of familial love and rebirth, the fact that they all plant Tulips together at the end I think relates to this.
Oh this is so cool, i had no idea about this... a whole new perspective ❤️
This movie has always been so special to me. I found so much comfort in Coraline's journey, and that she used escapism just like I did. Would love to see the Wybie video! He always seemed so endearingly awkward, but also desperate to make a friend. Yes, he was eccentric, but I always thought he just struggled socially and always gave off the vibe he didn't want to miss the chance of befriending Coraline. This could've just been me projecting, but I always imagined he was likely bullied in school and so he wanted to showcase who he really was before Coraline's opinion got skewed.
I like the idea that the previous 3 kids who's souls were eaten(every 50 years like IT), agreed because their parents and situation were so vastly different to Coriline's. Enough that the Other Mother's world was a saving grace.
Wybie's Grandma essentially starving The Beldam(not letting children in the house), made her desperate for Coraline's soul.
Not taking into account Coraline actually is at worst, temporarily being ignored by busy parents.
Ooh, that’s very interesting. The beldam was too hungry to let Coraline go, or wait for a more vulnerable child!!
Something I always found interesting is that the other mother made this world supposedly to lure Coraline in perfectly. She made other wybie and the other father. Yet, other wybie and other father sacrificed themselves to help Coraline get out. If they’re apart of her, it makes me wonder if there was a piece of the beldame that did love Coraline and unintentionally changed that love or care into these other beings…leaving just the hungry and possessive parts of her self within.
Highly doubt it.
I always interpreted it as her creations growing apart from her.
Kind of like children are not copies of their parents, but go on to develop their own world-views.
I really like your interpretation! However, in a more canon-based look that would be because the Beldam used part of the souls os the previous victims to give life into the Others, victims that wanted Coraline to have a different fate then them, and thats why the Beldam was so desperate when Coraline was escaping her, because she had no more “soul parts” to keep herself alive. Essentialy she invested everything she had left, you can know more about it reading the novel😊
The beldam created Wybie and the Other Father to be easily controlled imitations of their real-life counter parts; pretty much, because both of these characters actually/genuinely care about Coraline, that’s the one thing the Other Mother can’t control (that “thing” being legitimate care for another being)
I can relate really heavily to her finding parents who seem interested in her and latching onto that. My parents are so disinterested in me (& my mother abusive, father was absent to my teens and barely interested after that) that I learned nobody was going to be there for me at all. I’ve said for years that I might as well be an orphan, they add so little to my life. It left me with a lot of sadness and I imagine I’d have a similar reaction if I suddenly had an “other mother” and “other father” who showed love and care towards me.
Oh disorganized attachment t, how well I know you… I’m actually quite interested in seeing this since I’ve learned about attachment types and complex trauma, so this is perfect timing! Love the very thoughtful and compassionate analysis, thanks for posting.
I didn’t realize that so many people thought Coraline’s parents were bad parents.
Even when I was a kid I was just like, “Yeah man. They’re busy. The family needs money to live. And moving to a new place takes some adjustment. It’s fine.”
same here ❤😂 I was never scared of the story either which is weird considering how many people were really scared. I always thought we watched different movies 😅
I beleive when you don't grow up to have such a secure or a anxious attatchment you dont see it as easily as a kid. You see them neglecting and asume that's how they always are because as a kid you might see things in black and white, spetially when you get mixed signals. When I grew up I found it less scary and understood the family dinamic wasn't really bad, just not perfect and that's normal and even good. But actually I still find it scary, mainly because I experienced and grew up in domestic violence so I kinda had an other mother figure (my dad), but I couldn't scape him, he was part of my world. In a horror movie things that might be real or relational mechanisms that are part of your world, will frighten you more, this is why we are more scared when you see "based on real events", or why psychological horror is in a way more scary than jump scares. You basically see them reflected on your realty and you are scared because you finally see how awfull and harmfull they are.
Im a Dad now, my son's bout to start 2nd grade. I hope these videos help me be a better Dad.
Wishing you luck lol
Wish you the best luck 🔥
15 year movie anniversary too. Great timing
I watched in in 3D just lat week too! It wasn’t perfect but when it worked it worked really well. The whole scene when she sees the other garden was positively gorgeous.
