Babe
Gentle farmer Arthur Hoggett wins a piglet named Babe at a county fair. Narrowly escaping his fate as Christmas dinner when Farmer Hoggett decides to show him at the next fair, Babe bonds with motherly border collie Fly and discovers that he can herd sheep too. But will the other farm animals, including Fly's jealous husband, Rex, accept a pig who doesn't conform to the farm's social hierarchy?
Despite a mid-range budget of $30.0M, Babe became a runaway success, earning $254.1M worldwide—a remarkable 747% return.
1 Oscar. 20 wins & 26 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%)
Babe (1995) demonstrates deliberately positioned narrative architecture, characteristic of Chris Noonan's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 32 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Babe
Farmer Arthur Hoggett
Fly
Rex
Ferdinand
Esme Hoggett
Duchess
Maa
Main Cast & Characters
Babe
Played by Christine Cavanaugh
A polite pig who dreams of becoming a sheepdog and defies expectations through kindness and determination.
Farmer Arthur Hoggett
Played by James Cromwell
A quiet, patient farmer who recognizes Babe's potential and supports him unconventionally.
Fly
Played by Miriam Margolyes
A wise Border Collie sheepdog who becomes Babe's mentor and adoptive mother figure.
Rex
Played by Hugo Weaving
Fly's disciplinarian husband, a sheepdog who initially rejects Babe but eventually respects him.
Ferdinand
Played by Danny Mann
A comedic duck who pretends to be a rooster to avoid becoming Christmas dinner.
Esme Hoggett
Played by Magda Szubanski
The farmer's practical wife who is skeptical of Babe but warms to him over time.
Duchess
Played by Russi Taylor
A snobbish and manipulative cat who looks down on Babe and other farm animals.
Maa
Played by Miriam Flynn
An elderly, wise ewe who befriends Babe and becomes his first sheep ally.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Opening narration and pig farm showing Babe's mother in the factory farm system. Establishes the ordinary world where pigs are raised for slaughter and animals know their predetermined roles.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Babe witnesses his first traumatic event: the duck Ferdinand nearly being killed for Christmas dinner. This reveals the harsh reality that animals are commodities, not family members, disrupting Babe's innocent view of the farm.. 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 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Hoggett actively chooses to train Babe as a sheepdog after observing him successfully interact with the sheep using politeness instead of aggression. Babe accepts this new identity and commits to learning. This launches Act 2., moving from reaction to action.
At 45 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat False victory: Babe successfully herds the sheep in a trial run, proving his method works. Hoggett decides to enter Babe in the sheepdog trials. Stakes raise dramatically - success could save Babe from slaughter, but public failure could doom him., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 68 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, All is lost: Babe learns his true fate as a pig (to become "pork and bacon") and that humans will never truly see him as more than food. He stops eating, loses his will to live. Contains "whiff of death" - both literal (Maa's death) and metaphorical (death of innocence)., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 73 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Breakthrough: Hoggett tells Babe "That'll do, pig" for the first time, showing genuine respect and belief. Fly reveals that Hoggett believes in Babe enough to risk public humiliation. Babe finds new purpose - not to avoid death, but to honor those who believe in him., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Babe'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 Babe against these established plot points, we can identify how Chris Noonan utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Babe within the comedy genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Opening narration and pig farm showing Babe's mother in the factory farm system. Establishes the ordinary world where pigs are raised for slaughter and animals know their predetermined roles.
Theme
Fly tells Babe: "The fact is, pigs don't have a purpose, just like ducks don't have a purpose." This establishes the thematic question: must we accept predetermined roles, or can we define our own purpose?
Worldbuilding
Babe arrives at Hoggett farm after being won at a fair. Introduction to the barnyard hierarchy, animal characters (Rex, Fly, Ferdinand, the sheep), and Farmer Hoggett's quiet, observant nature. Babe is adopted by Fly and learns about farm life.
Disruption
Babe witnesses his first traumatic event: the duck Ferdinand nearly being killed for Christmas dinner. This reveals the harsh reality that animals are commodities, not family members, disrupting Babe's innocent view of the farm.
Resistance
Babe navigates the barnyard social order, learning from Fly about different animal purposes. He begins to observe the sheep and sheepdogs. Farmer Hoggett starts to notice Babe's intelligence and gentle nature. Babe debates his place in the world.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Hoggett actively chooses to train Babe as a sheepdog after observing him successfully interact with the sheep using politeness instead of aggression. Babe accepts this new identity and commits to learning. This launches Act 2.
Mirror World
Fly fully commits to mentoring Babe, teaching him the ways of herding despite Rex's disapproval. This mother-son relationship becomes the emotional core that teaches Babe (and the audience) that kindness and respect can achieve what force cannot.
Premise
The "promise of the premise" - watching a pig learn to herd sheep. Babe develops his unique polite approach, asking sheep nicely instead of commanding them. Training montages show progress. Growing conflict with Rex who sees Babe as disrupting natural order.
Midpoint
False victory: Babe successfully herds the sheep in a trial run, proving his method works. Hoggett decides to enter Babe in the sheepdog trials. Stakes raise dramatically - success could save Babe from slaughter, but public failure could doom him.
Opposition
Opposition intensifies: Rex reveals the truth about pigs being killed for food, devastating Babe. Rustlers attack, killing Maa (Babe's sheep friend). Babe is blamed and nearly shot. Mrs. Hoggett wants to cancel the trials. The barnyard turns against Babe.
Collapse
All is lost: Babe learns his true fate as a pig (to become "pork and bacon") and that humans will never truly see him as more than food. He stops eating, loses his will to live. Contains "whiff of death" - both literal (Maa's death) and metaphorical (death of innocence).
Crisis
Dark night of the soul: Babe refuses to eat or respond. Hoggett sits with his sick pig through the night. The farmer must confront whether he truly believes in Babe or sees him as livestock. Emotional processing before the resolution.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Breakthrough: Hoggett tells Babe "That'll do, pig" for the first time, showing genuine respect and belief. Fly reveals that Hoggett believes in Babe enough to risk public humiliation. Babe finds new purpose - not to avoid death, but to honor those who believe in him.
Synthesis
The finale at the National Sheepdog Trials. Babe combines everything learned: Fly's mentorship, his natural politeness, the password from the sheep. He performs a perfect run despite mockery from the crowd and judges. Hoggett stands by him throughout.
Transformation
Closing image mirrors the opening: Babe stands in a crowd, but transformed. Where he once stood confused at the fair, he now stands triumphant, having proven that being true to yourself and treating others with kindness can change the world. Hoggett repeats "That'll do, pig" with deep affection.