Not too long ago, Gothic poet and illustrator The Kreep (created by R. O’Donnell) received an entirely handmade box of treasures collected specifically for him by the CORALINE team at Laika films. Inside the box, numbered 46/50, are highly decorated secret compartments that contain relics from the film including a bat/dog model, a bat body mold, authentic skeleton key with secret password, and a wing skeleton prototype #3. An old envelop with a wax seal with inlaid black button (as used for the eyes of the witch) and a hand-typed note explained the curious gift:
DEAR R.,
INSIDE THIS OLD BOX IS A ONE-OF-A-KIND COLLECTION WE’VE AMASSED AND CATALOGUED WITH YOU AND YOU ALONE IN MIND…THE PLAIN TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, WE ARE PRETTY OBSESSED WITH DARK STORIES. LIKE YOU. WE ADMIRE YOUR DEDICATION TO THE KREEP. PLEASE KEEP UP THE SUPER WORK. WE’LL BE READING.
SINCERELY,
THE CORALINE TEAM
351 of the world’s oddest and most talented animators, artisans, and puppet fabricators have hand-made CORALINE. Led by Henry Selick, the director of THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS and JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH, this team has created the first stop-motion feature shot entirely in 3D. Based on the beloved best-selling children’s classic by Neil Gaiman, CORALINE is a fairy-tale nightmare steeped in classic storytelling, craftsmanship, and the old-fashioned art of moviemaking magic.
CORALINE was nominated for an Academy Award for best Animated Feature.
Still NO. 93. BAT/DOGS
Bat Body Mold (Unfiled)
NO. 46/50
Skeleton key with password: armpithair
Letter with Wax Button seal
Wing Relic † Skeleton Prototype (3)
photos: Eric HoffhinesREAD THE KREEP