Like this video perfectly explains why I don't don't like the theory that Coraline never escaped because that kind of breaks the message of the movie I do like those theories but like I also don't I'm very conflicting when it comes to that
17:31 The town they moved to, Ashland, OR, is in the same valley I live in. I used to work in Ashland, and my husband went to uni there. Somewhat renowned for the Shakespeare Festival there, hence the tiny Billy Shakes brusking in the street.
This video gave so many unique perspectives. Made me check if my local library had any copies available so I can finally read it for myself
I love the last part possession. Because i had never looked at it from that angle. From the other mother's pov. The reason she captured, groomed, manipulated, and controled everyone around her was because of her fears and anxieties. Perhaps she was a victim that turned into a predetor because of the environment she grew up in. As a wise man said before: HURT PEOPLE HURT PEOPLE.
Thank you so much for the presice psychological analysis of Caroline. I needed it. And i loved it.
Coraline is such a classic! I hope theres something big to celebrate it's 20 year anniversary, which is coming up in 2029. I love Coraline as a main character. She's so fun and determined. I definitely tried to be like her when i was little
I remember watching this movie, and the theme went over my head. "Nor everyone who gives you everything you want, doesn't always want what's best for you". The grooming metaphor went over my head as a kid and a teen.
YES! PLEASE! More videos on attachment theory! I have an exam comming up and I just can't for the life of me differentiate the insecure types! They all intermingal and situational to the point where there are barely any difference at all!
A very simplified summary is that anxious attachment is somebody saying "I need you in order to survive, don't put me out of your mind!" Avoidant is saying "I can survive just fine on my own, thanks. I don't need anyone." And disorganised is saying "I can't figure out what I need. Sometimes it's all of you, sometimes it's none of you."
you have such a calming voice, big contrast to the existential horror of this beautiful film. Yes, please do more Coraline videos, I was a weird teenager who binged watched the Coraline theories, yours are based in reality and have psychological evidence.
oh yeah, I think when the Other Mother is screaming, "I'll die without you!" she's being real, looks like she feeds on children and their 'time energy' so she's being real.
My own personal theory is that the Pink Palace neighbours are the trapped older souls of the ghost children. and just like the Psycho house, I think there could be a Freudian analysis about the ID, Ego, Superego
My favorite thing about the movie is that Mel is disabled, technically, with the neckbrace.
Thank you! I learned so much about myself, those around me, ex-partners and my own parents throughout this video. Please do a third, I am definitely here for it!
As a psych major who studies development and LOVES coraline I ate this up thank you!
I agree with your analysis of the overarching elements of coraline. What I walk away with for coraline’s parents is that they’re good parents, but not perfect ones, which no one can really be. I found moments, though, where I could envision her parents handling things differently and reaching a better outcome.
Beautifully said ❤ it had me sobbing on the floor thinking about why this movie always gave me such an aching pit in my stomach of loneliness.
I have an anxious attachment style that I’ve been working on but I’ve also been groomed and unfortunately assaulted too many times and in all of those cases, I was offered love or friendship or connection or safety and it was taken away. So what I feel watching this movie is a bit of a reflection of what I felt during my lowest points. The need for a savior to take me away from having to save myself from the nightmare if that makes sense. It all connects and is a very powerful film no matter how it’s interpreted. I’d be down to see more videos on it from you!
A thing you mentioned about the mice spelling her name, a lot of people in the real world call her Caroline. As a base of control, a kid wants to control their name and how they’re known to the world. Especially with a unique name
Just have to say how much I loved this video, I love the way your break things down and explain them it soothes my brain, thank you for the great analysis video :)
'Making a ---VIDEO--- about Coraline' made me laugh out loud, what a start lol
Next video idea:
Character analysis of the movie “The Craft”
I feel like the main villain played by Fairuza Balk has so much depth, complexity, and nuance. I think you would give a great analysis of her mental state and the reasoning for her actions. Also it’s just an amazing movie!
