How To Tell A Story As Told By Dan Harmon (As Told By Pixar)

Community creator, Dan Harmon, believes that all stories can be in eight steps. Pixar movies follow this exact same formula. Don't believe us? Just ask Abed.

1. A character is in a zone of comfort

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Woody is Andy's favorite toy; the ants are gathering food; Mike and Sulley are having a normal day at work; WALL-E is gathering trash.

2. But they want something

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WALL-E wants a friend; Mr. Incredible wants to be a superhero again; Remy wants to be a master chef; Carl wants to go to Paradise Falls.

3. They enter an unfamiliar situation

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The toys arrive at Sunnyside Day Care; Nemo is taken away; Lightning McQueen gets stuck at Radiator Springs; Carl gets evicted; Mr. Incredible arrives on the island; Flik leaves to find help.

4. Adapt to it

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Lightning helps out around Radiator Springs; Sulley and Mike protect Boo; Woody agrees to placed in a museum; Remy and Linguini work together; Mr. Incredible defeats the robot; Carl flies his house to South America.

5. Get what they wanted

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Remy works in a restaurant; Mr. Incredible relives his glory days; Andy takes Woody to Pizza Planet; Carl arrives at Paradise Falls; Lightning leaves Radiator Springs; Flik brings the circus troupe back.

6. Pay a heavy price for it

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Mr. Incredible and his family get captured; Woody gets left at the gas station; Boo gets taken by Randall; Carl abandons his friends; Hopper beats up Flik.

7. Then return to their familiar situation

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Woody and Buzz get reunited with Andy; Marlin finds Nemo; Sulley takes Boo home; WALL-E returns to Earth.

8. Having changed

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Carl moves on from Ellie's passing and appreciates Russel; Marlin gives Nemo more freedom; Woody accepts not being the favorite toy; the grasshoppers leave the ants alone.