Cats
A cat named Blanket lives in the city with his son, Cape. One day, Cape decides to leave home and embarks on an adventure to find the legendary cat's paradise. To find his son, Blanket must overcome his fear and reconcile with his past.
The film earned $16.8M at the global box office.
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%)
Cats (2018) reveals strategically placed narrative architecture, characteristic of Gary Wang's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 45 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Victoria is abandoned in a bag on a London street, alone and frightened in an unfamiliar world of stray cats.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Macavity's sinister presence is revealed as he begins kidnapping potential Jellicle Choice candidates, threatening the sacred ceremony.. 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 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Victoria actively chooses to help Mr. Mistoffelees and embrace her place among the Jellicles, committing to the tribe rather than remaining an outsider., moving from reaction to action.
At 53 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Macavity successfully kidnaps Old Deuteronomy, leaving the tribe without their leader to choose the Jellicle Choice - a false defeat that raises the stakes., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 79 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Grizabella is rejected again by the tribe, embodying complete isolation and loss - the death of hope for redemption and belonging., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 84 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Victoria reaches out to Grizabella in compassion, and Mr. Mistoffelees successfully brings back Old Deuteronomy - acceptance and magic combine to restore hope., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Cats'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 Cats against these established plot points, we can identify how Gary Wang utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Cats within the animation genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional animation films include The Bad Guys, Puss in Boots and Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Victoria is abandoned in a bag on a London street, alone and frightened in an unfamiliar world of stray cats.
Theme
Munkustrap explains the Jellicle Ball tradition - one cat will be chosen for a new life, establishing the theme of transformation and rebirth.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to the Jellicle tribe and their world through musical numbers, establishing the rules of the Jellicle Ball and the various cat characters.
Disruption
Macavity's sinister presence is revealed as he begins kidnapping potential Jellicle Choice candidates, threatening the sacred ceremony.
Resistance
Victoria learns about Jellicle culture through various cats presenting themselves, while Macavity continues his interference, creating doubt about the ceremony.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Victoria actively chooses to help Mr. Mistoffelees and embrace her place among the Jellicles, committing to the tribe rather than remaining an outsider.
Mirror World
Grizabella appears - the outcast who desperately wants to return, mirroring Victoria's outsider status but representing what happens to those who leave the tribe.
Premise
The Jellicle Ball unfolds with elaborate musical performances as various cats make their case for selection, fulfilling the promise of the musical spectacle.
Midpoint
Macavity successfully kidnaps Old Deuteronomy, leaving the tribe without their leader to choose the Jellicle Choice - a false defeat that raises the stakes.
Opposition
The cats struggle without Old Deuteronomy while Macavity gains power, culminating in his attempt to force his selection through deception and manipulation.
Collapse
Grizabella is rejected again by the tribe, embodying complete isolation and loss - the death of hope for redemption and belonging.
Crisis
Grizabella sings "Memory" in her darkest moment, confronting her past and the loss of everything she once had, while Victoria witnesses this despair.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Victoria reaches out to Grizabella in compassion, and Mr. Mistoffelees successfully brings back Old Deuteronomy - acceptance and magic combine to restore hope.
Synthesis
Old Deuteronomy chooses Grizabella for rebirth, the tribe accepts her, and she ascends to the Heaviside Layer while Victoria finds her voice and place in the tribe.
Transformation
Victoria, once abandoned and silent, now sings with confidence as a full member of the Jellicle tribe, transformed from outsider to belonging.