This whole movie would’ve never happened if Coraline’s parents gave her an iPad
Mmmm...I don't know about all that 😅
I live for these iconic films that I can watch and then watch this. It's harder with series I haven't watched or don't want spoilers for. I have (not on this one) actually gone and watched the film you talked about just to see your point of view, which is fascinating. Thanks for these!!!
although as a child i was never allowed to watch the film, (did try to with my sister but only got to the pumpkin scene with the other dads death) I always felt a strong connection to it. Though my Mum didnt/doesn't work, she always did volenteer work for my school, the community or the church, which would make her quite busy a lot of the time, and though my dad does funerals and can work from home, he also goes out to meetings a lot. also having an older sister (who specifically at the time i was coralines age) "hated me", i would feel bored and isolated most of the time. I took solace in imagining worlds of joy, playing with my dolls and making happy little rooms for them. I would never say my parents are neglectful (they are most certainly not), they always supported every choice's , would inform me of potential consequences and didn't alow me to do certain things of course. But to an 11 year old kid (who was just diagnosed with autism and anxiety with potential of ADHD) during the pandemic, i felt alone and would reject emotional encouragement for isolation into my fake families i created for my dolls. I connect to deep childhood films about kids views on menacing and life changing situations as i can relate to them a lot.
I want ALL The Coraline Videos!! ☺️
arguably the best analysis of Coraline ive seen
Oh, thanks!
I am 3 minutes and 40 seconds into this video and he just described my relationship with my parents inadvertatntly when he described 'anxious attachment' and it was..... Very eye opening....
I don't know why but this video actually made me cry sm, this movie has been such a comfort movie and I really relate to Coraline at the beginning of the movie I swear 😭
This is the best coraline interpretation i have ever seen you genuinely did an amazing job
Ahh thanks!
my god this video changed the way I perceive Coraline now, this video is amazing
Anytime I told my parents I was bored, they'd tell me to clean something around the house. I quickly learned not to tell them when I was bored.
Also, when the camera pans over the Coraline garden, I faintly see Sid the sloth.
I would love to see your videobidea about Wybie. The fact that you've successfully connected and explained attachment theory within Coraline is awesome (how has no one else done this yet?)
For those of us who have a more challenging background: Jill Salberg published articles about what she calls Empty Attachment. It's when trauma goes back several generations and was often silenced completely. As a kid, you grow up with the silence. I know it's taken me literally forever to figure out how this worked out for me.
I've related up to a point to Coraline, because I could see how her family actually is very natural unlike my own. I totally love how they made it, the mud and fog, the weird bits, the circus❤, but I'm actually rewatching now to teach myself to relate more to the people than i used to. It makes me think about lots of things and it feels safe which is awesome...
Okay thanks for reading the novel, back to the video!
PS i can relate to Wybie though, anyone else...? 🤗
Fairy food dangerous
Sorry will stop now😅
Thank you for this! What a wonderful analysis. You’ve shared a perspective I hadn’t considered and now I can’t unsee it
I was just thinking to myself that Coraline reminds me of myself as a child and the beldam reminds me of myself as an adult (obviously a little more tame) but it was a trip watching you explain the parallels
This really changed the way I think about the relationships in that movie. Great video!
I really liked the way the film explored the way that Coraline eventually discovered how much her parents actually did love her even if they weren't giving her what she wanted all the time. I think that's a realisation that a lot of children come to at some point, and it's not always the easiest pill to swallow when it's easier to hate sometimes.
I cannot believe I haven't checked on this channel in a hot min and I've missed out on multiple vids on one of my absolute fav movies! what a perfect halloween treat, I'm starting here and will enjoy the rest lol!
Hope you enjoy!
Love your spirited away intro
I know you from the Good Will Hunting series, as you've said it's the reason you started this channel and your most known series of videos, it helped me to understand myself a lot better, and how to try and hear/help people I care about better as well, you always try to be objective with what you teach us, and I really appreciate that because I prioritize being objective when interacting with people and their experiences, being completely honest UA-cam didn't remind me of your channel so I haven't kept in touch with your content (which means I have a lot of your videos waiting for me, yay! It helps me to learn and not get bored while I work!) This is the first video I've watched after a really long time and I must say I usually hate sponsors in the middle of videos, but man, I'm really happy to see that you're getting sponsors for your content knowing you wanted to live doing youtube, I couldn't help but smile when I realized that you were transitioning into a sponsor
I have now turned on the bell so I won't miss your vids, I hope that sub count gets higher, you deserve it =]
Ahh that's really kind of you to say! UA-cam has been a long old journey that's genuinely changed my life. I just hope it can keep on going because it seems like I still haven't run out of things I want to discuss
16:25 😮 this just made me shiver.... uhmmm why do i feel this is aimed to compare growing up with social media and growing up without social media, this is insane but awesome❤
That intro made me chuckle way harder than it shoukd have 😂😂
I was looking for someone else who talked about this 😂
this is a fantastic analysis. thank you for sharing!
thank you for the deeper dive of my one of favourite movies! Coraline is so special!
