ParaNorman: Difference between revisions

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.
Content added Content deleted
VisualWikitext
m (needs more copyediting)
(clean up)
Line 18: Line 18:
** [[Jodelle Ferland]] seems to get roles {{spoiler|where a girl who places the town under a curse after the residents tried and execute her for witchcraft.}}
** [[Jodelle Ferland]] seems to get roles {{spoiler|where a girl who places the town under a curse after the residents tried and execute her for witchcraft.}}
* [[Adorably Precocious Child]]: Norman.
* [[Adorably Precocious Child]]: Norman.
* [[Adults Are Useless]]: Most of the adults range from [[Too Dumb to Live]] and sometimes just plain crazy.
* [[Adults Are Useless]]: Most of the adults range from [[Too Dumb to Live]] to just plain crazy.
* [[Adult Fear]]: {{spoiler|Agatha, who's an innocent kid, was condemned and put to death as a witch. History repeats again almost, this time with Norman's parents' protestations getting drown out by the mob which shows just how powerless they are.}}
* [[Adult Fear]]: {{spoiler|Agatha, an innocent kid, was condemned and put to death as a witch. History almost repeats itself with Norman's parents' protestations getting drowned out by the mob which shows just how powerless they are.}}
* [[Aloof Big Sister]]: Basically, Courtney.
* [[Aloof Big Sister]]: Courtney.
* [[All of the Other Reindeer]]: Deconstructed hard.
* [[All of the Other Reindeer]]: Deconstructed hard.
* [[An Aesop]]:
* [[An Aesop]]:
* [[Annoying Younger Sibling]]: Courtney sees Norman as this.
* [[Annoying Younger Sibling]]: Courtney sees Norman as this.
* [[Anti-Villain]]:
* [[Anti-Villain]]:
* [[The Atoner]]: {{spoiler|Mainly The Judge (and his zombie companions) are fully aware that the curse was their fault. The zombies only want to tell Normal just how to stop the curse.}}
* [[The Atoner]]: {{spoiler|The Judge and his zombie companions are fully aware that the curse was their fault. The zombies only want to tell Norman how to stop the curse.}}
* [[Badass Pacifist]]: Norman takes the [[No-Holds-Barred Beatdown|beatdown]] route that even {{spoiler|pushes the envelope of the movie's PG rating and never stops trying to reason with Agatha's ghost.}}
* [[Badass Pacifist]]: Norman takes the [[No-Holds-Barred Beatdown|beatdown]] route that even {{spoiler|pushes the envelope of the movie's PG rating and never stops trying to reason with Agatha's ghost.}}
* [[Barbie Doll Anatomy]]: Averted. When Mitch is shirtless he has nipples.
* [[Barbie Doll Anatomy]]: Averted. When Mitch is shirtless he has nipples.
* [[Bare Your Midriff]]: Courtney.
* [[Bare Your Midriff]]: Courtney.
* [[Big Bad]]: Mainly the ghost of the witch.
* [[Big Bad]]: The ghost of the witch.
* [[Big Ol' Eyebrows]]: Norman and Mr. Prenderghast. {{Spoiler| Including Agatha. Turns out it runs in the family as well as having the ability to speak to the deceased.}}
* [[Big Ol' Eyebrows]]: Norman and Mr. Prenderghast. {{Spoiler|Also Agatha. Turns out it runs in the family as well as the ability to speak to the deceased.}}
* [[Black Comedy]]
* [[Black Comedy]]
* [[Book Dumb]]: Neil.
* [[Book Dumb]]: Neil.
Line 40: Line 40:
* [[Cool Loser]]: Norman happens to be able to speak to the dead, but is considered an outsider in the community. However, this is somewhat justified when you really consider from everyone else's perspective how this is a kid who is going around claiming he speaks with dead people.
* [[Cool Loser]]: Norman happens to be able to speak to the dead, but is considered an outsider in the community. However, this is somewhat justified when you really consider from everyone else's perspective how this is a kid who is going around claiming he speaks with dead people.
* [[Cool Old Lady]]: Grandma Babcock.
* [[Cool Old Lady]]: Grandma Babcock.
* [[Cosmetic Horror]]: This happens to the school drama teacher, her makeup is awful, worst is her green facial mask that's so bad that only talking to her saved her from being mistaken for one of the zombies.
* [[Cosmetic Horror]]: This happens to the school drama teacher; her makeup is awful, worst is her green facial mask that's so bad that only talking to her saves her from being mistaken for one of the zombies.
* [[Crapsack World]]: Much of the trailer shows the rundown suburbia that the protagonist lives in. And [[Town with a Dark Secret|of course...]]
* [[Crapsack World]]: Much of the trailer shows the rundown suburb that the protagonist lives in. And [[Town with a Dark Secret|of course...]]
* [[Creepy Child]]: According to most of the town, Norman is this and {{spoiler|the same can go for the little girl, who is the "infamous" witch.}}
