Neal Rubin

'Coraline' fans must wait for Detroit Zoo snow globe

In a perfect world -- or even a magical world, like in the movies -- the Detroit Zoo would have snow globes for sale to match the one in "Coraline."

Here in the real world, unfortunately, it's harder to strike while the iron is hot. You can't just dial China and say, "Yo, ship me over some bears in a glass ball!" But if all goes as planned, the zoo will at least strike while the iron is lukewarm.

"Coraline" is an animated 3-D kids' film that brought in $39 million in its first two weeks, a sum unexpected enough to raise even the stop-motion eyebrows on the title character. Critics love "Coraline," and Coraline herself loves the Horace H. Rackham Memorial Fountain, the one with the upright bears near the center of the zoo.

At one point, having grudgingly moved from Pontiac to Ashland, Ore., Coraline gazes at a replica of the fountain inside a snow globe. The globe makes a return appearance later, but if I spoil the surprise you'll want me to refund your $9.50, so I'm not saying why or how.

The zoo's phone started ringing as soon as the movie came out on Feb. 6, and no, these were not the usual calls for Mr. Lyon or Ms. Ellie Funt. Rob Harris, who overseas concessions and retail services, says he's still hearing from 10 or 15 people a day who want that darned globe.

If you'd like to join the herd, the number is (248) 541-5717, ext. 3274. The Zoofari Market will put your name on a list. But don't expect to be shaking the zoo's money-maker before May or even June.

Permission to replicate

The movie's production company contacted the zoo nearly two years ago to ask permission to replicate the fountain. No charge, the zoo said; the bears will love the publicity. But considering how many movies never quite wind up getting made, and how many scenes wind up snipped from a finished product, the zoo couldn't justify cranking up the snow globe production line.

Final word didn't come until mid-January, says zoo spokeswoman Patricia Janeway. Not long after that, Harris contacted Charles Products, the custom souvenir company he deals with in Maryland.

Charles did the artwork and sent it off to a firm in China that handles molds and paints, and that's where the project sits now. The ceramic mold will be sent to Maryland, then on to Harris for final approval. Figure on a 6-inch-tall, high-quality snow globe, probably priced a few dollars either side of $30.

The initial order will be 360 pieces. "Usually we work on a larger scale," Harris says, but the fountain was uncharted waters.

"Most globes are pretty generic. There's a tiger in it or something with the name 'Detroit Zoo,' but not something this specific," he says. The same penguin under glass you buy in Detroit -- where penguin and polar bear items are the top sellers -- might also be in the gift shop in Cleveland.

The Rackham Fountain is enough of an icon that it's been featured on spoons and pins ... though here in the imperfect world, they're all out of stock.

On the back end

Another problem with the bears is that they're in line behind a mouse.

This is order-placing time for places like theme parks and museums. "So now we're on the back end of the production list," Harris says, trailing Mickey and Goofy and whatever they shake in the gift shops at Cedar Point.

By the time the Rackham globes are on the shelves, he concedes, "Coraline" will be long gone from theaters.

On the plus side, though, it might already be available on DVD. And come spring, zoo-goers with cameras will be doing what they always do, posing at Rackham.

Whatever happens with the movie, the fountain isn't going anywhere.

Reach Neal Rubin at (313) 222-1874 or nrubin@detnews.com.