THANK YOU!!! I’ve been saying this about Coralines parents for years! They weren’t necessarily bad parents overall even if they weren’t doing the best in the timeframe of this movie. Even at the end of the movie her PJs are all stitched up. As a 15 year long coraline lover this whole vid was a great take on the movie
I would LOVE a Wybie version!!
I knew Coraline's mom truly loved her when she looked genuinely sad after Coraline said "That's what you always say", refusing her mom's promise to make it up if things go well.
brooo loving this, arcane parent relathionship next???
I'd have to watch it first but I plan to this year!
Hey buddy I love your videos because they explain things to me in ways my own brain can’t. Seeing that, how do I stop hating myself when I know I deserve it?
Yes please to the third video
The button eyes mean she can't leave??!! That's genius, i never thought of that. Okay subbing. Thanks! ❤
Great video, interesting points about the Beldam. I would love a full video on Wybie!
There’s a lot of Easter eggs in this movie about the whole Coraline universe, the foreshadowing and buildup is incredible. If you haven’t read the book yet, I highly recommend it
CLICKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK ALWAYS LEFT UNSETTLED AFTER REWATCHING🧚🏻♂️ a spook that lingersss
Can you make a theory about Fran bow?
I like your video. I think it’s a very adult perspective to say it’s cute that Caroline’s ideal life is what she already has just no work for the parents. I wonder if any kid would imagine the same thing until they are told that they could dream whatever they want. I don’t have anything to back this up but I think there is a limit to a child’s imagination is often their personal experiences. Alternatively who said this is Caroline’s ideal life? If it wasn’t Caroline herself then how do you know it wasn’t just the other mother’s manipulation of the tricks she used on other kids? The other mother giving children what they already have but better is blending fantasy and reality. After all, isn’t a lie easier to accept when is presented as natural and familiar? What do you think?
Although the parents aren’t terrible I think we can all at least agree that they’re a little neglectful. The crazy dreams and the fact that she almost “fell down a well” and the reply being “uh huh” from the parent is wild. I’m not saying her parents are terrible, but they could’ve been less neglectful. Maybe found better ways to communicate.
Oh definitely. If their behaviour was like that all the time, or even more frequent than just the couple of day stress we see here, it could be very damaging. Luckily Coraline was previously formed a very secure attachment, this period is brief, and they seek to repair atterwards
@@mylittlethoughttree This is true, I think your video is opening me up to realizing what healthy love looks like. Parents who really love their children don't just give them whatever they want, in fact there may be many instances where they cannot do that. But love is never condemning those you love for not being happy with you. Coraline's parents knew that they couldn't always satisfy Coraline, but didn't condemn her completely for it. Love is allowing those you love to feel disappointment towards you. That is a healthy sentiment that I am not used to based on my personal background.
I watched another video that has a convincing case where even at the end, she never actually made it home. That the attention her parents gave was the false security that the beings wanted her to have to make her feel safe and back at home. I was skeptical but there are a lot of hints that seem like she just went into another version, dimension or world of what she tried to escape
I agree with the observation of the other mother as the projection of Coroline. I had a friend I had to cut out who is diagnosed with NPD and APD; Coroline as a child along with the other mother being a strange reflection of what happens when those behaviors don’t get healed remind me a lot of my old friend. The other mother is like if Coroline instead only formed the false beliefs as her narrative of herself.
My old friend reacted and tried controlling me just like the other mother, and she even admitted to the fact that we are all but things to be used by her when she wants and exactly how she expects us to, like a microwave or toaster; yet when she felt any microscopic change that I could be pulling away and not falling for the fake fantasy world she was creating, she’d become volatile and say she didn’t know what she would be capable of if I left…
Just a lot of similarities I notified and curious if those two personality disorders/tendencies could be at play with at least the other mother towards Coroline
I love Coraline and just saw it in 3D, and read the book as a kid. BUt I didnt realize how much I relate to her until watching this video. I have similar world like Coraline and being an only child too.
