Storks
Storks deliver babies...or at least they used to. Now they deliver packages for global internet giant Cornerstore.com. Junior, the company's top delivery stork, is about to be promoted when he accidentally activates the Baby Making Machine, producing an adorable and wholly unauthorized baby girl. Desperate to deliver this bundle of trouble before the boss gets wise, Junior and his friend Tulip, the only human on Stork Mountain, race to make their first-ever baby drop - in a wild and revealing journey that could make more than one family whole and restore the storks' true mission in the world.
Despite a mid-range budget of $70.0M, Storks became a commercial success, earning $182.4M worldwide—a 161% return.
5 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%)
Storks (2016) exhibits strategically placed plot construction, characteristic of Doug Sweetland's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 27 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.7, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Junior is the top delivery stork at Cornerstore.com, a package delivery service. Storks no longer deliver babies - they abandoned that 18 years ago after Tulip's delivery address was destroyed. Junior is ambitious, efficient, and focused solely on becoming the next boss.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Nate secretly sends a letter to the storks asking for a baby brother. Tulip accidentally activates the abandoned Baby Making Machine, creating an unauthorized baby. Junior discovers the baby just as he's supposed to fire Tulip - his path to becoming boss is now threatened.. 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 22 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Junior and Tulip leave Stork Mountain with the baby, officially beginning their unauthorized delivery mission. Junior makes the active choice to risk his career to fix this problem. They enter the adventure together, leaving the corporate world behind., moving from reaction to action.
At 44 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Hunter discovers the baby is missing and that Junior took it. The stakes raise dramatically - Junior's deception is exposed. Hunter sends a team to intercept them. What seemed like a simple secret delivery mission becomes a race against corporate forces. False defeat: Junior's plan is falling apart., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 66 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Junior betrays Tulip to save his career. He leaves her behind and takes the baby to complete the delivery alone, choosing corporate success over the family they'd formed. Tulip is devastated and alone. The "death" of their partnership and the family unit they created. Junior achieves his goal of becoming boss, but at the cost of everything meaningful., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 70 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Junior realizes that Tulip and the connections he made matter more than being boss. He sees that the corporate system is wrong - storks should deliver babies and create families. He synthesizes his efficiency skills with his newfound understanding of love and family. He decides to rebel against Hunter and bring back baby delivery., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Storks's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Storks against these established plot points, we can identify how Doug Sweetland utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Storks 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
Junior is the top delivery stork at Cornerstore.com, a package delivery service. Storks no longer deliver babies - they abandoned that 18 years ago after Tulip's delivery address was destroyed. Junior is ambitious, efficient, and focused solely on becoming the next boss.
Theme
Hunter tells Junior that to become boss, he must fire Tulip, the only human at Stork Mountain. This moment establishes the theme: Junior must choose between career advancement and human connection. Tulip says "We're a family here" - the thematic statement about found family.
Worldbuilding
We learn how storks evolved from baby delivery to package delivery. Tulip is introduced as the accident-prone orphan who never got delivered. The Cornerstore.com operation is established. Nate Gardner is introduced - a lonely boy whose parents are too busy for him, desperately wanting a baby brother.
Disruption
Nate secretly sends a letter to the storks asking for a baby brother. Tulip accidentally activates the abandoned Baby Making Machine, creating an unauthorized baby. Junior discovers the baby just as he's supposed to fire Tulip - his path to becoming boss is now threatened.
Resistance
Junior debates what to do with the baby. He can't let Hunter find out, or he'll never become boss. He decides to secretly deliver the baby with Tulip before anyone notices. Tulip is thrilled - this is her chance to complete a baby delivery. Junior tries to do this quickly and quietly, treating it as just another package.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Junior and Tulip leave Stork Mountain with the baby, officially beginning their unauthorized delivery mission. Junior makes the active choice to risk his career to fix this problem. They enter the adventure together, leaving the corporate world behind.
Mirror World
Junior and Tulip begin bonding with the baby during the journey. The baby brings them together, forcing Junior to experience connection and care rather than just efficiency. This relationship will teach Junior what truly matters - the thematic mirror world of family vs. corporate success.
Premise
The fun delivery adventure: Junior and Tulip face various obstacles (wolves, navigation problems, personality clashes) while caring for the baby. Junior slowly softens, learning to be a parent figure. Tulip shows him the joy of connection. Back home, Nate tries to get his parents' attention while they obsess over work. Comedy ensues as Junior and Tulip form an unlikely family unit.
Midpoint
Hunter discovers the baby is missing and that Junior took it. The stakes raise dramatically - Junior's deception is exposed. Hunter sends a team to intercept them. What seemed like a simple secret delivery mission becomes a race against corporate forces. False defeat: Junior's plan is falling apart.
Opposition
Hunter's birds pursue Junior and Tulip. The journey becomes more desperate. Junior and Tulip argue about the baby - Junior wants to rush the delivery, Tulip has grown attached. Junior's old corporate mindset conflicts with his growing feelings. Pigeon Toady intercepts them. The wolves return as antagonists. Everything gets harder as they near their destination.
Collapse
Junior betrays Tulip to save his career. He leaves her behind and takes the baby to complete the delivery alone, choosing corporate success over the family they'd formed. Tulip is devastated and alone. The "death" of their partnership and the family unit they created. Junior achieves his goal of becoming boss, but at the cost of everything meaningful.
Crisis
Junior returns to Stork Mountain as the new boss, but feels empty and guilty. He realizes he's lost what truly mattered. Tulip is alone and heartbroken. The baby is delivered to the Gardners, but something feels incomplete. Junior processes what he's sacrificed for ambition - the dark night of recognizing his mistake.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Junior realizes that Tulip and the connections he made matter more than being boss. He sees that the corporate system is wrong - storks should deliver babies and create families. He synthesizes his efficiency skills with his newfound understanding of love and family. He decides to rebel against Hunter and bring back baby delivery.
Synthesis
Junior rescues Tulip and they reunite. Together they convince all the storks to rebel against Hunter and restart baby delivery. They activate the Baby Making Machine for mass production. Storks worldwide begin delivering babies again, reuniting with their true purpose. Junior and Tulip work as partners. The Gardners receive their baby and reconnect as a family. The finale shows the new world of baby delivery restored.
Transformation
Junior and Tulip have formed their own family unit, working together to deliver babies. Tulip finally gets a family - the storks are her family. Junior has transformed from an ambitious corporate climber into someone who values connection over success. The closing image mirrors the opening: storks in flight, but now delivering babies and creating families instead of packages.