Comments on: Structure: Toy Story 2

By: Karel Segers

Karel Segers — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 23:19:39 +0000

Thank you Patrick.

The additional detail you would like to see would be there if I could justify it. Some day I might have to buy that extra time by offering extras for a premium, like many sites are starting to do. There’s so much more value I could give but it takes time and I need to feed my son!

About the placing of the end of Act Two: writers don’t always consciously KNOW what they’re doing! (LOL)

It’s really a matter of perspective. John picks the point where Woody’s visible goal is established (to be in a glass display in a museum) but I picked the moment of separation from his friends and his ‘ordinary world’, which is a more mythologically inspired approach.

As a writer, it’s academic as you need both. In many movies both moments coincide, which makes an analysis easier. Pixar movies push the boundaries, literally. So I chose the Hero’s Journey approach.

I hope this makes sense.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 05:37:49 +0000

Hey guy, nice breakdown. Big, big fan of the Toy Story movies here, and a big fan of the site too. Toy Story 2 is actually my favourite of the trilogy, so I was happy to see you pour so much praise on it. I’d love for you to talk more in more detail about the beats of the story, like you did for Toy Story 3 (It was very helpful reading about things like the mini climaxes of each Sequence, what constitutes the redemption/reward, etc. I appreciate you flattering our intelligences by not spelling it out for us, but I think you’re giving me personally too much credit).

Also, on the commentary track for this film, John Lasseter places the start of Act Two at about 27:30 in your breakdown: right after Woody learns about the Toy Museum in Japan, but before he loses his arm. Nearly ten minutes after you’ve placed it! Not pit your authority against his or anything, but any idea why the two of you placed it differently?

Thanks again, and love the work you’re doing.

By: Karel Segers

Karel Segers — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:22:15 +0000

In reply to Oscar.

Good to see you around again Oscar! (Western Australia?)

Perhaps Australian filmmakers should turn to the local Pixar expert for script doctoring?

Hang on… I think that’s my phone ringing.

By: Oscar

Oscar — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 08:32:37 +0000

Its great to see a breakdown of a great movie like Toy Story 2. I remember you telling me about the intro being a perfect 5 minute summation of the Hero’s Journey, with Buzz literally entering the inner cave. Seems that Pixar makes a habit of starting with mini 3-act-structure to introduce the characters (certainly the case with Up and Ratatouille). Its no wonder parent company Disney come to them for script doctoring, first with Tron Legacy and recently with the Muppets reboot.