As much as I can?t stand Dakota Fanning's consistent refusal to end up a underage DUI convict with a typical celeb smugshot--it IS pretty awesome when you?re given a look behind the scenes of her latest animated stop-motion fantasy flick, Coraline. Today, we received four exclusive images from the film, based on the novel of the same name, from Neil ?Beowulf/Stardust? Gaiman, in which Fanning provides the voice of Coraline, a young girl who walks through a secret door in her new home and discovers an alternate version of her life. While Coraline will not hit theaters until February 2009 go behind the scenes now, and take an early look at the film!

Assistant Cameraman Mike Gerzevitz between takes with (l-r.) Wybie and his new friend Coraline on the first stop-motion animated adventure to be conceived and photographed in stereoscopic 3-D, Focus Features? February release CORALINE, directed by Henry Selick. Photo Credit: Galvin Collins.

Animator Chris Tootell readies Coraline to cross a snowy forest in the first stop-motion animated adventure to be conceived and photographed in stereoscopic 3-D, Focus Features? February release CORALINE, directed by Henry Selick. Photo Credit: Galvin Collins.

Coraline goes exploring in a scene from the first stop-motion animated adventure to be conceived and photographed in stereoscopic 3-D, Focus Features? February release CORALINE, directed by Henry Selick. Photo Credit: Galvin Collins.

EXCLUSIVE! Set construction supervisor Bo Henry makes final adjustments to one of the dozens of hand-crafted elaborate sets made for the first stop-motion animated adventure to be conceived and photographed in stereoscopic 3-D, Focus Features? February release CORALINE, directed by Henry Selick. Photo Credit: Kelvin Jones.