Pixar is known for creating some of the most memorable, heartwarming, and hilarious stories in the world of animated film. But have you ever wondered how they come up with those stories?
It turns out, Pixar has a formula for crafting stories that has helped them create some of the most beloved films of all time.
The Pixar story spine is a simple framework that consists of the following elements:
- Once upon a time: This element introduces the setting and the characters of the story.
- And every day: This element establishes the normal, everyday life of the main character.
- One day: This element introduces the event or catalyst that propels the main character out of their ordinary world and into the story.
- Because of that: This element explains the consequences of the event or catalyst.
- Because of that: This element continues to build on the consequences of the event or catalyst.
- Because of that: This element further expands on the consequences of the event or catalyst.
- Until finally: This element marks the turning point of the story, where the main character begins to take control of their journey.
- And, ever since then: This element concludes the story and ties everything together.
The framework helps to guide the development of the story from beginning to end. It is designed to be flexible and adaptable, and it can be used to structure stories in a variety of genres and formats. Below is an example of the Pixar story spine applied to “The Incredibles” movie.
Pixar Story Spine “Wall-E” & “The Incredibles” Example
Once upon a time
This element introduces the setting and the characters of the story.
Example:
Wall-E: Once upon a time, Wall-E, a waste-collecting robot, was left alone to clean up a garbage-filled Earth.
The Incredibles: Once upon a time, in a world where superheroes were illegal, a family of superheroes lived in hiding, trying to live normal lives.
Every day
This element establishes the normal, everyday life of the main character.
Example:
Wall-E: Every day, Wall-E went about his routine of collecting trash and watching old movies.
The Incredibles: Every day, Mr. Incredible struggled to live a normal life and suppress his superhero instincts.
One day
This element introduces the event or catalyst that propels the main character out of their ordinary world and into the story.
Example:
Wall-E: One day, Wall-E meets a probe robot named Eve and falls in love with her.
The Incredibles: One day, Mr. Incredible is offered the chance to go on a secret mission and use his powers again.
Because of that
This element explains the consequences of the event or catalyst.
Example:
Wall-E: Because of that, Wall-E follows Eve back to her ship and discovers a plant, which he brings back to Earth in hopes of showing proof of life.
The Incredibles: Because of that, Mr. Incredible’s secret mission turned out to be a trap, and is captured by the villain Syndrome.
Because of that
This element continues to build on the consequences of the event or catalyst.
Example:
Wall-E: Because of that, Wall-E’s actions set off a chain of events that lead to the humans returning to Earth and starting to clean up their planet.
The Incredibles: Because of that, Elastigirl went to the designer Edna Mode for help. Together they discovered what Mr. Incredible was up to and formulated a plan to rescue him.
Because of that
This element further expands on the consequences of the event or catalyst.
Example:
The Incredibles: Because of that, the Incredibles family fell into danger as they tried to rescue Mr. Incredible from Syndrome’s clutches.
Until finally
This element marks the turning point of the story, where the main character begins to take control of their journey.
Example:
Wall-E: Wall-E and Eve’s actions and determination inspire the humans to take responsibility for their actions and save the planet.
The Incredibles: Until finally, the Incredibles came together as a family and used their unique abilities to defeat Syndrome and save Mr. Incredible.
The end
This element concludes the story and ties everything together.
Example:
Wall-E: Wall-E finally finds a purpose in his life as the Earth is restored and the humans return to live on it.
The Incredibles: The end. The Incredibles are able to restore their reputation as superheroes. Allowing superheroes to live openly, using their powers to protect the world.
The Wrap Up
The Pixar story spine is a powerful tool for structuring stories that are compelling, emotional, and easy to follow. It has helped Pixar create some of the most memorable and beloved movies of all time.
Structure is an important element of storytelling, and the Pixar story spine is a great way to structure your own stories. Whether you’re a filmmaker, writer, or just someone who loves to tell a good story, we hope that you’ll find the Pixar story spine to be a valuable resource for crafting your own tales.