A Brilliant Storybook of New Images for ParaNorman

There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that ParaNorman should be one of the best animated films of the year. Made by LAIKA, the team behind Coraline, the stop-motion animated comedy has a brilliant voice cast led by Kodi Smit-McPhee (Let Me In) as the eponymous Norman, alongside Casey Affleck, Anna Kendrick, Leslie Mann, John Goodman, Jeff Garlin, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse.

The film’s official site has put up a batch of fifteen images, a few of which have surfaced before, but all of which now form part of a storybook that introduce the film and its excellent premise.

“The new 3D stop-motion comedy thriller from animation company LAIKA, reteaming the company with Focus Features after the groundbreaking Academy Award-nominated “Coraline.” “ParaNorman” is, following “Coraline,” the company’s second stop-motion animated feature to be made in 3D. In “ParaNorman,” a small town comes under siege by zombies. Who can it call? Only misunderstood local boy Norman (voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee), who is able to speak with the dead. In addition to the zombies, he’ll have to take on ghosts, witches and, worst, of all, grown-ups, to save his town from a centuries-old curse. But this young ghoul whisperer may find his paranormal activities pushed to their otherworldly limits.”

Co-directors Chris Butler and Sam Fell (Flushed Away, The Tale of Desperaux) are working from Butler’s script, with Butler making both his writing and directorial debut.

ParaNorman will be released in 3D on 17^th August in the US and a little later on 14^th September here in the UK, and it definitely looks like this will be one you’ll want to see. As usual with these great images below, you can click to enlarge.

Norman Babcock, like a lot of boys his age, has a taste for the ghoulish.

Unlike a lot of boys his age, Norman’s fondness for all things creepy comes from his best friends being ghosts.

And not just ghost people, mind you. Norman’s life is filled with all manner of the formerly living.

Norman doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with talking to the dead. Which is why the living think there’s something wrong with Norman.

The only one who isn’t bothered by Norman’s odd abilities is another outcast kid named Neil.

Actually, Neil thinks being able to see ghosts seems pretty great. Especially after Norman helps him reconnect with his disconnected ghost dog, Bub.

Then one day, Norman’s Uncle Prenderghast tells him that the special gift he was born with has a special purpose.

And that when the sun sets, Norman will be the only one able to save the town that so mistrusts him from a 300-year-old curse.

Even though Norman holds the key to the curse’s secret, he’ll need some help solving the puzzle.

And together they’ll have to navigate between their closed-minded neighbors…

…and a mindless zombie horde seemingly bent on Blithe Hollow’s destruction

All while Neil’s brother Mitch shows why the average person is more likely to get into a tragic van accident than be eaten by zombies.

Of course, ancient, zombie-summoning curses can also be a great way to learn a few things about yourself.

Like how to fight haunted forest curse-fires.

And that you don’t become a hero by being normal.