PAW Patrol: The Movie
When the PAW Patrol's biggest rival, Mayor Humdinger, becomes Mayor of nearby Adventure City and starts wreaking havoc, Ryder and everyone's favorite heroic pups kick into high gear to face the challenge head-on. While one of the pups must face his past in Adventure City, the team finds help from a new ally, the savvy dachshund Liberty. Together, armed with exciting new gadgets and gear, the PAW Patrol fights to save the citizens of Adventure City and stop Mayor Humdinger from destroying the bustling metropolis.
Despite a moderate budget of $26.0M, PAW Patrol: The Movie became a financial success, earning $144.3M worldwide—a 455% return.
3 wins & 4 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%)
PAW Patrol: The Movie (2021) demonstrates precise dramatic framework, characteristic of Cal Brunker's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 26 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Adventure City skyline establishing the pups' world in Adventure Bay. The PAW Patrol is beloved, confident, and successful at rescuing citizens. Chase is shown as a competent leader alongside Ryder.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 9 minutes when News report reveals that corrupt Mayor Humdinger has been elected mayor of Adventure City and is causing chaos. Ryder receives a call for help from Liberty, a scrappy city dog, revealing the city is in crisis.. 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 19 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 22% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to The PAW Patrol arrives in Adventure City and sets up their new headquarters. Chase actively chooses to face his fears and enter the city that traumatized him, committing to help despite his terror., moving from reaction to action.
At 42 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat False defeat: During a major rescue at the subway, Chase freezes in fear when confronted by his past. His panic causes him to fail, endangering the team. The city loses faith in the PAW Patrol, and Chase loses faith in himself. Stakes are raised - Chase's internal flaw now threatens everyone., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 63 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Chase runs away from the team, believing he's not good enough and that he's putting everyone in danger. He abandons his mission and his friends. Metaphorical death - Chase "dies" as a PAW Patrol member, giving up his identity and purpose., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 68 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Liberty finds Chase and reminds him of who he truly is - not the scared street pup he was, but the brave leader he became. Chase realizes his past doesn't define him and that his team needs him. He chooses to return, synthesizing his street-smarts with his training., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
PAW Patrol: The Movie's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping PAW Patrol: The Movie against these established plot points, we can identify how Cal Brunker utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish PAW Patrol: The Movie within the animation genre.
Cal Brunker's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Cal Brunker films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.4, reflecting strong command of classical structure. PAW Patrol: The Movie takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Cal Brunker 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 Cal Brunker analyses, see Escape from Planet Earth, The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Adventure City skyline establishing the pups' world in Adventure Bay. The PAW Patrol is beloved, confident, and successful at rescuing citizens. Chase is shown as a competent leader alongside Ryder.
Theme
Ryder tells the pups "No job is too big, no pup is too small" - the series motto that embodies the theme of believing in yourself regardless of size or past. Later reinforced when discussing that everyone has value.
Worldbuilding
Establishing the PAW Patrol team dynamics, their rescue capabilities, and Adventure Bay as their home. Shows Chase's confidence in familiar territory and his leadership role. Introduces the pups' relationships and individual skills.
Disruption
News report reveals that corrupt Mayor Humdinger has been elected mayor of Adventure City and is causing chaos. Ryder receives a call for help from Liberty, a scrappy city dog, revealing the city is in crisis.
Resistance
The team debates going to Adventure City. Chase reveals his hidden past - he's from Adventure City and was a scared, lonely street pup there. He's terrified to return. The team prepares and travels to the big city despite Chase's fears.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The PAW Patrol arrives in Adventure City and sets up their new headquarters. Chase actively chooses to face his fears and enter the city that traumatized him, committing to help despite his terror.
Mirror World
Liberty, the street-smart dachshund, officially joins the team. She represents what Chase used to be (a scared street dog) but with unshakable confidence. She embodies the theme - small but mighty, believing in herself despite her size and past.
Premise
The PAW Patrol performs daring rescues in Adventure City - saving people from Humdinger's disastrous cloud-making machine, runaway fireworks, and loop-de-loop subway. The fun of seeing the pups use their skills in the big city, but Chase's anxiety grows with each mission.
Midpoint
False defeat: During a major rescue at the subway, Chase freezes in fear when confronted by his past. His panic causes him to fail, endangering the team. The city loses faith in the PAW Patrol, and Chase loses faith in himself. Stakes are raised - Chase's internal flaw now threatens everyone.
Opposition
Chase's confidence crumbles. Mayor Humdinger escalates his schemes, building a dangerous tower. The team struggles without Chase at full strength. Internal conflict grows as Chase considers quitting. Liberty and the pups try to help, but Chase pushes them away.
Collapse
Chase runs away from the team, believing he's not good enough and that he's putting everyone in danger. He abandons his mission and his friends. Metaphorical death - Chase "dies" as a PAW Patrol member, giving up his identity and purpose.
Crisis
Chase wanders the city alone, confronting his darkest fears and memories. Humdinger's tower creates a catastrophic crisis that threatens the entire city. The team searches for Chase while trying to handle the disaster without him.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Liberty finds Chase and reminds him of who he truly is - not the scared street pup he was, but the brave leader he became. Chase realizes his past doesn't define him and that his team needs him. He chooses to return, synthesizing his street-smarts with his training.
Synthesis
The finale: Chase leads the PAW Patrol in an elaborate rescue to save the city from Humdinger's collapsing tower. Using both his knowledge of the city streets and his PAW Patrol skills, Chase orchestrates the mission. The team works together to evacuate citizens and stop the disaster.
Transformation
Chase stands confidently in Adventure City, the place he once feared, now a hero. Liberty is officially made a PAW Patrol member. The closing image mirrors the opening but shows transformation - Chase has conquered his past and become whole, proving that no pup is too small.