This wasn’t the next poster that I was planning on analyzing, but I couldn’t help but be mesmerized by it when I first saw it. I don’t think this was ever an actual movie poster. I think it’s the design created only for the movie tie-in release of Neil Gaiman’s book. It’s the cover on the version that my parents gave me for Christmas.

I love this design so very much.

First and foremost, it’s all about the circular patterns in this poster. I’m already very drawn to designs that focus on curves and circular patterns. I’m fascinated by all the implications of the circle…the concepts of completion, wholeness, fullness. The ouroboros and its representation of eternal return. Or just how cool it looked as a tattoo for Dana Scully. So to see such a skillful repetition of circular themes in this poster makes my heartstrings sing.

It’s also quite provocative, indicative of an artist skilled at weaving the symbols of mythology throughout their design, particularly symbols that evoke the mythologies of feminine power. Most prominent is the fullness of that amazing moon. Anyone familiar with mythology knows there are myriad implications behind the presence of a full moon: lycanthropy, lunacy, increased fertility…some have ascribed this latter to a correlation drawn between the 28-day cycle of the moon’s waxing and waning and the menstrual cycles of fertile women. The power of the moon is also strongly associated with witchcraft, an association that Wiccans have thoroughly embraced through many of their practices and rituals.

The imagery of the moon here definitely invokes that sense of witchcraft, especially when combined with the image of our young heroine, Coraline, with her makeshift divining rod and her “familiar”…the mysterious black cat leading her onward. Everyone knows the superstition about black cats, right? Okay. How about the divining rod? This is a tool utilized in what is known as, among other names, “divining,” “dowsing,” or “water witching.” Whatever is our little water witch going to do with her divining rod?

Another aspect of this moon that I find particularly interesting is the image of it shining through the gnarled, curled branches of the tree, which look very much like wizened fingers reaching down to ensnare Coraline. I love the juxtaposition of the moon in all its fertile fullness with the ancient, withered tree. The tree may somewhat occlude our view of the moon, but the moon also reveals the truth of the tree’s sinister intentions toward Coraline, the strength of its light in no way completely impeded by the leafless, twisted arboreal form.

One more thing about the moon: Notice the image overlay of the button. What on earth could a button have to do with this story? Nice bit of foreshadowing, which is repeated in the more obvious appearance of the button in Coraline’s name at the bottom of the poster.

Finally, notice how the strange slope of the land leaves you feeling askew and off-balance. Look at the precarious position of the house in the background, or how the sharp incline has helped raise the tree to such a high and foreboding level above Coraline. And how the cat glances back, front paw slightly raised, tail curled in a questioning hook. Coraline, however, does not glance backward. She is looking forward, focused on whatever it is that has brought her out on this dark night full of shadow and mystery.

At the very bottom of the poster design, we get the name of the movie, the book, and the heroine. Again, there’s the button as her “O” and the cat’s now exclamatory tail forms her “L.” We also see light shining through a doorway, another clue as to what transpires in this tale.

Have I read too much into this design? Probably. Too much arcane information floating around in this noodle of mine. Plus, I have the added advantage of having seen the movie twice and having now read the book. So I’m able to bring that to my interpretation of this design. Regardless, however, I have to say this is one of the best poster designs I have seen in a long time. I think it’s utterly brilliant and I wouldn’t mind adding it to my collection at all.