Pixar Storytelling: Rules for Effective Storytelling Based on Pixar’s Greatest Films
Dean Movshovitzamazon.com
Pixar Storytelling: Rules for Effective Storytelling Based on Pixar’s Greatest Films
It’s not enough to know only what a character wants. As storytellers, we must also know (and convey) why they want it.
Dean Movshovitz • Pixar Storytelling: Rules for Effective Storytelling Based on Pixar’s Greatest Films
Empathy is a powerful phenomenon. Our ability to adopt the point of view of someone who seems completely different from us based on our shared core humanity is one of our distinctly human abilities. Use it wisely; the further you take us into the heart of someone completely different, the more rewarding and transformative our journey will be.
Dean Movshovitz • Pixar Storytelling: Rules for Effective Storytelling Based on Pixar’s Greatest Films
The first layer of a character is easy to create but fades quickly. The third layer requires more details and originality, as well as more patience from your audience, but is more rewarding and creates a stronger bond with viewers. The second layer lies somewhere in between. You can coast on it for a long time, but without the substantial third lay
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In storytelling, the most powerful instance of construction is personal, when a protagonist must change something deep within themselves to achieve their goal.
Dean Movshovitz • Pixar Storytelling: Rules for Effective Storytelling Based on Pixar’s Greatest Films
Characters must be in danger of destruction, but they must also have a chance at construction as well.
Dean Movshovitz • Pixar Storytelling: Rules for Effective Storytelling Based on Pixar’s Greatest Films
In Chapter 1, we explored how every moment in Ratatouille pertains to its core idea. This is true of all Pixar’s films. They each feel like a complex mechanism, in which all parts work together efficiently. Where nothing is missing, nothing is redundant, and every element has a function.
Dean Movshovitz • Pixar Storytelling: Rules for Effective Storytelling Based on Pixar’s Greatest Films
Most good stories revolve around watching a character struggle outside of his or her comfort zone. Pixar continually figures out what a protagonist wants most—and then throws the exact opposite at them.
Dean Movshovitz • Pixar Storytelling: Rules for Effective Storytelling Based on Pixar’s Greatest Films
Pixar films often feature two main antagonists—one benevolent and one malicious—Buzz/Sid, Princess/Hopper, Jessie/Stinky Pete, Boo/Randall, and so on. Ratatouille has three main antagonists: One evil (Skinner), one benevolent (Linguini) and a third, Anton Ego. Ego isn’t malicious the way Skinner and Muntz are, but I wouldn’t call him benevolent eit
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Characters must experience these dark moments, because a character devoid of self-doubt and fear is unrelatable. Such a character simply isn’t realistic.
Dean Movshovitz • Pixar Storytelling: Rules for Effective Storytelling Based on Pixar’s Greatest Films
opinions are fuel for conflict. Once a character cares deeply about something, you can create powerful, emotional conflict surrounding that emotion.