* [[Creepy Child]]: According to most of the town, Norman is this and {{spoiler|so is the little girl who is the "infamous" witch.}}
* [[Dark Is Not Evil]]: Basically the town's ghosts, they're friendly. {{spoiler|Ditto with the zombies, since all they want is to atone for their sin of killing a "witch", who was just angry over the wrongs that are committed on her.}}
* [[Dark Is Not Evil]]: The town's ghosts, who are friendly. {{spoiler|Ditto with the zombies, since all they want is to atone for their sin of killing a "witch", who was just angry about the wrongs done to her.}}
* [[Dumb Blonde]]: Courtney, though it looks like she dyes.
* [[Dumb Blonde]]: Courtney, though it looks like she dyes.
* [[Dumb Jock]]: Mitch.
* [[Dumb Jock]]: Mitch.
* [[Dumb Muscle]]: Mainly Mitch and Alvin. Plus, they're not that smart.
* [[Dumb Muscle]]: Mitch and Alvin.
* [[Earn Your Happy Ending]]: Norman has to fight a "witch" to protect a town that mostly scorns him, only to find that the townspeople {{spoiler|realizes that the ghosts and undead are real and willing to lend a hand to assist in the crisis. At the end, Norman was hailed as a hero with a cool ability.}}
* [[Earn Your Happy Ending]]: Norman has to fight a "witch" to protect a town that mostly scorns him, only to find that the townspeople {{spoiler|realize that the ghosts and undead are real and are willing to assist with the crisis. At the end, Norman is hailed as a hero with a cool ability.}}
* [[Everything's Deader with Zombies]]: The first creature to invade Blithe Hollow. Oh, and [[It Got Worse|it gets worse...]]
* [[Everything's Deader with Zombies]]: The first creature to invade Blithe Hollow. Oh, and [[It Got Worse|it gets worse...]]
* [[Evil is Petty]]: The witch cursed all of Blithe Hollow to be attacked by the zombies of those who tried her. {{spoiler|Averted. Since, Aggy cursed the zombies to go through the same thing that she went through.}}
* [[Evil is Petty]]: The witch cursed all of Blithe Hollow to be attacked by the zombies of those who tried her. {{spoiler|Subverted, since Aggy cursed the zombies to go through the same thing as she did.}}
* [[Executive Meddling]]: The aerobics instructor's butts aren't as...detailed as they appear in the teasers and trailers.
* [[Executive Meddling]]: The aerobics instructor's butts aren't as...detailed as they appear in the teasers and trailers.
* [[Exotic Eye Designs]]: Norman's irises and pupils are faceted. No other character has eyes like his, so it's not a result of the heavy stylization in the film.
* [[Exotic Eye Designs]]: Norman's irises and pupils are faceted. No other character has eyes like his, so it's not a result of the heavy stylization in the film.
* [[Fat Best Friend]]: Neil.
* [[Fat Best Friend]]: Neil.
* [[Favoritism Flip Flop]]: At the ending of the film, Alvin explains to some girls that he and Norman are real close for years. It's true in a sense, since Alvin was Norman's bully.
* [[Favoritism Flip Flop]]: At the ending of the film, Alvin explains to some girls that he and Norman have been very close for years. It's true in a sense, since Alvin was Norman's bully.
* [[Fighting for Survival]]: When the townspeople encountering the zombies where doing what every sane person does, {{spoiler|turns out to be unnecessary.}}
* [[Fighting for Survival]]: When the townspeople encounter the zombies they do what every sane person does, {{spoiler|but it turns out to be unnecessary.}}
* [[Five-Man Band]]:
* [[Five-Man Band]]:
** [[The Chick]]: Courtney
** [[The Chick]]: Courtney
Line 61: Line 61:
** [[The Hero]]: Norman
** [[The Hero]]: Norman
** [[The Smart Guy]]: Neil
** [[The Smart Guy]]: Neil
* [[Foot Focus]]: Briefly with Courtney, since she was painting her nails.
* [[Foot Focus]]: Briefly with Courtney when she paints her nails.
* [[Foreshadowing]]: The practice session of the school play, {{spoiler|including the line about the witch's portrayal being historically inaccurate.}}
* [[Foreshadowing]]: The practice session of the school play, {{spoiler|including the line about the witch's portrayal being historically inaccurate.}}
** While watching the B-Movie's opening, Norman's Grandma {{spoiler|made a weird suggestion of instead of running to the hills, the girl in the film could've at least tried to reason with the zombie.}}
** While watching the B-Movie's opening, Norman's Grandma {{spoiler|made the weird suggestion that instead of running to the hills, the girl in the film could've at least tried to reason with the zombie.}}
* [[Freaky Is Cool]]: This trope is the reason why Neil befriends Norman.
