History ShoutOut / ParaNorman

* After centuries of having ''Literature/SleepingBeauty'' read to her, is it any surprise Aggie would use a WallOfThorns to obstruct Norman from reaching her lair?

* Judge Hopkins is named for the title character of the Creator/{{Tigon}} horror film ''Film/WitchfinderGeneral'', based on real life witchhunter Matthew Hopkins.

* The film is one to bad '70s [[BMovie B-Grade]] {{horror}} flicks in general... The type Norman likes to watch on TV.
* The concept of the film is remarkably similar to ''Film/ReturnOfTheLivingDeadPartII''. To recap, the film is (mostly) a BlackComedy centered on a group of people lead by a kid, his older sister, and a guy she's into trying to survive a ZombieApocalypse that was caused by the kid's bullies.
* The open credits are introduced by [[Franchise/EvilDead the camera doing a high-speed zoom through some eerie woods]].

** Neil startling Norman by standing outside his window in a hockey mask also mirrors a shot from the first ''Halloween'' in which Laurie/the camera looks down from a second story window to catch a glimpse of Michael Myers, in his white mask, next to washing hanging on a clothesline

* The name of the town (Blithe Hollow) is a mash-up of the titles of two ghost stories - ''[[Theatre/BlitheSpirit Blithe Spirit]]'' and ''[[Literature/TheLegendOfSleepyHollow Sleepy Hollow]]''.

* Norman trying to yank the book away from the hands of his dead uncle reminds of [[Film/YoungFrankenstein Frederick Frankenstein]]'s similar predicaments with his grandpa's book.

* Niel's dog is named [[Film/DayOfTheDead1985 Bub]].

** The police officer uses the phrase; "Those meddling kids."

** For part of the movie they're driving around in a van like the Mystery Machine.

* Alvin wonders why when faced with a zombie apocalypse they should have to go someplace as lame as [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer the library]].

* Norman tells Courtney [[NotUsingTheZWord not to use]] "[[Film/ShaunOfTheDead the z word]]."

* When we physically first see [[spoiler:Agatha]], she's wearing [[Film/TheWizardOfOz ruby slippers]].
** Actually, a common trait of witches in folklore was that they wore red shoes. So it was that both Paranorman and Wizard of Oz referenced this, as opposed to Paranorman referencing Wizard of Oz.
* Also, her name itself may be a reference to a certain Franchise/{{Pokemon}} Trainer whose specialty was the [[spoiler:Ghost type]].

* It's a WholePlotReference to Johnny and the Dead by Terry Pratchett.

* It's probably unintentional, but Salma looks like she could be a twelve-year-old [[Series/TheBigBangTheory Amy Farrah Fowler]].

* The ''Franchise/{{Halloween}}'' ThemeTune is Norman's ringtone.
* Neil stands outside in a ''Franchise/FridayThe13th'' Jason Voorhees type hockey mask -- but he really does intend to play hockey.
** Which at the same time mirrors a shot from the original ''Film/{{Halloween 1978}}'' in which Laurie/the camera looks down from a second storey window to catch a glimpse of Michael Myers, in his white mask, next to washing hanging on a clothesline.

* Judge Hopkins is named for the title character of the Creator/{{Tigon}} horror film ''Film/WitchfinderGeneral''.

** Which at the same time mirrors a shot from the original ''Film/{{Halloween 1978}}'' in which Laurie/the camera looks down from a second store-y window to catch a glimpse of Michael Myers, in his white mask, next to washing hanging on a clothesline.

* There's a bar called [[Creator/DarioArgento Bar Argento]] and a vending machine with a ''Film/{{Suspiria}}'' logo on the side.

*** Confirmed by [[WordOfGod the commentary]]. And the reason they call Salma instead of bringing her along because that's what would happen in real life. The gang wouldn't bring Velma on the dangerous adventure, they'd call her whenever they needed information.

* The confrontation between [[spoiler:Norman and Aggie]] during the film's is eerily similar to that of the ending of ''Film/TheFountain'', right down to the color palette and music.

** Which at the same time mirrors a shot from the original ''Halloween'' in which Laurie/the camera looks down from a second store-y window to catch a glimpse of Michael Myers, in his white mask, next to washing hanging on a clothesline.