Animation is a powerful medium to tell stories that can captivate, inspire, and entertain audiences of all ages. But how do you structure an animated film to make it effective and engaging? In this article, you will learn some basic principles and tips to plan, write, and execute your animated film project.
One of the most common and widely used ways to structure an animated film is the three-act structure. This is a simple and flexible framework that divides your story into three parts: the setup, the confrontation, and the resolution. Each act has a specific function and goal, and they are connected by turning points that raise the stakes and change the direction of the plot. The three-act structure helps you create a clear and coherent narrative arc that keeps your audience interested and invested in your characters and their journey.
The 3-act structure is the least helpful approach to structuring any story, animated or live-action, because it is a framework designed by movie reviewers to break down a story, not by writers developing a story. The best approach is John Truby's 22 Building Blocks which can be found in his book The Anatomy of Story and more can be found in his newest book, The Anatomy of Genre. Plays can have 1 act up to any number. Therefore acts are not the building block we've been led to believe. What you get from this approach is a very superficial story and character development.
Según mi experiencia, la IA te genera la estructura completa de la película, además de la historia y el guión completo. y si ya la tienes, la puede analizar y decirte que mejorar y que cambiar. todo esto, sólo a base de iteración con texto y te devuelve los resultados en docx, pdf, o más organizado en excel.
Another popular and effective way to structure an animated film is the hero's journey. This is a universal and timeless pattern that describes the stages of transformation that a protagonist goes through in a quest or adventure. The hero's journey consists of 12 steps that can be grouped into three phases: the departure, the initiation, and the return. The hero's journey helps you create a compelling and relatable character arc that shows the growth and change of your protagonist as they face challenges and overcome obstacles.
Conversely, the Hero's Journey is a great place to start in developing a screenplay or novel, especially if your story is a coming-of-age story about defeating dragons. The Hero's Journey can still be useful for more contemporary stories, but the writer has to be more poetic in how they apply the various steps. For instance, The Mentor doesn't have to be a wisened ancient person in a modern story. The mentor could be a teen hacker. The best thing about the Hero's Journey is its focus on transformation, which is true for all stories. Fundamentally, if your character hasn't changed by the end, it's probably a boring story. That transformation is up to you, but the Hero's Journey by definition is a basic approach to story development.
A beat sheet is a tool that helps you break down your story into smaller and more manageable units called beats. A beat is a significant event or action that moves your story forward or reveals something important about your characters or their situation. A beat sheet helps you outline and organize your story in a logical and sequential way, and it also helps you identify and fix any gaps, inconsistencies, or problems in your plot. A beat sheet can vary in length and detail depending on your preference and needs, but it usually includes the main beats of your story such as the opening image, the inciting incident, the midpoint, the climax, and the final image.
The theme is the central idea or message that your animated film conveys to your audience. It is the underlying meaning or purpose of your story, and it reflects your vision and values as a storyteller. The theme helps you create a consistent and coherent tone and mood for your animated film, and it also helps you connect and communicate with your audience on an emotional and intellectual level. The theme can be expressed explicitly or implicitly through your characters, dialogue, visuals, music, and symbolism.
This is a very good description of Theme (or premise) in story. Beyond this, the most important factor to consider is that all of your characters are expressions or representations of your Theme as seen from different perspectives and motivations. That's what creates character development, taking your Theme and your characters' needs and weaknesses and seeing what bubbles up. Ultimately, similar to how the purpose of a novel is to create empathy, the purpose of story is to show what the proper way of living is. Stories are human being's User's Manual.
The genre is the category or type of story that your animated film belongs to. It is defined by the conventions and expectations that your audience has for your story, such as the setting, the characters, the plot, the style, and the tone. The genre helps you create a specific and distinctive atmosphere and identity for your animated film, and it also helps you attract and appeal to your target audience. The genre can be pure or hybrid, meaning that you can stick to one genre or combine elements from different genres to create a unique and original mix.
Read John Truby's THE ANATOMY OF GENRE. Genre is not just a category that distinguishes stories. Genre is a Theme delivery system. Each genre has its own Theme and particular beats. So, depending on what lesson you want to teach/learn, which genre or genres you choose and combine will give you your overall thematic package and story.
The feedback is the input and response that you receive from others about your animated film. It is an essential and valuable part of the creative process, as it helps you improve and refine your story, your characters, your visuals, and your overall quality. The feedback can come from different sources, such as your peers, your mentors, your clients, your test audiences, or your critics. The feedback can be positive or negative, constructive or destructive, specific or general, but it is always important to listen and learn from it, and to use it to make your animated film better and stronger.
Here are some other factors to consider: 1. Nonlinear Narratives: Explore fragmented storytelling, jumping in time or presenting multiple perspectives to engage viewers actively. 2. Visual Metaphors and Symbolism: Prioritize visual elements to convey deeper meanings, and encouraging audience interpretation. 3. Environmental Storytelling: Shift the focus to immersive worlds, where the setting and background details communicate narratives independently. 4. Emotional Arcs: Highlight character emotions, personal growth, and relationships, creating a more organic and emotionally resonant experience. By embracing these unconventional approaches, animated filmmakers can unlock new levels of creativity and captivate audiences in unexpected ways.