Pixar Storytelling: Rules for Effective Storytelling Based on Pixar's Greatest Films

When I first bought this book in June 2016, I expected some great, unique insights from someone who'd worked with Pixar, and perhaps some wonderful color illustrations from Pixar films, highlighting how they craft their stories.When the book arrived, I saw that neither were true.Sure, that version of the book read like a good, undergraduate thesis. It highlighted several classic storytelling (and screenwriting) tropes and plot construction methods, with lengthy, scene-by-scene examples from almost every Pixar hit film, ever.But like another reviewer, I thought this was good information, but amateurishly presented.The "rules" were solid, familiar points I've read over & over again in excellent books by Jeffrey Alan Schechter, Blake Snyder, Shawn Coyne, Larry Brooks, and others.And, as a Pixar and Disney fan, I was kind of appalled that the book's title and thumbnail cover image (with the Pixar-ish desk lamp) suggested that the author has some connection with Pixar. It's why I bought this book.He didn't.My previous review - of the first version of this book - was a dismal two stars. And even that seemed a little too generous.Since then, the author completely revised his book. He also sent me a review copy, with no strings attached. He simply asked me to read it and see if it changed my mind.It did, once I actually read it. (The Pixar-ish cover still put me off. I'm a busy person; I don't have time to revisit books that disappointed me the first time.)Yesterday, I decided to cross it off my to-read list before starting 2018, fresh. (Honestly, that's the only reason I started reading it.)I'm glad I did. This edition IS a worthwhile read.This new edition focuses on the elements that can spark a brilliant and endearing story, whether you're an author or a screenwriter, or involved in any kind of storytelling.It's nicely and systematically presented. Within just a few pages, I could see what the author had tried to present in the first version of this book, but - in that edition - he'd missed the mark, badly.Now he clearly explains the deep-seated dilemmas that can make any story unique. He delves deep into the internal and external conflicts in several classic Pixar films, and presents the reader with examples that do NOT require you to see every film he references.Also, his evocative writing makes it easy to connect-the-dots between his advice and your current creative projects, even if they're only vague concepts at this point.I'm glad I read this book, and I can recommend it to others. My only hesitation - and why I'm giving it four stars - is the price. (It's US$19 as I'm writing this.) It's NOT that the information isn't worth the money. In fact, I think it's good value for anyone who actually reads the book and applies what author Movshovitz shares.But, the perceived value of a 6"x9" book (113 pages long) may trigger misgivings among some readers, from the moment they open the Amazon shipment and see this book. I think $12.95 would be about right, and $9.95 would make it seem like a great, rave-review purchase.In other words, I wouldn't want a reader to open the cover and start reading, harboring a "this had better be worth it" attitude. That's not the in-flow state of mind that will make the most of the creative sparks in this book.Aside from that, I applaud the author for radically revising this book - both contents and presentation - to make it a valuable addition to any storyteller's reference library.If you're telling original stories, or want to improve the emotional content and tension in any story (fiction or nonfiction), I recommend this book.

Loved to hear the insight behind some of the stories and how they came about. It didn't give me a whole lot of help with my writing, which is why I bought the book. So if you're trying to learn more about how to write stories, I'd give this one a pass.

Do not buy the kindle edition of this book. This book will not open on my Kindle Paperwhite or my phone. This will only open on my laptop and Kindle Fire. It is very inconvenient to read on my Kindle Fire, and it is like reading a PDF document on my laptop. You cannot take advantage of the vocabulary builder. You cannot change the font size. It does not show the percent complete in the chapter or book. The table of contents does not have any links. I did find a few typos that I could not report to Amazon.When you get past the really bad formatting, the context of this book is good. The author breaks down Pixar story telling into 10 different subjects. Some of the subjects are choosing an idea, creating empathy, and creating drama/conflict. He even has a message for Aspiring Artist. He uses examples of all of the Pixar films from Toy Story to Inside Out. This book does give me a different perspective on Pixar’s movies, and TED talks, and Toastmaster’s speeches.The kindle version of this book is very bad, and does take advantage of many of the kindle features. You will find the context of this book good if you do not mind reading this book on your laptop. The publisher really needs to fix the kindle version of this book, or amazon needs to lower the price.

Part instructional, part appreciation, Dean Movshovitz's Pixar Storytelling is not just a great tool for any aspiring screenwriter, but a great read for anyone who's fan of Pixar. In clear, concise terms, the author lays out what makes a good screenplay work, and how to apply those principles to one's own writing. An entertaining, satisfying read that will provide any novice screenwriter with great head start in terms of formulating and crafting his or her own screenplay, and make any reader eager to revisit all of these great films - even if you've seen them many times before, the author's insights will allow you to discover new things in these beloved classics, and view them with a renewed appreciation!

I love this book. I bought the kindle book and could not stop reading it. I typically take weeks and even months to finish a book but this one took me only a week. I took notes and it motivated me to write my own book. Highly recommended.

This book while show you the way of creating your story or refresh it as needed. I was happy to find out that most of the things I put in my project were included but I never had those elements organized or deliverable put there. So, it works perfectly as a practical (but in no way rough) "to do" list.

If you are a writer and serious about your craft then you definitely need this book on your reference shelf.

I should have reviewed the specs a bit closer. Not as nice as the other from-disney / from-pixar books I've bought.

Pixar Storytelling was exactly what I was expecting to read. As a decades-old Disney and Pixar fan, my expectations were pretty high and they were met splendidly. This book is gold dust for any storyteller, especially if they've grown up with Disney. Doesn't matter if you're a fiction writer, a screenwriter, a playwright or anything else: there's always something to learn from Pixar.That said, there's a reason why Dean's book doesn't deserve a full five-star rating in my case. I think this book is better suited for those who already have somewhat of a grasp of storytelling and the writing craft, because it grazes over some fundamental concepts that will be key to understanding each and every one of the author's claims. Beginners might find it too difficult to follow.The writing style is also not too excellent nor stunning, and the book overall feels synthetic at times, too condensed for the amount of concepts it could have touched and expanded on with care.However, it is still a useful, comprehensive job of analysis of all the major Pixar films up to Inside Out, an easy read that will hopefully stick with you throughout your career as a storyteller. Just as I am sure it will stick with me.It is also the only satisfying book on Disney/Pixar storytelling I've personally found, and I'm convinced it does an excellent job in that sense.

I don’t write fiction, but this gave me ideas about how to liven up non fiction. Pixar seem to have succeeded in having a methodology without squeezing the humanity out of the story.

Book arrived in perfect condition. I love this book, any screenwriter’s must read

A comprehensive breakdown of Pixar's storytelling, characters and plots. Nice quick easy read

My review is pretty subjective. I love animation and stories. I find it to be a great help in building characters and their sphere of influence.