I love the ghost children. They are haunting and creepy, but they've also fallen prey to the baldam, which I find it fitting then. We get to see what happens IF Coraline did say yes. This closet is the place where the Baldam litterally hides her skeletons and after she sheds her "loving" apperance she transforms into her ugly side, her true side and then everybting afterwards, the curtains fall and Coraline no linger sees the other world as magical.
The movie and book are quite different, and the tone the parents take is very different in the book. They are far more absent-minded and dreamlike from Coraline's perspective in the book. In both stories, the crux of the narrative is Coraline's growth from dependency upon entertainment to self-sufficiency and appreciation for her parents as they are. What she starts out wanting is an understandable fantasy of parents who always give her attention when she wants it, who cook meals suited perfectly and solely to her appetites, and who give her whatever she desires-exotic clothes, living toys, a paradise of entertainment and diversion just for her. What she learns, however, is that a person who gives and gives material things like that is taking something from you spiritually -even if you don't know it at first. No one gives without getting something in return, even if it's just personal gratification. And the Other Mother consumes Coraline's being and essence, and alienates her from those who love her enough to give her boundaries and keep her grounded in reality. Coraline's real parents work from home, but still take time to suggest activities for her to amuse herself- ecplore the house with objectives to fulfill, draw an abstract concept of mist to stretch her mind, write a story, visit neighbors. While Coraline feels neglected by their absence, these are feelings that are managed by personal growth, not by her parents abandoning their work to cater to her. She develops inner resilience by exploring and building Independence from her parents. The Other Mother offers the opposite - distractions that promote no growth, that take away Coraline's need to imagine and her drive to engage, and ultimately consume her. It's almost a metaphor for parenting that just spoils children with material goods and platitudes while robbing them of inner resources to cope with difficulty. The Other world is almost reminiscent of Fantasy Island in Pinocchio, where children are lured by promises of no work or responsibilities but pay a dire price for choosing the easy, pleasurable path. Coraline's attachment is so strong to her true parents that she is able to miss the flaws that she hates, because the perfect section of the Other Mother is recognizably unrealistic and Coraline comes to realize this. She develops almost a measure of empathy and understanding of her parents as humans outside their roles as her caretakers- a huge step in growth for a child, and a testament to the strength of the bond the family shares, even if Coraline doesn't initially recognize that. Just my opinion
Yes please, do a video on wybee (might be spelt that wrong)
Pretty close, though. I think it was Wybie. But it’s a nickname so it’s flexible.
I would definitely like a video on Wybie.
How interesting, the moment i finished the movie you uploaded this video
if i told my mom i was bored when i was little shed chase me around witith a towel whipping me and taunting me "still bored? Still bored?!" *scores a hit* "what about now?". Her husband found this hilarious unless i cried. Then the violence started. Id have fallen prey to the other mother very easily lol
:(
I would like a third coraline video
this si sooo good
One of my favorite movies...
Interesting video but it should also give credit to Mary Ainsworth as an inventor of attachment theory. (Her and Bowlby)
this movie is most definitely about grooming
I do. I’ve started to love this movie a lot more as I’ve gotten older, and my life has gotten more and more repetitive.
Yes, any and all Coraline. Whatever you feel like talking about.
Dang I could relate to coraline even now. But I also understand her parents as well. Before this video, I thought coraline was a bit annoying.
0:07 Aaayyy!!!!! Glad i guessed it right lol
i love this movie and book too if this is better
Kind of unrelated- and this is a great video nonetheless, but weren’t the attachment styles (minus disorganized) Mary Ainsworths?
I definitely have the avoident attachment. My mom would want us arpund and yet not at the same time while being loving and yet scary. Its felt like such a normal thing, never knowing which vs I would get until I got older. I could never pin point why id get so anxious being around her but when I was I had a good time. I think its why I dont like changed too much by others. It makes one very confused cause itsnlike I have my mom but then the other mother mixed in as well like a weird combination of both. It got worse when I became an adult. My mom couldn't learn to let go until one day we fought(physically and yelling) and I cut her off. We made up and shes done a lot better, which in turn has allowed me to go to her place to text her when I want to and slowly has increased the I have.
Which I understand why she is the way she is, her own childhood wasnt good so she constantly battles agaisnt those parts of her that wants to suffocate me and my siblings but also wanting our independence. Generational truama is a whole other beast to deal with😅
Keep that train intro please