The character Wybie Lovat is not in Neil Gaiman's novel. He exists so Coraline would not have to talk to herself and so she would have a friend her age.
Over 130 sets were built across 52 different stages at the studios. Spanning 183,000 square feet, the 52 different stages were the most ever deployed for a stop-motion animated feature.
The on-screen snow was made from superglue and baking soda.
There were 24 different puppets of Coraline used in the making of the movie, and each one took ten individuals and 3-4 months to construct.
Initially, the film would be live-action, and Dakota Fanning would physically portray Coraline. When it was decided instead to make a stop-motion animated film, Fanning was asked if she would still be interested in providing Coraline's voice. She said yes, as she thought it would be fun, and grew even more excited when she saw what Coraline would look like.
Jerome Ranft: One of the movers who groaned after seeing the low pay they were given from the Joneses. The appearance of his character paid homage to his late brother, Joe.
Yona Prost: the boy in the store who rides on a stool quoting a William Shakespeare line before crashing into something leaving the stool with Coraline.
Marina Budovsky: The second friend of Coraline back in Michigan in a photo in her bedroom in the Other World. The character's appearance was based upon the real Budovsky.
Harry Selick: The first friend of Coraline back in Michigan in a photo in her bedroom in the Other World.