Gnome Alone
When Chloe discovers that her new home's garden gnomes are not what they seem, she must decide between the pursuit of a desired high school life and taking up the fight against the Troggs.
The film earned $10.8M 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%)
Gnome Alone (2017) exemplifies precise story structure, characteristic of Peter Lepeniotis's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 10-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 25 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.7, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Chloe is an isolated, self-absorbed teen moving to a new town. She's disconnected from her mother and focused only on her online popularity, showing her loneliness masked by superficiality.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Chloe discovers the garden gnomes are alive and fighting off Troggs—interdimensional creatures invading through a portal in her house. Her normal world is shattered by this impossible reality.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The Collapse moment at 64 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The Troggs overwhelm the defenses and gnomes are destroyed. Chloe's selfishness has consequences—her priorities (online fame over real connection) contribute to the catastrophic failure. The gnomes appear lost and hope seems gone., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 67 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Chloe leads the final battle against the Trogg invasion. She works with Liam, her mother, and the remaining gnomes to close the portal. She sacrifices her online persona to save real relationships, executing a plan that requires true teamwork., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Gnome Alone's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 10 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Gnome Alone against these established plot points, we can identify how Peter Lepeniotis utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Gnome Alone within the animation genre.
Peter Lepeniotis's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Peter Lepeniotis films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.8, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Gnome Alone takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Peter Lepeniotis 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 Peter Lepeniotis analyses, see The Nut Job.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Chloe is an isolated, self-absorbed teen moving to a new town. She's disconnected from her mother and focused only on her online popularity, showing her loneliness masked by superficiality.
Theme
Chloe's mother mentions that "home is about the people, not the place," hinting at the theme that real connection matters more than online fame or material concerns.
Worldbuilding
Chloe moves into a new house filled with tacky garden gnomes. She's dismissive of her new neighbor Liam, focused only on her vlog. The house is established as strange, and we meet the eccentric world of the new neighborhood.
Disruption
Chloe discovers the garden gnomes are alive and fighting off Troggs—interdimensional creatures invading through a portal in her house. Her normal world is shattered by this impossible reality.
Resistance
Chloe resists believing in the gnomes and wants nothing to do with the Trogg problem. She debates whether to help or ignore it, while the gnomes try to convince her this threat is real and she must assist them.
Act II
ConfrontationPremise
Chloe and the gnomes work together fighting Troggs in creative and comedic ways. She learns to fight, sets traps, and experiences the "fun" of this adventure while balancing school and her secret gnome war.
Opposition
The Trogg threat intensifies. Chloe's lies catch up with her as she struggles to maintain her old life while fighting the invasion. Her relationships strain, and the gnomes' weaknesses become apparent as losses mount.
Collapse
The Troggs overwhelm the defenses and gnomes are destroyed. Chloe's selfishness has consequences—her priorities (online fame over real connection) contribute to the catastrophic failure. The gnomes appear lost and hope seems gone.
Crisis
Chloe faces her darkest moment, processing the destruction and her role in it. She realizes she's been selfish and that real connection—with her mother, Liam, and the gnomes—matters more than her online image.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Chloe leads the final battle against the Trogg invasion. She works with Liam, her mother, and the remaining gnomes to close the portal. She sacrifices her online persona to save real relationships, executing a plan that requires true teamwork.