Coraline (2009)

Coraline is a fantasy film directed by Henry Selick and released in 2009 by the film studio Laika. It was made using stop-motion animation which has become Selick's trademark. The story revolves around a young girl named Coraline who has recently moved to a new town with her parents. She meets a local boy named Wybie and begins to explore her family's new house. Eventually she discovers a small door that leads her to an alternate version of her home with another set of parents that she prefers much more. As she spends more time in the new home she realized that everything may not be what it seems. 

Coraline is one of my favorite animated films for many reasons. When this film was released it was probably the best stop motion animation in any feature film. The set pieces that the animators were able to include are jaw dropping and include a marching band of mice and a full garden coming to life. The pacing, music, and character development are just right for the film. Many scenes were actually cut by the director in order to keep the pace perfect. Keep in mind that even the scenes that were cut took many weeks to film. I really feel that Selick had such a clear vision and was able to make the story engaging while also including slower parts that develop the character's personalities. This film was marketed towards younger audiences, but has some very creepy moments during the climax that can be a little unsettling. I absolutely recommend Coraline and specifically the Bluray release with tons of special features and amazing image quality.