[From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters and sitcoms at www.clickok.co.uk ; 188 + stages of the Hero's Journey you need to know about...]

The Hero's Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the Hollywood movies we have deconstructed are based on this template.

Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.

The Hero's Journey:

a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

c) Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.

and more...

The Hero's Journey: Ice Age 2, the Meltdown (2005) deconstructed [basic]

FADE IN: Creatures in the Ordinary World: animals playing in the melting ice.

Context: global warming.

Meeting the Joker: Sid the Sloth.

Meeting the Hero and Loyal Ally: Manny and Diego appear.

Loyal Ally and Joker relationship: you're now an idiot in two languages.

Developing Characters and Relationships: the kidz look up to me.

Joker's Challenge: I can do stuff; I'm valuable.

Foreshadow of the Journey: Fast Tony's spiel.

Developing Characters and Relationships: Sid attempts to commit suicide.

Loyal Ally's Challenge: Diego is afraid of water.

Call to Adventure: they see the meltdown from high up.

Refusal: Manny tells everyone the valley's going to flood but none believes him.

Overcoming Refusal: the vulture convinces them.

Foreshadow of the Antagonism: the frozen monster fish.

On the Journey / Toward the Transformation: on their way to the boat.

Antagonism: the monster fish strikes.

Meeting the Fool: the rat-thing trying to grab the Acorn.

Threshold Marker / Time pressure / Pushed into the Journey: the valley begins to fall apart.

Developing Characters and Relationships: Sid sings and Manny doesn't like it.

First Threshold:

Outer Cave: Hero's Challenge: Manny runs after the sound of the Mammoth.

Outer Cave: Meeting Allies: The Possums (Crash and Eddie) taunt Diego and Sid.

Middle Cave: Meeting the Romantic Challenge: Manny meets Ellie.

Developing the Fool: rat-thing still trying to grab the Acorn.

Middle Cave: Romantic Challenge: Ellie sees her shadow; Manny must be a Possum.

Warning: Diego warns about the thin ice.

Antagonism: the monster fish are nearby.

Inner Cave: Meeting the Antagonism: Sid falls in the ice and is attacked.

Inner Cave: Loyal Ally's Challenge: we're living in the Melting World; you'll have to face your fear sooner or later.

Developing the Fool: rat-thing attacked by Piranhas.

Inner Cave: Manny swings Crash off a tree.

Pushed to the Transformation: what's holding Manny back? Not saving the species is just selfish.

Belly of the Whale: Ellie asks for Manny's help; Ellie remembers that she was a lost Mammoth.

Pushed to the Physical Separation: as far as Mammoths go, you're attractive.

Resisting the Transformation: you're not saving the species tonight or any other night.

Time Pressure: the Valley's cracking up.

World of the Trials and Transformation:

Developing the Fool: rat-thing battles the newly hatched chick for the Acorn.

Loyal Ally's Challenge: Sabre Tooths have no fear.

Trial 1: balancing on the rocks and surviving.

Trial 2: Sid the King Sloth sequence.

Time Pressure: water is rising.

Warning: the vultures are just waiting; the vultures singing.

Foreshadow of the Elixir: seeing the boat.

Trial 3: the hot eruptions.

Separation: Ellie and the Possums leave the group.

Trial 3: passing the hot eruptions.

Foreshadow of the Sword: have you seen a mammoth?

Time Pressure: the valley bursts open.

Meeting the Oracle: the Possums tell Manny that Ellie is trapped.

Loyal Ally Overcoming Challenge: Diego jumps in the water to save Sid.

Guardians of the Sword: Manny beats off the monster fish.

Seizing the Sword: Manny rescues Ellie.

Near Death Experience: the rat-thing falls from the canyon.

Reward / Challenge Conquered: Diego wants Sid to stay.

Atonement: more Mammoths arrive; they're not extinct.

Apotheosis: Diego and Sid let Manny go with Ellie.

Ultimate Boon: Ellie wants to be with many too.

Master of Both Worlds: Ellie and Manny join Diego et al to make up the herd.

Freedom to Live: rat-thing finds Acorn heaven.

Comedy: Sid pulls rat-thing back.

FADE OUT.

Learn more...

The Complete 188 stage Hero's Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.clickok.co.uk/

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Kal Bishop, MBA

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