Comic-Con: Henry Selick’s ‘Coraline’ maquettes charm the ‘Con

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Fans of director Henry Selick and writer Tim Burton’s ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ got an up-close look at Selick’s upcoming stop-motion animated feature ‘Coraline’ on the Comic-Con show floor.

Adapted by Selick from Neil Gaiman’s international best-selling book of the same name, ‘Coraline’ follows a young girl (Dakota Fanning) who walks through a secret door in her new home and discovers an alternate version of her life. The parallel reality is eerily similar to her real life – only much better. Except when Coraline’s fantastical adventure turns dangerous, and her counterfeit parents (including Other Mother, voiced by Teri Hatcher) try to keep her forever.

Georgina Hayns, head of ‘Coraline’ puppet department, accompanied the movie’s maquettes to San Diego where they are displayed in the NECA booth. Selick allowed the models to journey from Laika headquarters in Portland, Oregon where he has been recording the stop-mo animation in native 3-D. ‘Coraline’ is due in theaters February 6, 2009.

See a ‘Coraline’ clip here and a trailer here. Character descriptions and another photo after the jump.

CORALINE (Dakota Fanning) - resourceful, determined, and trying to get back home

CORALINE’S DOLL - the start of the biggest adventure of Coraline’s life

OTHER MOTHER 1 (Teri Hatcher) - seems sweet to Coraline, but her true nature is dark indeed

OTHER MOTHER 2 - can Coraline and Wybie outsmart her?

MR. BOBINSKY (Ian McShane)- one of Coraline’s new neighbors; an eccentric, beet-eating Russian giant

THE GHOST CHILDREN - Coraline and Wybie are their only hope for rescue

Original music by They Might be Giants