* [[Freaky Is Cool]]: This trope is the reason why Neil befriends Norman.
* [[From Nobody to Nightmare]]: The witch's ghost used to be {{spoiler|a sweet girl that had the power to see ghosts.}} Her [[Shock and Awe|other]] [[Animated Dead|terrifying powers]] appeared after {{spoiler|she was hanged.}}
* [[From Nobody to Nightmare]]: The witch's ghost used to be {{spoiler|a sweet girl that had the power to see ghosts.}} Her [[Shock and Awe|other]] [[Animated Dead|terrifying powers]] appeared after {{spoiler|she was hanged.}}
Line 75: Line 75:
* [[Heroic BSOD]]:
* [[Heroic BSOD]]:
* [[Hollywood History]]:
* [[Hollywood History]]:
* [[Homage]]: To [[Scooby Doo]], the Sheriff mutters "[[Meddling Kids]]" and later "Jinkies" (a line that Velma frequently uses), when she almost crashes her car.
* [[Homage]]: To [[Scooby Doo]]. The sheriff mutters "[[Meddling Kids]]" and later "Jinkies" (a line that Velma frequently uses), when she almost crashes her car.
** One of the Para Norman movie posters does this:
** One of the Para Norman movie posters does this:
* [[Incompatible Orientation]]:
* [[Incompatible Orientation]]:
Line 93: Line 93:
* [[Now What?]]
* [[Now What?]]
* [[Oblivious to Love]]:
* [[Oblivious to Love]]:
* [[Odd Friendship]]: With the ghosts. One of them being a [[Cloudcuckoolander|town loon]] voiced by John Goodman.
* [[Odd Friendship]]: With the ghosts. One of them is a [[Cloudcuckoolander|town loon]] voiced by John Goodman.
* [[One of the Kids]]:
* [[One of the Kids]]:
* [[Only Sane Man]]:
* [[Only Sane Man]]:
Line 99: Line 99:
* [[Playing Against Type]]:
* [[Playing Against Type]]:
* [[Poor Man's Porn]]:
* [[Poor Man's Porn]]:
* [[The Poor Mans Substitute]]: [[In-Universe]]. [[Word of God]] likened the town to a b-list version of Salem, Massachusetts.
* [[The Poor Mans Substitute]]: [[In-Universe]]. [[Word of God]] likened the town to a B-list version of Salem, Massachusetts.
* [[Popular Is Dumb]]: Courtney is a [[The Cheerleader|cheerleader]] and Mitch is a [[Dumb Jock|jock]].
* [[Popular Is Dumb]]: Courtney is a [[The Cheerleader|cheerleader]] and Mitch is a [[Dumb Jock|jock]].
* [[The Reveal]]:
* [[The Reveal]]:
Line 108: Line 108:
* [[Shock and Awe]]:
* [[Shock and Awe]]:
* [[Shout Out]]:
* [[Shout Out]]:
** To most of the bad '70s B-Grade Horror flicks. Plus, those are the ones that Norman likes to watch.
** To most of the bad '70s B-grade horror flicks. Those are also the ones that Norman likes to watch.
** Norman's rington is the ''[[Halloween (film)|Halloween]]'' theme tune.
** Norman's ringtone is the ''[[Halloween (film)|Halloween]]'' theme tune.
** Blithe Hollow's name is a mashup of two ghost stories, [[Blithe Spirit]] and [[Sleepy Hollow]].
** Blithe Hollow's name is a mashup of two ghost stories, [[Blithe Spirit]] and [[Sleepy Hollow]].
* [[Shout Out To Shakespeare]]:
* [[Shout Out To Shakespeare]]:
Line 129: Line 129:
* [[White and Grey Morality]]:
* [[White and Grey Morality]]:
* [[Witch Hunt]]:
* [[Witch Hunt]]:
* [[Witch Species]]: Hinted that some of the Prendreghast descendants.
* [[Witch Species]]: It's hinted that some of the Prenderghast descendants are this.
* [[Woobie, Destroyer of Worlds]]
* [[Woobie, Destroyer of Worlds]]
* [[Would Hurt A Child]]:
* [[Would Hurt A Child]]:

Revision as of 07:12, 15 March 2018

I See Dead People
There's nothing wrong with being scared, Norman, so long as you don't let it change who you are.
—Grandma Babcock

Para Norman is a stop-motion animated comic horror film from Laika Animation Studios -- better known for their success with Coraline -- that was released in August 17, 2012. It was directed by Chris Butler (the main storyboard artist on Coraline) and Sam Fell (an Aardman alumni and director of Flushed Away), based off a script written by Butler.

The film follows the titular protagonist, Norman (voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee), living in a small town in Massachusetts. With the "gift" of speaking to the dead, Norman is called an outcast by most of the town, most of which populated by childish adults and a nasty population of kids. When the town comes under siege by zombies, ghosts and witches, only he can actually save the town from these creatures, not to mention a centuries-old curse on the town.

A trailer can be seen here. Be warned, some of the imagery rivals Coraline in scariness.

Tropes used in ParaNorman include:

Neil: It's just because I'm fat and I have asthma and I sweat when I walk too fast and my lunchbox has a kitten on it, and I have irritable bowel syndrome.

Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/ParaNorman?oldid=1580776"