Coraline is purely fictional. It comes from the imagination of the author and isn't rooted in any real-life events. The story was crafted to take viewers on a fantastical and imaginative journey.
Yes, 'Coraline' is based on a book by Neil Gaiman which was inspired by some real - life elements. For example, the sense of isolation and the discovery of a strange new world can be related to the feelings many people have in real life when they feel alone or discover something unexpected in their surroundings.
In the Coraline full story, the central character is Coraline. She is a brave and curious girl. The Other Mother is a key character too. She is the one who creates the parallel world and tries to keep Coraline there. The cat plays a significant role. It is quite mysterious and helps Coraline understand the situation better. Additionally, the ghost children are important as they are the victims of the Other Mother and Coraline's quest to save them is part of the main plot.
Yes, in some ways the real Coraline story can be scarier. The book allows your imagination to run wild, and some of the descriptions can be really disturbing, like the button eyes. The movie has to tone down some of the really dark aspects to be more accessible to a wide audience.
Coraline discovers a secret door in her new home that leads to an alternate world. At first, it seems like a wonderful place with a 'Other Mother' who dotes on her. But things turn creepy as the Other Mother wants to keep Coraline there forever by sewing buttons into her eyes. Coraline has to use her wits to escape this nightmarish world and save her real family and the souls of the other children trapped there.
There are several similarities. The feeling of being an outsider or not fully fitting in is one. In real - life, many people, especially children, can feel like they don't quite belong, much like Coraline in her own family at the start. The exploration of a new and strange place in the movie is also similar to how in real - life we might explore new places or ideas. And the idea of facing challenges and having to be brave, which Coraline does in the other world, is also something that people experience in real - life, whether it's facing a difficult situation at school or in the family.