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CORALINE: Literally Every Mystery Solved (Theory)

The Theorizer・111 minutes read

The video presents 13 core theories on Coraline, exploring the Beldam's origins, the cat's role, and deep symbolism in the film. It delves into details like the Pink Palace's history, the grand dame's transformation, and the cat's connection to the Beldam's plans, providing a comprehensive analysis of the movie's intricate and dark narrative.

Insights

The Beldam's survival relies on luring children to the Otherworld to take their eyes and souls, showcasing her sinister motives.
Coraline's spirit animals, dragonflies, and butterflies in her hair clips symbolize her spirit, adding depth to her character.
The Blue Boy in the painting symbolizes the Beldam's first victim, underlining the dark history of the Pink Palace.
The cat's intricate involvement, potentially connected to the Blue Boy and serving as a guardian, hints at its pivotal role in protecting Coraline.

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Recent questions

What are the core theories in Coraline?
The video compiles 13 theories, including the Beldam's origins, the cat's role, and the symbolism of the Otherworld.
What is the significance of the Pink Palace's location?
The setting in Ashland, Oregon, is crucial for understanding the Beldam's history.
What is the cat's role in Coraline?
The cat is a reincarnation of a child who escaped the Beldam.
What are the common questions addressed in Coraline?
The film addresses questions about the sewing room, buttons, and the doll's significance.
What is the Beldam's motivation in Coraline?
The Beldam's survival depends on luring children to the Otherworld for their eyes and souls.

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Summary

00:00

"Unscripted Presentation: Coraline Theories Revealed"

The video compiles 13 core theories into one unscripted presentation.
The first three videos focus on theorizing about the portal and Easter eggs in Coraline.
The theories progress to identifying the first three kidnapped children and establishing a timeline.
The fourth part delves into a new take on Coraline after multiple viewings.
The setting of Coraline in Ashland, Oregon, is crucial for understanding the Pink Palace's history.
The theory suggests the Beldam, the original owner of the Pink Palace, is a respected settler in Ashland.
The Beldam's magic is tied to the Otherworld, a pocket universe she discovered at the bottom of a well.
The Beldam's survival depends on luring children to the Otherworld to take their eyes and souls.
The cat's role is reinterpreted as a reincarnation of a child who escaped the Beldam's grasp.
Common questions about the film, such as the sewing room's location, the use of buttons, and the doll's significance, are addressed.

14:26

"Grand dame creates pocket universe with magic"

Coraline always has a dragonfly or butterfly hair clip, symbolizing spirit animals reflecting a person's spirit.
The grand dame of Ashland falls into a well, entering a pocket universe she creates.
Desperate to live, the grand dame uses magic to create laws in a non-physical world to sustain her.
The grand dame replaces body parts with metallic versions, deteriorating over time.
The beldam succeeds in luring victims into her world, including Coraline.
The beldam supposedly dies by her first and last victims, protecting nearby children.
Fairy rings around the well symbolize magical entry points, supporting the well theory.
The other mother's passion for spiders is evident in the wallpaper of both worlds.
Portals are confirmed through the cat's sudden appearances, supporting the theory.
The beldam's magic originates from her own soul, explaining her actions and limitations.

28:57

Teri Hatcher transforms into Coraline's villain.

Teri Hatcher alters her voice and appearance to portray the character of the Belle Dam in Coraline.
The Belle Dam's true form resembles Mel Jones slightly, and their voices are similar.
The garden in the backyard can resemble both Coraline and the Belle Dam.
The Belle Dam cannot predict the future.
The rats in the movie are not aware of Bobinsky's situation, as they are taken by the Belle Dam to serve her.
The Belle Dam targets one person at a time, focusing on children as they are easier to manipulate.
The Belle Dam uses soul sand made from souls to control her creations, with the amount of sand affecting their self-awareness.
Larger characters in the Otherworld need a supporting world due to their larger amount of soul sand.
The moon may be where the Belle Dam's eyes went, controlling the void and the magic.
The parents were kidnapped by the Belle Dam due to Coraline leaving the door open, leading them into a trap.

43:39

"The Blue Boy's Significance in Coraline"

Coraline counted windows and doors in the house, noting a picture of a blue boy she hadn't seen before.
The blue boy in the painting is theorized to be the Grand Dame's son, implying significant implications for the story.
The blue boy's picture contrasts Coraline's boredom and excitement, impacting the lore significantly.
The study room in the other world remains with the blue boy's picture, suggesting its importance.
The blue boy's picture in the real world contrasts with his happy portrayal in the fake world, highlighting the differences between both realms.
The Beldam's clear parenting tactics, despite her evil, suggest a twisted form of love towards Coraline.
The other world may serve as a trap or a way for the Beldam to remember her dead child, adding depth to the story.
The cat's actions, including leading Coraline to the mirror and the doll, hint at a deeper involvement in the Beldam's plans.
The cat's potential connection to the blue boy in the painting is suggested, adding complexity to its character.
The timeline theory suggests the Beldam's origins, her creation of the other world, and the involvement of other characters like YB and the other father in defying her.

