so hard to pick a favorite. Probably, Inside Out. I can't with Bing Bong. I'd need to re-watch to do a thorough stakes analysis as you do here. It's so meta because we care about Riley *and* we care about Joy, but we care so much about Riley because Joy cares so much about Riley. I'm working on a middle grade novel and I can't get the personal stakes right, so I've been studying this topic a lot. Thanks for your thoughts!
YEP that is a perfect movie! I don’t know how they do it, but they get the personal AND thematic stakes just write. That’s a great mentor text as you’re working on your own book! Good luck!!
This is so interesting to think about. I just listened to an episode of Mike Birbiglia’s podcast with a Pixar filmmaker and he was on the team that made Toy Story and said that they were just learning how to make a feature film with it. The screenwriter was reading how-to books to figure it out as they were making it. It was an interesting look into Pixar’s process too.
It’s so hard to pick a favorite, but most of my favs like Monsters, Nemo or Up are from the earlier days. I think with and after Soul they’ve kind of struggled with finding a good match and balance with theme and characters. I personally loved Elemental but the MC does feel like she’s missing something. I think Elemental with the themes of immigration and generational differences and the pressure of that were handled really well but there was just a little something missing. Maybe it was personal stakes. But I definitely got emotional in it and of the movies after Soul this is my fave. You’re probably right about the internal/external goals.
Recently it has felt like they start with a theme and then base everything around that.
I’d love to discuss Elio more. That one was soo interesting from a story standpoint and how it translated to screen. I loved the subplot, disliked a lot of it, and was indifferent to the rest. I’d say that one did have personal internal and external stakes and conflicts but not enough that I cared. His little slug friend? I was very invested in that.
Ok yes, such interesting thoughts!! And did I see and enjoy Elemental and Elio? Yes haha. They just weren't up to the Monsters/Nemo/Up Pixar standard. It felt like in these movies they were TOO aware of stakes and so they got hung up on putting in to many things and so it felt spread thin instead of one very strong personal stake. I also really loved Elio's slug friend!! Again in that movie its like they were so close, but then it got overcomplicated I think. And Soul is such a beautiful movie.
I love what you share here about personal stakes, and I don't know why it's hard with some stories to discover those stakes. I need to sit with my characters longer and stop stressing about plot. :/ I love UP, love how it draws up empathy, love the humor, Kevin is the best, and that dog collar you can flip to English . . . have you seen Dug Days? My dog actually loves it, too. Thanks for this post!
so hard to pick a favorite. Probably, Inside Out. I can't with Bing Bong. I'd need to re-watch to do a thorough stakes analysis as you do here. It's so meta because we care about Riley *and* we care about Joy, but we care so much about Riley because Joy cares so much about Riley. I'm working on a middle grade novel and I can't get the personal stakes right, so I've been studying this topic a lot. Thanks for your thoughts!
YEP that is a perfect movie! I don’t know how they do it, but they get the personal AND thematic stakes just write. That’s a great mentor text as you’re working on your own book! Good luck!!
Wow this is really insightful.
Thank you!!
This is so interesting to think about. I just listened to an episode of Mike Birbiglia’s podcast with a Pixar filmmaker and he was on the team that made Toy Story and said that they were just learning how to make a feature film with it. The screenwriter was reading how-to books to figure it out as they were making it. It was an interesting look into Pixar’s process too.
YES! Pixar's process then and now is a fascinating case study in creativity.
It’s so hard to pick a favorite, but most of my favs like Monsters, Nemo or Up are from the earlier days. I think with and after Soul they’ve kind of struggled with finding a good match and balance with theme and characters. I personally loved Elemental but the MC does feel like she’s missing something. I think Elemental with the themes of immigration and generational differences and the pressure of that were handled really well but there was just a little something missing. Maybe it was personal stakes. But I definitely got emotional in it and of the movies after Soul this is my fave. You’re probably right about the internal/external goals.
Recently it has felt like they start with a theme and then base everything around that.
I’d love to discuss Elio more. That one was soo interesting from a story standpoint and how it translated to screen. I loved the subplot, disliked a lot of it, and was indifferent to the rest. I’d say that one did have personal internal and external stakes and conflicts but not enough that I cared. His little slug friend? I was very invested in that.
Ok yes, such interesting thoughts!! And did I see and enjoy Elemental and Elio? Yes haha. They just weren't up to the Monsters/Nemo/Up Pixar standard. It felt like in these movies they were TOO aware of stakes and so they got hung up on putting in to many things and so it felt spread thin instead of one very strong personal stake. I also really loved Elio's slug friend!! Again in that movie its like they were so close, but then it got overcomplicated I think. And Soul is such a beautiful movie.
Thanks for the shout out and the thoughtful post!
Of course!! Your essays are so practical and thoughtful!
I love what you share here about personal stakes, and I don't know why it's hard with some stories to discover those stakes. I need to sit with my characters longer and stop stressing about plot. :/ I love UP, love how it draws up empathy, love the humor, Kevin is the best, and that dog collar you can flip to English . . . have you seen Dug Days? My dog actually loves it, too. Thanks for this post!
YES!! Up is another absolute favorite of mind. In fact my three favorites, Up, Inside Out, and Monsters Inc, were all directed by Pete Docter!