Anastasia
The daughter of the last Russian Czar, Nicolas II (Rick Jones), Anastasia (Meg Ryan) is found by two Russian con men, Dimitri (John Cusack) and Vladimir (Kelsey Grammer), who seek the reward that her grandmother, the Dowager Empress Marie Feodorovna (Dame Angela Lansbury), promised to the ones who'll find her. But the evil mystic of the Czar family, Grigori Rasputin (Christopher Lloyd), still wants the Romanov family to be destroyed forever.
Despite a respectable budget of $53.0M, Anastasia became a box office success, earning $139.8M worldwide—a 164% return.
Nominated for 2 Oscars. 10 wins & 23 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Anastasia (1997) exemplifies meticulously timed story structure, characteristic of Don Bluth's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 34 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Anastasia
Dimitri
Rasputin
Vladimir
Dowager Empress Marie
Bartok
Main Cast & Characters
Anastasia
Played by Meg Ryan
An amnesiac orphan seeking her past who may be the lost Russian Grand Duchess.
Dimitri
Played by John Cusack
A charming con artist who recruits Anya to pose as Anastasia for a reward.
Rasputin
Played by Christopher Lloyd
The undead sorcerer who cursed the Romanov family and seeks to destroy Anastasia.
Vladimir
Played by Kelsey Grammer
Dimitri's loyal friend and former aristocrat who helps with the Anastasia scheme.
Dowager Empress Marie
Played by Angela Lansbury
Anastasia's grandmother living in exile in Paris, longing for her lost granddaughter.
Bartok
Played by Hank Azaria
Rasputin's sarcastic albino bat sidekick with a conscience.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes The Romanov family celebrates at a grand ball in 1916 St. Petersburg. Young Anastasia receives a music box from her grandmother, the Dowager Empress Marie, as a parting gift. The family is together, safe, and joyful in their palace.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Anya receives her exit papers and is told to "go to Paris" - a mysterious suggestion that ignites hope. She decides to leave the orphanage and St. Petersburg to find her family, whoever they are.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 22 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 23% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Anya agrees to Dimitri and Vlad's plan to impersonate Anastasia in exchange for travel papers to Paris. She actively chooses to cross into the new world, boarding the train that will take her out of Russia and toward her destiny., moving from reaction to action.
At 46 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat They arrive in Paris - a false victory. Anya believes she's close to finding her family and the truth. Dimitri realizes Anya is the real Anastasia but faces a moral dilemma: tell her the truth or continue the con for the money. The stakes raise dramatically., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 69 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The Dowager Empress finally meets Anya but declares her another fake and refuses to accept her, walking away. Anya's dream dies. Everything she's hoped for - family, belonging, home - is lost. Dimitri takes his reward money and leaves, completing the betrayal., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 74 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. The music box opens, playing "Once Upon a December." Marie recognizes the truth - Anya IS Anastasia. Grandmother and granddaughter reunite. Anya learns who she truly is. She gains the clarity and strength for the final confrontation, synthesizing her lost past with her lived experience., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Anastasia's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Anastasia against these established plot points, we can identify how Don Bluth utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Anastasia within the animation genre.
Don Bluth's Structural Approach
Among the 8 Don Bluth films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Anastasia takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Don Bluth filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional animation films include The Bad Guys, The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie and Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel I. Presage Flower. For more Don Bluth analyses, see Thumbelina, Titan A.E. and The Land Before Time.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
The Romanov family celebrates at a grand ball in 1916 St. Petersburg. Young Anastasia receives a music box from her grandmother, the Dowager Empress Marie, as a parting gift. The family is together, safe, and joyful in their palace.
Theme
Dowager Empress Marie tells Anastasia, "On the wind, cross the sea, hear this song and remember." The music box inscription reads "Together in Paris" - establishing themes of memory, family, and home.
Worldbuilding
Rasputin's curse destroys the Romanov dynasty. The palace is attacked, the family killed. Young Anastasia and Marie escape on a train, but Anastasia falls and hits her head, losing her memory. Ten years pass. Anya, now 18 and amnesiac, works at a fish factory in Soviet Russia, searching for clues to her past.
Disruption
Anya receives her exit papers and is told to "go to Paris" - a mysterious suggestion that ignites hope. She decides to leave the orphanage and St. Petersburg to find her family, whoever they are.
Resistance
Anya travels to St. Petersburg and meets con artists Dimitri and Vlad, who are searching for an Anastasia impostor to present to the Dowager Empress for reward money. They audition girls but find none convincing. When Anya arrives seeking help to get to Paris, Dimitri is struck by her resemblance to Anastasia.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Anya agrees to Dimitri and Vlad's plan to impersonate Anastasia in exchange for travel papers to Paris. She actively chooses to cross into the new world, boarding the train that will take her out of Russia and toward her destiny.
Mirror World
On the train, Dimitri and Anya have their first real conversation. Their relationship begins to develop beyond the con - he represents the possibility of connection, trust, and love that will teach Anya what home truly means.
Premise
The journey to Paris - the promise of the premise. Anya, Dimitri, and Vlad travel together, evading Rasputin's supernatural minions. Anya learns Romanov history and etiquette. As she remembers details only the real Anastasia would know, Dimitri begins to suspect she's genuine. Their romance blossoms during "Once Upon a December" and the journey sequences.
Midpoint
They arrive in Paris - a false victory. Anya believes she's close to finding her family and the truth. Dimitri realizes Anya is the real Anastasia but faces a moral dilemma: tell her the truth or continue the con for the money. The stakes raise dramatically.
Opposition
In Paris, Sophie (Marie's cousin) is skeptical and conducts tests. The Dowager Empress refuses to see another impostor. Dimitri struggles with his conscience. Rasputin's attacks intensify - he possesses Dimitri and nearly kills Anya at the ballet. The con begins to fall apart as everyone's flaws and secrets catch up with them.
Collapse
The Dowager Empress finally meets Anya but declares her another fake and refuses to accept her, walking away. Anya's dream dies. Everything she's hoped for - family, belonging, home - is lost. Dimitri takes his reward money and leaves, completing the betrayal.
Crisis
Anya processes the devastating loss. She prepares to leave Paris alone. Marie processes her own grief and reluctance to hope. The dark night before the dawn - both women lost in their pain and isolation.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
The music box opens, playing "Once Upon a December." Marie recognizes the truth - Anya IS Anastasia. Grandmother and granddaughter reunite. Anya learns who she truly is. She gains the clarity and strength for the final confrontation, synthesizing her lost past with her lived experience.
Synthesis
The finale unfolds. Anastasia confronts Rasputin, destroying his reliquary and defeating him once and for all. She must choose between the royal life (duty to family/past) and love with Dimitri (following her heart/future). Dimitri returns, having rejected the money. Anastasia chooses love over royalty.
Transformation
Anastasia and Dimitri kiss on the boat, sailing away together. Marie watches from the bridge, blessing their union. The closing image mirrors the opening - but instead of a child princess in a palace, we see a woman who chose her own path, found family in love rather than title, and discovered that home is who you're with, not where you came from.