Coraline - Music

Music

Diegetic Sound - sounds added to a scene eg music.

Non-diegetic sound - sounds that happen naturally in a scene eg footsteps, wind blowing leaves.

Chords

• Major - written is a major key, has a happy uplifting tone.

• Minor - written in a minor key, has a sad, gloomy, morose tone.

Tempo (speed)

Fast - could walk quickly to makes the music feel energetic, gives movement/pace.

Moderate - a mix of two

Slow - dragging feet pace, makes the music feel lethargic, boring, energy locking, sleepy.

Dynamics (volume) 

Lound (fate) - gets viewer attention, enhances emotions/mood - makes happy happier etc.

Quiet (piano) - either background noise or used to make the viewer focus.

Changing 

• Quiet - loud - build intercity.

• Loud - quiet - crows focus.

Opening scene

Chards - minor - has a sad vibe, feels creepy, unsetting.

Tempo - mader - feel on edge, walking pace, gives energy.

Dynamics - Changing - starts quiet, gets louder, grabs our attention, builds emotion & intensity.

Mouse Circus 

Chords - minor- is very upbeat and energetic but the minor tone makes it feel off/uncomfortable.

Tempo - fast -gives us upbeat, want to move energy, makes the circus feel fun & lively.

Dynamics - loud - makes the viewer feel hyped up, energetic, invited to join in.

Angle, Movement and Shots

Brainstorm:

What's happening:           
                   
                          - Other Wybie standing on the stairs outside the house. Other mother                                                    asks him to smile from the doorway, instead, he frowns.

                          - Other Wybie making self smile - less of a target - head down, shoulders hunched.                               look and vulnerable.

Angle/Shots:

                   - High angle - makes Wybie look overpowered, weak & vulnerable.
                   - POV - Other Mothers, makes her seem stronger, bigger, more dominant.

• Viewer - makes the viewer feel sorry for/ Scared for Other Wybie. 
• Director - foreshadowing - hinting the Other mother isn't so wonderful 
• Other techniques - Lighting - spotlight on Wybie - like he's on the spot/under focus - dark around creates a creepy atmosphere.

In the scene with the Other mother and the Other Wybie we see high angle shots used to show the theme 'looks can be deceiving'. We see this when the Other mother asks the Other Wybie to smile but he hunches over and frowns instead. This makes the audience feel sorry for the Other Wybie because he looks scared. The use of a high angle shot from the perspective of the Other mother adds to this feeling as it makes the Other Wybie look weak and vulnerable. The director did this to foreshadow the change of the Other mother from creepy to more creepy. Coinciding with this is the use of lighting. A spotlighting is on the other Wybie emphasising that he's under the forces of the Other Mother. This reminds of earlier in the film where a low angle shot was used to make Wybie seen big and scary but really he was just ordinary. This links to the scene because it also shows a moment when to look of a character was deceiving.

               

Coraline film study

Opening scene

Music: Creepy

           Slow

           Miner tone - Warning that something bad is to happen

           Lullaby - Childlike

           Made up the language - Makes more interesting, creepy, can’t understand it

Camera shots: High angles - Other mother her point of view

                      Extreme close up - Detail shot on the button - foreshadowing

Lighting/Colour: Colour green

                        Dark - adds to the creepy

                        Old

                        Shadows - adds to the creepiness

                        Cold light

                        Adds horror atmosphere

The pin palance

Music:

At the start :

                      -  Gentle

                      -  Dramatic

                      -  Enchanting

                      -  Happier/sweet                       Add to imacare

                      -  Bit more major tone

                      -  Slow timbre

Change:

• Chasing music
• More dramatic
• Faster timbre
• High tension                            Danger
• Minor tone
• Sad
• Chanting/warning

Camera shots:

• Pov - Mover looking at money
• Over the shoulder - Cat looking at Coraline
• Long shot - Distance running from the cat, see more setting
• High angle
• Birdseye - Looking down, to the setting, depth of the well
• Transition filt - Nice way to go between setting (place and time) 

Lighting/Colour: 

• Dark
• Grey
• Cold
• Dull
• Deary
• Boring

Coraline:

• Mean
• Sassy
• Curious
• Childlike imaginative
• Moody
• Costume - Yellow raincoat

                         - Bright clothing - She stands out

                         -  Blue hair - Not only in the dull setting but also from everyone else

                         - Shows she is different she doesn’t belong

Inside:

• Dark
• Cold
• Old
• Boring - Pastel colours
• Empty
• Worn down
• Untidy
• Rustic

‘Real Parents’:

• Neglectful
• Busy
• Workaholics
• Forgetful
• Mum is more passive-aggressive
• Old
• Bland
• Tired
• Unhealthy
• Deferred - Expression (after frowning)

                        - Tone of voice

Dutch tilt:

• Warning - something bad is going to happen
• POV - Dolls

Music: 

• Creepy
• Minor key - Warning       
• Slow/Medium timbre
• Sounded like a music box - Like a ‘jack in a box’

Colour/Lighting:

• Bright - Coraline fits in here -  Clean

                                         - Looked after

• Vibrant
• Homely        
• Warm
• Welcoming          
• Full of things - Unpacked

‘Other Parents’:

• Healthy
• Energetic - Dad with the piano
• Mum cooked a full meal - Selfless
• Happy
• Clean