Anomalisa
Michael Stone, an author that specializes in customer service, is a man who is unable to interact deeply with other people. His low sensitivity to excitement, and his lack of interest made him a man with a repetitive life on his own perspective. But, when he went on a business trip, he met a stranger - an extraordinary stranger, which slowly became a cure for his negative view on life that possibly will change his mundane life.
The film underperformed commercially against its limited budget of $8.0M, earning $5.7M globally (-29% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its innovative storytelling within the animation genre.
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 24 wins & 79 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%)
Anomalisa (2015) exemplifies precise narrative architecture, characteristic of Duke Johnson's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 31 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 4.9, the film takes an unconventional approach to traditional narrative frameworks.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Michael Stone
Lisa Hesselman
Everyone Else
Main Cast & Characters
Michael Stone
Played by David Thewlis
A depressed motivational speaker suffering from Fregoli delusion who sees everyone as identical until he meets Lisa.
Lisa Hesselman
Played by Jennifer Jason Leigh
An insecure customer service rep who Michael perceives as unique and falls for during his Cincinnati visit.
Everyone Else
Played by Tom Noonan
All other characters voiced by Tom Noonan, representing Michael's inability to perceive individual humanity in others.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Michael Stone sits isolated on a plane to Cincinnati. Everyone around him has the same droning voice (Tom Noonan), establishing his profound disconnection and the monotonous hell of his existence.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Michael impulsively calls Bella, an ex-girlfriend from years ago, hoping to recapture something lost. The awkward, painful reunion in the hotel bar exposes his desperation and the impossibility of returning to the past.. At 12% 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 21 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 23% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Michael actively pursues the unique voice, knocking on doors until he finds Lisa and Emily. He makes the choice to engage with Lisa, inviting her for drinks, committing to this new possibility of connection., moving from reaction to action.
At 43 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 47% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat False victory: In post-coital bliss, Michael tells Lisa he loves her and wants her to come away with him. He believes he has found his salvation, the one person who can save him from his isolation. Lisa agrees, overwhelmed., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 61 minutes (67% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Lisa's voice transforms into Tom Noonan's voice - she becomes identical to everyone else. The one person Michael could distinguish has merged into the monotonous mass. His brief escape from isolation dies completely., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 65 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 71% of the runtime. Michael awakens and leaves the hotel. There is no breakthrough or realization - only acceptance of his condition. He boards the plane home, returning to his life with the knowledge that nothing has changed or will change., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Anomalisa's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Anomalisa against these established plot points, we can identify how Duke Johnson utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Anomalisa within the animation genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional animation films include The Bad Guys, The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie and Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel I. Presage Flower.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Michael Stone sits isolated on a plane to Cincinnati. Everyone around him has the same droning voice (Tom Noonan), establishing his profound disconnection and the monotonous hell of his existence.
Theme
The taxi driver discusses the difficulty of truly connecting with people and seeing them as individuals. This foreshadows Michael's inability to distinguish others and his desperate search for authentic human connection.
Worldbuilding
Michael checks into the Fregoli Hotel in Cincinnati for his customer service speaking engagement. We observe his joyless routine: unpacking, mundane phone calls with his wife and son. Everyone has identical faces and voices, revealing his psychological condition.
Disruption
Michael impulsively calls Bella, an ex-girlfriend from years ago, hoping to recapture something lost. The awkward, painful reunion in the hotel bar exposes his desperation and the impossibility of returning to the past.
Resistance
After the disastrous encounter with Bella, Michael returns to his room in despair. He drinks, contemplates his emptiness, and then hears a different voice in the hallway - a female voice that isn't Tom Noonan. He frantically searches for its source.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Michael actively pursues the unique voice, knocking on doors until he finds Lisa and Emily. He makes the choice to engage with Lisa, inviting her for drinks, committing to this new possibility of connection.
Mirror World
Lisa is introduced as Michael's thematic mirror - insecure, self-doubting, convinced she's ordinary. She represents the authenticity and vulnerability Michael has lost. Their tentative conversation in the bar begins.
Premise
The promise of the premise: Michael experiences Lisa as a unique individual. They share drinks, intimate conversation. Lisa sings "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" in his room. They make love. For the first time in the film, Michael seems alive and present.
Midpoint
False victory: In post-coital bliss, Michael tells Lisa he loves her and wants her to come away with him. He believes he has found his salvation, the one person who can save him from his isolation. Lisa agrees, overwhelmed.
Opposition
Morning arrives. Michael's illusion begins to crack. Lisa's small habits - the way she eats, chews - start to irritate him. During his speaking engagement, he delivers his speech mechanically while obsessing over Lisa's flaws. His delusion is reasserting itself.
Collapse
Lisa's voice transforms into Tom Noonan's voice - she becomes identical to everyone else. The one person Michael could distinguish has merged into the monotonous mass. His brief escape from isolation dies completely.
Crisis
Michael coldly withdraws from Lisa, devastating her. He has a surreal nightmare where the hotel manager accuses him of being special and different. Michael's complete emotional shutdown - he cannot sustain connection with anyone.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Michael awakens and leaves the hotel. There is no breakthrough or realization - only acceptance of his condition. He boards the plane home, returning to his life with the knowledge that nothing has changed or will change.
Synthesis
Michael returns home to his wife and son for his birthday party. He goes through the motions with family and guests - all with the same face and voice. He gives his son the geisha sex toy he bought in Cincinnati, an inappropriate gesture revealing his alienation.
Transformation
Michael sits at his birthday party surrounded by loved ones, utterly alone. The final image mirrors the opening - he is trapped in his isolation, having learned nothing, unable to change. A tragedy of failed transformation.