Pixar Storytelling Rules #5: Essence of Structure

Summary

This video delves into Pixar's storytelling formula, emphasizing the importance of understanding its structure rather than merely filling in blanks. It outlines key stages: the hero's introduction, daily life, the inciting incident, a chain of events driven by causality, and the ultimate resolution that transforms both the hero and their world. The script uses examples from Pixar films like *WALL-E* and *A Bug's Life* to illustrate how these narrative elements work together to create engaging, inevitable, and satisfying stories. The video also hints at the importance of believable characters, to be explored in the next episode.

Takeaways

• 😀 Story structure templates are helpful only if you understand the meaning behind their components.
• 😀 Pixar's story structure includes these key elements: 'Once upon a time...', 'Every day...', 'One day...', 'Because of that...', 'Until finally...'.
• 😀 The 'Once upon a time' part introduces the hero, establishing relatability.
• 😀 'Every day' shows the hero's routine and their world, hinting at their desires and struggles.
• 😀 The inciting incident, represented by 'One day...', changes everything for the hero.
• 😀 'Because of that' represents the chain of events that follows from the hero's decisions, emphasizing causality over mere chronology.
• 😀 A strong story feels 'unexpected but inevitable'—events should unfold as if they had to happen once the inciting incident occurs.
• 😀 The 'Until finally' moment should bring irreversible change to both the hero and their world.
• 😀 Story resolutions must transform the hero and the world around them, making the ending meaningful and satisfying.
• 😀 A satisfying ending requires making the hero's journey challenging, with moments of doubt and darkness that lead to a hard-earned victory.
• 😀 Successful stories often work backward from the known resolution, figuring out how the hero will achieve their ultimate goal.

Q & A

What is the main takeaway from Pixar's story structure formula?

The main takeaway is that story structure is not just about filling in blanks with events, but understanding how each part of the formula contributes to the hero's journey and drives the plot forward through causation, not just chronology.

How does Pixar's formula begin, and what does each part represent?

Pixar's formula begins with 'Once upon a time, there was a hero,' introducing a relatable character. It is followed by 'Every day,' which shows the hero's world and desires. This sets up the stage for the inciting incident, which is represented by 'One day.'

Why is 'Every day' an important part of the story structure?

'Every day' provides insight into the hero’s daily life and their desires, establishing a connection with the audience. It also highlights what the hero is missing, creating a foundation for the inciting incident.

What is the significance of 'One day' in Pixar’s story structure?

'One day' marks the inciting incident, the event that disrupts the hero’s daily life and sets the story in motion. It is a turning point where everything changes for the hero.

What is the difference between 'Because of that' and 'After that' in a story?

The phrase 'Because of that' indicates a causal relationship between events, showing how one action leads to another. In contrast, 'After that' is merely a sequence of events without causality, which doesn’t form a cohesive story.

How does Pixar’s story structure ensure that a story feels inevitable?

The structure ensures that once the inciting incident occurs, the events that follow feel like a natural result of the hero’s decisions and actions, creating a sense of inevitability while still keeping the audience engaged with unexpected twists.

What role does the 'Until finally' part play in the story?

'Until finally' represents the climax, where an irreversible change occurs in the hero’s life, leading to a transformation of both the hero and their world. It marks the culmination of the hero’s journey.

Why are endings considered difficult in storytelling?

Endings are challenging because audiences are sophisticated and can often predict character arcs. To make a satisfying conclusion, the story must lead to an inevitable yet unexpected resolution that feels earned and meaningful.

How does the script suggest handling a predictable character arc?

The script suggests that even if a character’s arc is predictable, such as a grumpy character becoming kinder, the path to that resolution must be difficult, with setbacks and challenges, so the final change feels impactful and rewarding.

What does Pixar’s story structure tell us about creating a character’s resolution?

The structure emphasizes that a character's resolution must feel earned, meaning the hero should undergo significant challenges that test their abilities. For example, Flick must face self-doubt and failure before ultimately outsmarting Hopper, making the victory more satisfying.