Basic Story Structure (Setup -Conflict -Resolution)

This article is the continued from series of articles –Story Writing For Animation. You can read them all articles by clicking here

The Great Bedtime of Stories had a Secret

Do you remember the times, when mom used to tell the Bed time stories of   Princess, Prince, Magic….? Now its your time to tell a great bedtime story to whole world. Which will open the door of new Dreamworld, where they will fall in love with every thing of that world !

So what is the great story ? What makes the great story ?  Start from yourself. Which movies do you like the most? Ask the question , that what is it that makes me feel like that I MUST BE IN THIS DREAM WORLD ? But be aware that Most people generalize that what I like that must be appreciated by Audiences , and that’s the terrible mistake if you are planning any project , where you are pushing the Audience into the story , and it wont happen. And you will get criticized that “ The Story is too self indulgent where it doesn’t even care about the Audience”

So are there any RULES that makes great story ? actually its creative world here are no specific protocols that must be followed but you need to be flexible in approach. ( What the heck does that mean ? Just stay with me ) Our master tells us that “Before breaking the traditional rules in this field , it is MUST that you Must learn and understand the traditional Rules , so then you will know why exactly you are breaking the rule”

Lets start understanding The Rules . . .

When we study the Great Animation movies , the story has something common and that’s its structure . The Story Structure !
Yes , there is frame that helps , and fits for any best movie.
Its SETUP-CONFLICT-RESOLUTION

SET UP :

Where you slowly introduced the audience to  the new world , characters , whats the characters in the story feel about the world , how they are leaving the world , what is that makes them happy , sad, excited ? Are they after something  ? Are they waiting for something ?  it’s the basic plot you create, where story is going to  happen.

Its very important and the basic part where your job is to introduced and make the impression on the audience that it’s the believable world , it has same life , same fellings as they have !

Believe me if you loose here the audience never gonna involved in the story and your story will be self involved with you ! Now further in the story you will drag audience and they refuse your call!

CONFLICT:

It’s the important phase too . Until now you have created the believable world , Audience is with you , they know the limitations of that new world , limitations of characters. Now its right time to challenge the characters through the situation or introducing the villain character , or whatever but the Conflict situation must be believable for audience. It will be not much difficult if

1. you clearly understand the your story world and the characters you are creating.
2. you are successfully created the first phase of  “SET-UP” .

If you have difficulties in creating the problem , then that two things you haven’t done properly and you have to work on it .

RESOLUTION:

Finally its time to charge up our hero, or character to fight with situation , struggle with it ,  stretch themselves against there limitations, be smart and remove the Conflict which is created in the story. And the character must grow. .  (if you see in real life too we struggle , stretch ourselves and WE GROW. . .)

So this is the BEST  STORY STURTCURE FOR EVERY BEST MOVIE . .  Toy Story,  Nemo, Kung Fu Panda . .  And all that legends.

In next article we dig little more about story will find something more exciting , energetic . . .

Thanks . .  We will love if you  share your ideas, thoughts . .

Share –Stretch and Grow . …   See you again . . 

Mahesh

For All Animation Story Writing Lessons click here