Liceo de Cagayan University

Senior High School Department

STUDENT ACTIVITY SHEET NO. 4

Subject: 21st Literature from the Philippines and the World

Learning Competency: Explain the texts in terms of literary elements, genres, and traditions.

DIRECTIONS: Write a film analysis about Henry Selick’s “Coraline” following the three-part essay
structure format (Introduction, Body, Conclusion). Include related studies with citations on your
analysis, as indicated on the criteria for grading. FORMAT: 12 font size

Tel. No. (088) 858-4086, 858-4093 to 95, (8822) 72-7044, 71-4253 PABX local (President) – 112 & 126, (Registrar) – 109
Tel. Fax No. (01163) (088) 858-3123 (8822) 72-7044, 71-4253 local 111 [email: [email protected] [website: www.liceo.edu.ph)
 Liceo de Cagayan University
Senior High School Department
RNP Boulevard, Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City

I. Write your analysis here and limit your writing to two pages only.

What makes a film more pleasing and more interesting to watch? is it only because of the
actors and actresses exist? or is it because of the directors and producers who take part in the film? Or
how the story goes that makes it amusing? If it's the only reason, then we are still lacking seeing
through the details that makes a film eye-candy and more relatable.

A 11-year old adventurous girl named Coraline, discovered a sinister side of her new
home and opposite from her so-called dull life she had. A typical first act would introduce the
protagonist and shows us what their day-to-day is like before the inciting incident appears in the
middle of the first act, but in the Coraline it is slightly changed, as the first act gives eerie feeling due
to the lighting and happenings of the scenes and sparks a confusion to the viewers as the hand of
unsaid creature starts sewing a doll with a stop-motion animation. The action of the movie is created
using models in an excruciatingly tedious process. Through the analysis of this creation, it is suggested
that animated figures can and may be protagonists of incredibly intricate narratives as the one we are
addressing here. Animation has the opportunity to delve deeply into issues like identity or the
character’s cognitive growth through visualizing experiences, anxieties, and disappointments.
(Gonzales, 2011). The film starts with the arrival of Coraline’s family, as seen in the frame, only the
lead character gives the different tone of color as the rest shows a monotone or monochrome which
displays a different ambiance, that exactly gives presentation to the current boring life she has. And
makes Coraline more noticeable, but what adds more is the sound design of the scene as she roams
around the house, a single angelic voice that accompanies harps and pianos endow Coraline’s
childhood with a balance of innocence and potential darkness. As the other world that has been waiting
for her arrival, is then revealed when she goes to bed that day. In the scene, her other home shows a
completely opposite mood as the characters, background and lighting are brighter and visualizes more
complex colors, but also gives a mysterious feeling due to the buttoned eyes of the other characters,
and with the sound effect that sets a mysterious vibes, thus the visual is appealing but the mood is
uncanny. She noticed that although her neighbors live in this realm as well, the ones who live on the
other side are more interesting. She eventually begins to understand that the society she prefers is not
all that it seems, and she needs to flee. As she came back from the other side, the tragedy came close as
her parents went missing, making the following scenes gloomy. All the diegetic sounds are echoed to
emphasize Coraline’s loneliness and add tension to the scenes. ‘Till she made up her mind to return to
the realm of the Beldam.
In the frame, when she sets her foot again to the other side with the mysterious cat as
her companion and a charm given by Miriam Forcible and April Spink, it shows a bright color and
lighting as well heavy shadows with an ominous audio that makes the scenario tensed up. Just as the
action starts where Coraline and the Beldam played a hide and seek game, the stop-motion actions of
the models come more smoother as the tempo of their movements quickens. Soon, she found all the
three entities that contain all the souls of the three children that have been cursed by the Beldam in
return for it, her parents must be freed. Considering she managed to escape and broke the curse of the
souls and be able to find her parents, and by thinking that her dilemma was done, the souls went for her
and reappear on her sight with glowing gold lighting with a visual background that can be compared to
Van Gogh’s art piece Starry Night, as they warned her that with the existence of the key, then the
Beldam still exist. Due to the lost from Coralines’s game, the Beldam takes a final form and turn the
Tel. No. (088) 858-4086, 858-4093 to 95, (8822) 72-7044, 71-4253 PABX local (President) – 112 & 126, (Registrar) – 109
Tel. Fax No. (01163) (088) 858-3123 (8822) 72-7044, 71-4253 local 111 [email: [email protected] [website: www.liceo.edu.ph)
 Liceo de Cagayan University
Senior High School Department
RNP Boulevard, Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City

house into a spider’s web with a white background and a black strings as the web, few bugs have
already been trapped there, explaining the house’s insectoid furniture. Making it seems that the Beldam
only made that world to lure and trap Coraline.
Being content and to be selfless is mostly trying to convey the film to the viewers and
being careful to the things you wish for, as there are always unpleasant things chained to it just like
Coraline. She hoped that her life would be much more delightful as she always wanted. As the film
details and structure from visual, background music, to producing it makes the movie indeed a
masterpiece.

Tel. No. (088) 858-4086, 858-4093 to 95, (8822) 72-7044, 71-4253 PABX local (President) – 112 & 126, (Registrar) – 109
Tel. Fax No. (01163) (088) 858-3123 (8822) 72-7044, 71-4253 local 111 [email: [email protected] [website: www.liceo.edu.ph)
 Liceo de Cagayan University
Senior High School Department
RNP Boulevard, Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City

II. Input your references here. You may have at least 5 references on this page.

Tel. No. (088) 858-4086, 858-4093 to 95, (8822) 72-7044, 71-4253 PABX local (President) – 112 & 126, (Registrar) – 109
Tel. Fax No. (01163) (088) 858-3123 (8822) 72-7044, 71-4253 local 111 [email: [email protected] [website: www.liceo.edu.ph)