Movie Review: PARANORMAN (3D)

PARANORMAN is a 2012 American 3D stop-motion animated comedy horror film produced by LAIKA, an animation studio that specialises in producing stop-motion animation.

This is seriously hardcore okay.

Everything in the movie was produced FROM SCRATCH:

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Respect!

The voice cast includes Casey Affleck, Tempestt Bledsoe, Jeff Garlin, John Goodman, Bernard Hill, Anna Kendrick, Leslie Mann, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Jodelle Ferland, Elaine Stritch, and Tucker Albrizzi.

It is the first stop-motion film to use a 3D color printer to create character faces, and only the second stop motion film to be shot in 3D.

In case you are wondering, Coraline (2009) was the first stop motion film shot in 3D. It was also produced by LAIKA and made USD$120 million worldwide. Coraline won the Annie Awards for best music, character design, and production design and received Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Animated Feature.

With such stellar credentials for their previous film, audiences’ expectations are high for PARANORMAN – and it delivered.

Here’s the official trailer:

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The storyline revolves around a boy, Norman who can see and talk to ghosts. As a result, he was treated like a freak by his family and peers, leading a miserable, lonely life.

In a sudden turn of event, Norman’s town was overrun by witches and zombies. It was up to him to save the day.

Entwined into the storyline are underlying universal feel-good themes on friendship and anti-bullying/discrimination.

Yes, the film features ghostly characters.

No, I do not think the characters are likely to freak out children. The ghosts are rather likeable and there are good moral values at the end of the show.

PARANORMAN is now showing in Singapore cinemas.

Go catch it with your family and friends! It is both suitable for adults as well as family audiences.

Something fun to end this blog post with:

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If you are on Instagram, remember to tag @PARANORMAN!