Facts And Details About The Eccentric Neighbors In 'Coraline' (2024)

Both in the real world and in the Other World, Mr. Bobinsky wears a medal on his chest. The writing on it is in Russian, but in English, it translates to “Participant of the liquidation of the consequences of accidents,” alluding to the fact that he was part of the cleanup crew for the horrific Chernobyl disaster that occurred in 1986.

The radiation poisoning from such a feat could also explain the blue tint of his skin.

In the final scene, when all the neighbors are outside planting in the Pink Palace's newly revitalized garden, Coraline catches Mr. Bobinsky pulling tulips out of the lower portion of the garden and attempting to plant beets in their place.

He also gave Coraline a beet during their very first meeting, promising it would make her strong. He could be such a big fan because beets are good for hemoglobin restoration after radiation exposure - or he just really loves beets.

Mr. Bobinsky undeniably treats the outside of the Pink Palace like it's his own personal trapeze, but the inside of his apartment is also set up like a makeshift circus act. This interior space, however, is designed more for his jumping mice than for him.

In the Other World, we see that his apartment is a grander version of what truly is: Cotton-candy cannons, a real popcorn machine, and a genuine circus tent combine to create a magical spectacle, even though in the real world, the popcorn machine is just a chicken and the tent is just a sheet draped over a lamp.

Among his many eccentricities, Mr. Bobinsky can communicate with his jumping mice pretty clearly. The man of mystery even delivers a message to Coraline from the mice, warning her not to go through the little door.

Coraline initially writes off this warning as pure kookiness, but as the story unfolds, the mice are proven correct about everything (including about Coraline’s name), even when Mr. Bobinsky thinks otherwise:

Bah. So sorry, is nothing. Sometimes the mice are little mixed up. They even get your name wrong, you know? They call you Coraline instead of Caroline. Not Caroline at all!

In the final garden party scene, when Coraline asks after the “mooshkas,” Mr. B. relays a special message:

They tell me that you are savior, Caroline. And soon as they are ready, they wish to give special “thanks you” performance.

When Coraline first arrives to visit Spink and Forcible’s apartment, she looks down to see a shabby welcome mat that reads, “No whistling in the house.” This is one of the first hints pointing to Spink and Forcible’s careers in the theater, as whistling was thought to bring bad luck - or perhaps even danger.

According to theater lore, when stage sets were first mobilized by ropes and pulleys in the 17th century, an errant whistle could bring down a backdrop or set piece before its appointed time, potentially putting the cast and crew in harm's way. This was because stagehands were often former sailors, and much like on a ship, they would communicate with one another using whistles.

Perhaps the doormat's warning also hints at Spink and Forcible's mystic practices; many cultures believe that whistling, especially at night or indoors, brings about poverty at best and various forms of doom at worst.

Spink and Forcible's basem*nt apartment may be dingy and dark, but that atmosphere arguably works in their favor, as they fill their space with old performance posters and rich, red curtains to mimic the mysterious magic of a theater. The two thespians pay homage to their past career in practically every element of their shared space - the chairs in their living room are arranged in rows like theater seats, and the door knocker features the ubiquitous comedy and tragedy masks.

In the Other World, their small reminders and nods come to life, transforming into a magnificent theater that could rival such renowned venues as London's Royal Opera House or New York City's Lincoln Center.