Coraline Coming to Blu-ray and DVD July 21st

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has announced that Coraline will be available on Blu-ray Disc, a 2-Disc Collector’s Edition DVD and Single Disc DVD on July 21st. The full details:

From the visionary imagination of filmmaker Henry Selick, director of The Nightmare Before Christmas, and based on the award-winning novel by Newbery Medal winner Neil Gaiman (The Graveyard Book, Sandman) comes the remarkable handmade, stop-motion animated feature film Coraline, available on Blu-ray(TM) Hi-Def combo pack, 2-Disc Collector’s Edition DVD and single disc DVD July 21st, 2009 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. While all editions feature both the 2-D and 3-D versions of the film and four pairs of 3-D glasses, the Blu-ray(TM) Hi-Def and 2-Disc Collector’s Edition DVD also include a digital copy of the movie, as well as an astounding array of bonus features that take you inside the intricate hand-crafted world of this incredibly unique film. The Blu-ray(TM) Hi-Def combo pack also includes a standard definition DVD of the film, as well as even more bonus features, including additional filmmaker interviews and behind-the-scenes exclusives within Universal’s U-Control and BD-Live(TM) features.

An instant classic that will captivate audiences, Coraline, the first feature film from Portland Oregon-based animation studio LAIKA, is the first stop-motion animated feature originally produced in stereoscopic 3-D. A startlingly original tale, Coraline’s vibrant flights of fantasy will keep kids and adults enthralled as it underlines one of life’s most essential truths: be careful what you wish for.

Coraline’s stellar voice cast includes Dakota Fanning (War of the Worlds), Teri Hatcher (“Desperate Housewives”), John Hodgman (“The Daily Show”), Ian McShane (“Deadwood”) and Keith David (Crash), with an enchanting musical score by Bruno Coulais (Winged Migration, The Chorus). Henry Selick is one of the leading directors working in animation today. He directed the 1993 film The Nightmare Before Christmas, which has achieved classic status and the remastered 3-D version is bringing Selick a whole new generation of fans. Selick is also the director of James and the Giant Peach, which won the top prize for animated feature at the Annecy Film Festival, and Monkeybone. He also created the celebrated animation sequences for Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. Coraline is based on Neil Gaiman’s book, a New York Times and international bestseller and enormous critical success. Among its many honors are: the British Science Fiction Award, the Hugo, the Nebula, the Bram Stoker and the Elizabeth Burr/Worzalla awards. Preorder close is June 2, 2009. Coraline on Blu-ray(TM) Hi-Def is priced at $39.98 SRP. The 2-Disc Collector’s Edition DVD is priced at $34.98 SRP and the single disc DVD is priced at $29.98 SRP.

CRITICS ADORE CORALINE

Coraline mesmerized and delighted critics across America with its wondrous and thrilling story and visually stunning stop-motion animation. Leonard Maltin of Entertainment Tonight proclaims Coraline is “the best 3-D movie I’ve ever seen!” It is “a magical tale … a remarkable feat of imagination,” according to Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times. Claudia Puig of USA Today calls it “a visual marvel,” while Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly calls the film “a thrilling stop-motion adventure!” Peter Travers of Rolling Stone says the film is simply “dazzling!” Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle awards it “5 stars! Beautiful!” “Frame by frame, Coraline is a treat,” adds David Edelstein of New York Magazine.

BONUS FEATURES EXCLUSIVE TO BLU-RAY(TM) HI-DEF:

?U-CONTROL ON 2-D FEATURE – Universal’s exclusive signature feature allows viewers to delve into the making of the film with the click of the remote without ever leaving the movie. Through picture-in-picture, fans can enhance their understanding of how the movie was made by viewing tours of the sets, animatics and behind-the-scenes moments, including voiceover sessions.

?CREEPY CORALINE – Director and screenwriter Henry Selick and Coraline author Neil Gaiman take fans deeper into the darker intricacies of Coraline’s alternative worlds.

?BD-LIVE(TM) – Fans can access exclusive online and interactive features through their Internet connected Blu-ray(TM) player, including:

?MY SCENES SHARING – Show your BD-Live(TM) friends your favorite scenes from the film.

?THE WORLD ACCORDING TO HENRY – In this feature, director Henry Selick discusses his approach to the film adaptation of the award-winning book and what he loves about Coraline.

BONUS FEATURES AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY(TM) HI-DEF & THE 2-DISC COLLECTOR’S EDITION DVD:

?DELETED SCENES

?THE MAKING OF CORALINE – Director and screenwriter Henry Selick hosts this behind the scenes feature about how this hand-crafted, stop-motion animated film was made.

?VOICING THE CHARACTERS – Coraline’s acclaimed cast and filmmaker Henry Selick talk about their experiences working on the film, including defining the perfect voice for their characters.

?DIGITAL COPY OF CORALINE – Transfer the included digital copy to your iPod, Mac or PC and experience Coraline anywhere, anytime!

BONUS FEATURES AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY(TM) HI-DEF, 2-DISC COLLECTOR’S EDITION DVD & SINGLE DISC DVD:

?FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR HENRY SELICK & COMPOSER BRUNO COULAIS

SYNOPSIS

11-year-old Coraline Jones (voiced by Dakota Fanning) has just moved with her parents (Teri Hatcher and John Hodgman) to a new home in Oregon. With no friends and her parents distracted by work, the feisty and adventurous Coraline sets out to find some excitement in her isolated new environment. She is befriended — or, as she sees it, pestered — by a local boy close to her age, Wybie Lovat (Robert Bailey Jr.) and visits her older neighbors, eccentric British actresses Miss Spink and Miss Forcible (Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French) as well as the arguably even more eccentric Russian, Mr. Bobinsky (Ian McShane). Just as she’s beginning to think her new home is utterly uninteresting, she uncovers a secret door which leads to a parallel existence much like her own life — but much better. The adults, including the solicitous Other Mother (also voiced by Teri Hatcher) welcome her warmly, and Coraline gets far more attention there — even from the mysterious Cat (Keith David). She begins to think that this Other World might be where she truly belongs. But when her wondrously off-kilter, fantastical visit turns dangerous, Coraline must summon all her resourcefulness, determination and courage to get back home — and save her real family.

CAST AND FILMMAKERS

Cast: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, John Hodgman, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Keith David, Robert Bailey Jr. and Ian McShane,

Written for the Screen and Directed By: Henry Selick

Based on the Book By: Neil Gaiman

Produced By: Bill Mechanic, Claire Jennings, Henry Selick, Mary Sandell

Director of Photography: Peter Kozachik, ASC

Editors: Christopher Murrie, Ronald Sanders

Music By: Bruno Coulais

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Blu-ray(TM) Hi-Def

Street Date: July 21, 2009

Selection Number: 62106475