Despite being the mind behind some of the most iconic stop-motion animation of the past 30 years, Henry Selick isn’t quite a household name. This director helmed projects such asThe Nightmare Before ChristmasandCoraline, but is not as well-known as he perhaps should be for those films. A lot of people associate Tim Burton’s name withThe Nightmare Before Christmas, since it obviously fits his aesthetic, but he was only the producer, while Henry Selick actually directed the movie.
Selick only has 5 movies in his filmography as of right now, but all of them are wildly inventive and interesting in their own ways. They explore underworlds and other worlds, and most utilizethe art of stop-motion animationto create some truly stunning sequences. But which one is the best, and which ones don’t quite hit the highs of the best?
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Monkeybone
Monkeyboneis a strange one, and definitely the least well-known of Selick’s works (perhaps for a good reason). This film followscartoonist Stu Miley, who is the creator of a successful comic strip calledMonkeybone, which revolves around a trouble-making monkey. Stu is on the verge of success, as his strip is about to become a TV show and he plans to propose to his girlfriend, but he gets into a freak accident and is transported to a strange underworld. There, he meets Monkeybone, the very character he created, who accompanies him and causes just as much trouble in real life as he does in the comic strip.
So, yes, it’s a strange premise, and is executed with mixed success. The film is a little weird, which might be perfect for some viewers, but others might find it a little disorienting or overstimulating.Monkeybonedoes, however, star Brendan Fraser, who has notably beenexperiencing a career renaissance lately, so it might be the perfect time for fans who want to go back through his work to watchMonkeybone. Though the idea is interesting, the story itself is a little messy, and it’s not one of Selick’s best.
James and the Giant Peach
Henry Selick’s style seems so primed toadapt Roald Dahl worksand their whimsical weirdness that it’s almost strange that this is the only one he ever helmed.James and the Giant Peach, adapted from Dahl’s novel of the same name, follows the story of a young boy named James who lives with his terrible aunts. He finds a way to escape from them when he encounters a giant enchanted peach, which is inhabited by a litany of talking insects that he befriends and journeys to New York City with.
This is a childhood classic and might be at the top of some people’s lists for the nostalgia alone. The animation is inventive, and the switch from live-action to stop-motion is a brilliant way to represent the change happening in James. However, it’s not quite asvibrant or excitingas the higher Selick entries on the list, and the songs interspersed throughout the film aren’t quite as memorable as those fromTheNightmare Before Christmas.
Wendell and Wild
Selick’s newest film, released on Netflix in October, was met with less fanfare than it should have been. This moviesort of flew under the radar, thanks to Netflix’s lack of promotion, which means it didn’t get the appreciation it deserved.Wendell and Wildfollows the story of a girl named Kat who has been labeled a “troubled teen”, as she gets involved with a couple of demons from the world of the dead as she attempts to bring back her parents and save an old town.
The animation in this film is gorgeous and so well done, and the cast and characters are incredibly diverse. The story suffers a little from being a bit complicated (it’s perhaps a film for older kids/teens and adults), but all of the plot threads weave together in the end and prove that Selick knew what he was doing with this story.Jordan Peele also has a writing crediton the movie (while also starring in it), and his recent track record should be enough to know that he chooses his projects well.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
The last two movies in Selick’s body of work are pretty close in quality, and both have become cultural icons in their own right, especiallyNightmare. To this day, stores still sell plenty ofNightmare Before Christmasmerch, and one can find Jack Skellington’s face on just about anything,especially around Halloween. The imagery of the film is so striking that it stuck with people, and for good reason.
The Nightmare Before Christmasis a classic for a lot of reasons. The songs are iconic, the character designs are so unique and memorable, and the animation itself is so technically impressive that a lot of people watch just for that. The juxtaposition ofChristmas against the Halloweentownantics is always fun to watch, and it’s such an entertaining and spooky movie for anyone of any age to enjoy. Sure, the movie’s plot is a little simple, but that’s what makes it fun. It’s more about the aesthetics than anything, and the mood thatThe Nightmare Before Christmasgives off is so perfectly crafted that it’s basically a masterpiece.
Coraline
WhileNightmareis arguably Selick’s most iconic film,Coralineis the best overall. It may be partially due to the source materialbelonging to Neil Gaiman, who himself is a master of his craft, but Selick is able to adapt the story so perfectly. The work that went into the details of the animation alone, from the wide 3D printed faces for Coraline so that they could swap out her expressions to the fact that the tiny sweaters worn by the characters had to be knit by hand using knitting needles the size of human hair, just shows how dedicated everyone involved in this film was to their craft.
From the acting to the writing to the animation, everything aboutCoralineis pretty much perfect, and it results in a movie that is mature and creepy while still appealing to its young audience. Coraline’s struggles and frustrations with her parents are relatable, and the sense of wonder that comes from her traveling to the Other World (along with the terror when she learns ofthe Other Mother’s real intentions) is so fun to watch.Coralineis truly a masterwork, and so it was surprising that Selick didn’t make a movie for so long afterward. Hopefully, he’ll be able to put out more in the future, because his talent and passion clearly shine through in everything he does.
