Chris Butler describes ParaNorman as "John Carpenter meets John Hughes" and named Carpenter as the biggest single reference; Norman's phone ringtone is the opening of the Halloween theme.
Animation· 2012· Comedy
ParaNorman
by Sam Fell, Chris Butler
ParaNorman: it draws on 3 recorded sources.
What influenced ParaNorman
The works this one is recorded as drawing on.
Butler has named The Goonies and the Amblin films of the 1980s as the model for ParaNorman's mismatched gang of kids on an adventure the adults refuse to believe in.
From a list. Butler named E.T. among the family films whose "Amblin vibe" he wanted: a lonely suburban boy, a secret, and grown-ups who will not listen.