Isn’t it a little strange that it’s always kids that want to escape to another world? How come adults never seem to find these portals? Surely kids should be happy enough to play with Lego all day whilst eating their own bogies? Adults on the other hand, have to pay bills and visit their parents on weekends, when they’d rather... well, go through a door and have an adventure. Damn those kids.

Coraline is yet another lucky brat to have such an adventure. The scenario is a familiar one; the family move into a new apartment that has seen better days. Her parents are busy putting together a garden catalogue, so have little time for her. Her dad tells her to explore the old house, and count all its doors and windows. On her exploration, she discovers a very small door that, once opened, allows her to enter a parallel world. There, her ‘other’ parents have all the time in the world for her. They cook her great food, play games etc. But as she soon finds out, this ‘other’ world is hiding from her some very dark secrets.

Hurry. We have a TV home makeover show turning up in 10 minutes...

The film’s premise then, is hardly original. However, the way the story is told, more than makes up for it. Its director Henry Selick directed A Nightmare Before Christmas and James And The Giant Peach, both of which were beautifully animated. In an attempt to either push the genre’s envelope, or just to show off, Coraline is the first stop-motion animated feature to be shot in 3-D. Although in truth, if you view it in regular old 2-D, you won’t be missing out on much.

The 3-D version is one of the most subtle 3-D features you are likely to see. There are few jaw-dropping examples of the technology used; in fact, one of the best 3-D bits is reserved for the end of the closing credits. What you are aware of though, is a sense of depth in both of Coraline’s worlds. When Coraline (voiced by Dakota Fanning) goes through the door and visits her ‘other’ parents for instance, you get a real sense of near and far.

Whichever version you do end up watching, the animation is nothing short of impressive. Like Selick’s previous flicks, there is a splendidly dark visual tone throughout. This is no surprise considering the film’s source material – Neil Gaiman’s 2002 book of the same name.

The voice talent involved also do a great job. Dakota Fanning always manages to keep Coraline likeable, without having to resort to OTT voice acting. Teri Hatcher (playing both the mums), Ian McShane (Mr Bobinsky), Dawn French (Miss Forcible) and Jennifer Saunders (Miss Spink) also do well to further ‘flesh out’ the animated characters.

Coraline is the perfect film that parents will thoroughly enjoy, whether they take their kids or not. And for the rest of us big kids who are still waiting for our very own doors to open, Coraline’s trip is definitely worth a watch - for tips if nothing else - in the meantime.