K.I.S.S. Bad Stories Goodbye
One of the most useful maxims in life is known by the acronym K.I.S.S. I'm sure you've heard of it. It stands for “Keep It Simple Stupid”.
But simplicity is not just the key to a happy life; it's also the key to great storytelling—which only makes sense because stories are about life.
Well-written animated features, no matter how complex they may seem upon first viewing, have basic character and plot elements that are very simple. To create a simple, well-constructed story you need only answer the following questions:
What does the hero want?
What is stopping him from getting it?
What does he THINK he needs to attain what he wants? (This is often a physical object or power known in writing parlance as the MacGuffin)
What does he REALLY need in order to attain his dream? (This is a character change, not the MacGuffin)
What does the villain want?
What does he THINK he needs to attain this? (This is often the same MacGuffin.)
What is the theme that ties all this together?
These questions, though simple, may feel a bit complicated when looked at for the first time. But let me give you an example to show you how beautifully simple they can be answered.
Kung Fu Panda, written by Jonathan Aibel & Glenn Berger, is perhaps the most elegantly simple animated feature ever written. Let's go through it and see how the writers answered these questions.
What does the hero want?
In the very first scene of the movie, Po, the panda hero, literally dreams of being a kung fu master.
What is stopping him from getting it?
He's a fat klutz.
What does he THINK he needs to attain what he wants?
Once Po is chosen to be the next Dragon Warrior, he believes he needs the “secret” power of the dragon scroll to become a kung fu master. The scroll is the MacGuffin.
What does he REALLY need in order to attain his dream?
He just needs to find the confidence within himself to utilize his innate abilities.
What does the villain want?
Tai Lung wants revenge on Shifu, the kung fu master who refused him the dragon scroll, and to destroy Po to prove that he, Tai Lung, is the true Dragon Warrior.
What does he THINK he needs to attain this?
The “secret” power of the dragon scroll (MacGuffin).
What is the theme that ties all this together?
“There is no secret, the power is within us.”
And thus the MacGuffin is rendered meaningless as is the usual case with MacGuffins.
I could write pages and pages describing the elegant simplicity of this story, but then I would be violating K.I.S.S. myself. And that would be stupid! So instead, I suggest you read the Kung Fu Panda script (available at JoBlo.com) and focus on the above questions. You will discover the beauty of simplicity, and enjoy a wonderful story.
And you will learn the “secret” of great writing.
Jeff
©Jeffrey Scott, All Rights Reserved
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It's a Buddhist thing. We are all enlightened already; we just don't know it. The act of enlightenment is simply a recognition of what already is. Po (and everybody else) already had mystical kung-fu powers, he just didn't know it. That's why the scroll was a mirror. It's the same twist as in Circle Of Iron with David Carradine.
Just a quibble, but the one thing I found unsatisfying about the generally wonderful Panda is that after Po learns he doesn't need a magical scroll he seems to gain a magical knock out blow anyway. Where did that come from? It's not just a case of his confidence suddenly kicking in. He gains kick ass mystical powers that no one else has. But doesn't that go against the message? The MacGuffin wasn't a MacGuffin after all.
Great post. Thanks for sharing your insights.
Fabulous info Jeffrey, thanks for sharing, Cheers, Carl.
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