The Pixar story format
• Once upon a time there was …
• Every day …
• One day …
• Because of that …
• Because of that …
• Until finally …
Finding Nemo
• Once upon a time there was a fish named Marlin.
• Every day Marlin warned his son Nemo not to
swim too far away.
• One day Nemo swam into the open water.
• Because of that Nemo was caught and put in a
dentist’s aquarium.
• Because of that Marlin went searching for his son,
meeting other sea creatures along the way.
• Until finally the two reuinited.
Your amazing product
• Once upon a time there was a member of a
target audience with a huge problem.
• Every day the problem caused this person
deep, searing pain.
• One day the user discovered Product X.
• Because of that their pain was cured.
• Because of that they were able to be more
productive, or more satisfied.
• Until finally they were able to do something
amazing.
In other words …
• Find a real problem backed up by research.
• Come up with a novel solution.
• Define a persona who epitomizes the audience.
• Imagine a transformative story that this persona
will undergo as a result of your product.
• Think of how the product can change someone’s
life, the world, or both!

The Pixar Story Format

  • 1.
    The Pixar storyformat • Once upon a time there was … • Every day … • One day … • Because of that … • Because of that … • Until finally …
  • 2.
    Finding Nemo • Onceupon a time there was a fish named Marlin. • Every day Marlin warned his son Nemo not to swim too far away. • One day Nemo swam into the open water. • Because of that Nemo was caught and put in a dentist’s aquarium. • Because of that Marlin went searching for his son, meeting other sea creatures along the way. • Until finally the two reuinited.
  • 3.
    Your amazing product •Once upon a time there was a member of a target audience with a huge problem. • Every day the problem caused this person deep, searing pain. • One day the user discovered Product X. • Because of that their pain was cured. • Because of that they were able to be more productive, or more satisfied. • Until finally they were able to do something amazing.
  • 4.
    In other words… • Find a real problem backed up by research. • Come up with a novel solution. • Define a persona who epitomizes the audience. • Imagine a transformative story that this persona will undergo as a result of your product. • Think of how the product can change someone’s life, the world, or both!