is a stop-motion masterpiece by LAIKA Studios that perfectly balances creepy thrills with massive heart.
The plot kicks off when Norman’s eccentric uncle, Mr. Prenderghast, dies and leaves Norman a crucial mission: read a bedtime story to a sleeping witch’s corpse to prevent a 300-year-old curse. Naturally, Norman messes up, and zombies rise from the grave. paranorman full
The story follows 11-year-old (voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee), an isolated boy in the town of Blithe Hollow who can speak with the dead. While his classmates and even his own father treat him as a "freak," Norman’s unique gift becomes the town’s only hope when a centuries-old witch’s curse brings a horde of pilgrim zombies to life. Why It Still Matters: Themes of Acceptance is a stop-motion masterpiece by LAIKA Studios that
Roger Ebert gave it 3.5 out of 4 stars, writing that it “deals with death in a way few children’s films dare.” However, it was a box office disappointment, grossing only $107 million against a $60 million budget. Why? The marketing struggled to sell the “full” tone. Trailers made it look like a silly zombie comedy, ignoring the tragic, slow-burn drama about a lonely boy. Naturally, Norman messes up, and zombies rise from the grave