58:13

"Family secrets fuel Coraline's survival against Beldam"

The twin daughter of the Beldam grows up, has kids, and spreads rumors to keep them away from the house, especially the well.
She adopts her grandson and protects him fiercely, fearing the Beldam's need for life essence.
The grandson, named Why Born, is significant due to his name and the Beldam's interest in him.
The cat, with an identical accent to Why Born's grandmother, spies on Coraline and plays a crucial role in her survival.
The cat implies the continued existence of the Otherworld and the Beldam's threat to Coraline.
The theory suggests the existence of two cats, one with a voice (Vermin) and one without (Mr. Lovat), with distinct roles and intentions.
Vermin, the son of the Beldam, is revealed to be the cat with a voice, while Mr. Lovat is Why Born's great-grandfather.
The Blue Boy in the Otherworld painting is identified as the Beldam's first victim, crucial for her survival.
Vermin's actions, including tearing out his mother's eyes, are explained as part of a plan to trap Coraline and sustain the Otherworld.
Vermin's manipulation of Coraline, including leading her to the mirror and giving her the final ghost eye, is analyzed as part of a strategy to break her spirit and control her willingly.

01:13:31

Otherworld's Magical Timer: Moon, Scarabs, and Deception

The moon in the Otherworld is a magical timer, indicating the magic's time limit.
Scarabs on the wallpaper symbolize rebirth and regeneration, akin to the Beldam's actions.
The Otherworld may be extra-dimensional, accessible through a fourth dimension.
Native American symbolism is present in the film, hinting at deeper connections.
The Beldam used to be human, with her son trapped in the Otherworld.
Mr. Lovat was resurrected as a cat to deceive the Beldam and protect Coraline.
The magic in the Otherworld keeps spirits alive, like Mr. Lovat as a cat.
The Beldam's plan is to break Coraline down slowly and drive her back to the Otherworld.
The distinction between Vermin and Mr. Lovat blurs, with Vermin regaining speech.
The triangle with a hole may have been forged by Mr. Lovat to reveal the truth of the Otherworld.

01:28:51

Exploring Coraline's Otherworld and Time Portal

Coraline's time in the other world with Mr. Lovett doing tasks.
Theory of the other world being a time portal through the fourth dimension.
The Otherworld existing outside of space-time before the Big Bang.
Apple trees near the well in the Otherworld changing from dead to healthy.
The theory of magic seeping from the Otherworld into the real world.
The two cats in Coraline, one being Mr. Lovett and the other possibly the son of the Beldam.
The theory of one cat with two souls, Mr. Lovett and Vermin.
The Bell Dam's backstory as a seamstress and her physical characteristics.
The Bell Dam's sewing room being a real place with items from her past life.
The theory of the Otherworld being a living entity that corrupted the Bell Dam.

01:43:41

Analysis of Coraline's Dark Symbolism and Secrets

The animated film "Coraline" by Micah is analyzed in detail, focusing on the symbolism of the well as a portal between two worlds.
The analysis delves into the possibility of the other mother being a human and the existence of two cats trapped in one body, one being a spirit and the other potentially the son of the other mother.
Evidence from Twitter is discussed, where a viewer discovered suspicious stills from the movie, particularly focusing on the Bell Dem's face not being a skull but resembling cracked China or ceramic.
The Bell Dem is theorized to be a disintegrating human, replacing body parts with metal prongs, sewing buttons for eyes, and plates for a face, showing signs of decay over decades.
A close-up image reveals a small circular dot in the Bell Dem's hair, possibly part of her spine, hinting at a horrifying discovery or a red herring.
Vermin, a possessing spirit, is theorized to be the Otherworld itself, a living entity far older than the Bell Dem, feeding on souls and draining life from those who enter it.
Vermin's possession of Mr. Lovett and the cat's role as a personification of the Otherworld are discussed, highlighting the cat's neutrality and power over the Bell Dem.
The Bell Dem's sacrifices to feed the Otherworld and prevent others from enduring her fate are explored, emphasizing her love for the children she lures and sacrifices.
Coraline's escape from the Bell Dem leads to a dramatic ending, with the Bell Dem's death causing panic as Coraline is potentially next in line to become the new Bell Dem, perpetuating the cycle of kidnapping and soul consumption.
The movie's conclusion hints at the cat's role in entrancing the next Bell Dem, continuing the cycle of horror and sacrifice in the Otherworld.

01:59:27

Coraline's Otherworld: Dark Lore Revealed

Vermin, after staring at Coraline, smiles eerily as he instantly kills the beldam, causing the clouds to part and eliminating all portals, keys, and traps she created, including the well.
The Otherworld, a Lovecraftian entity, is suggested to have a history involving a seamstress from the 1800s, possibly a First Nations woman, hinting at previous entities supplying it with what it needs, with comparisons drawn to Lovecraftian themes in other stories like "It."
Neil Gaiman, the author of Coraline, has hinted at the existence of other entities like the seamstress in the Otherworld, suggesting a deeper lore, while acknowledging fan theories and interpretations, including those on YouTube, with a mix of amusement and intrigue.

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