That Christmas
It's an unforgettable Christmas for the townsfolk of Wellington-on-Sea when the worst snowstorm in history alters everyone's plans, including Santa's.
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%)
That Christmas (2024) exemplifies deliberately positioned story structure, characteristic of Simon Otto's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 31 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Children in the coastal town of Wellington-on-Sea eagerly anticipate Christmas, each dealing with their own family situations - Danny awaits his father's return, while other children navigate their parents' various distractions and absences.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when A massive snowstorm hits Wellington-on-Sea on Christmas Eve, stranding parents away from home and trapping Santa Claus, disrupting everyone's Christmas plans and leaving children without their families.. 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 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to The children actively choose to save Christmas themselves, deciding to help Santa complete his deliveries and make Christmas happen for the whole town despite their parents' absence., moving from reaction to action.
At 46 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat The children successfully complete a major portion of the deliveries and share a triumphant moment of celebration, believing they've saved Christmas - a false victory as bigger challenges and emotional reckonings await., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 69 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Danny's hope dies as he confronts the truth that his father isn't coming - experiencing the death of his idealized family Christmas and the innocence of believing everything will work out as promised., illustrates 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. Danny realizes that family isn't about who you wish was there, but who actually shows up - seeing Ms. Trapper, his friends, and the community as his true family. This realization gives him and the others the strength to finish what they started., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
That Christmas'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 That Christmas against these established plot points, we can identify how Simon Otto utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish That Christmas 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
Children in the coastal town of Wellington-on-Sea eagerly anticipate Christmas, each dealing with their own family situations - Danny awaits his father's return, while other children navigate their parents' various distractions and absences.
Theme
A character states that Christmas is about being together and that family means being there for each other, establishing the film's central theme about connection and presence over material gifts.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Wellington-on-Sea and its inhabitants: the children preparing for Christmas, their various family dynamics, the town's geography, and the setup of multiple storylines including Danny's absent father, the twin's competitive parents, and the lonely teacher Ms. Trapper.
Disruption
A massive snowstorm hits Wellington-on-Sea on Christmas Eve, stranding parents away from home and trapping Santa Claus, disrupting everyone's Christmas plans and leaving children without their families.
Resistance
The children and remaining adults grapple with the crisis. Ms. Trapper steps up to care for the stranded children. Danny wrestles with disappointment about his father. The community debates how to handle Christmas without parents, while discovering Santa needs help.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The children actively choose to save Christmas themselves, deciding to help Santa complete his deliveries and make Christmas happen for the whole town despite their parents' absence.
Mirror World
The children form a found family with each other and Ms. Trapper, discovering that connection and helping others brings joy - the thematic heart showing that family is about who shows up, not just blood relations.
Premise
The fun adventure of children working with Santa to deliver presents across town, encountering various obstacles and magical moments, learning to work together, and experiencing the joy of giving rather than receiving.
Midpoint
The children successfully complete a major portion of the deliveries and share a triumphant moment of celebration, believing they've saved Christmas - a false victory as bigger challenges and emotional reckonings await.
Opposition
Complications intensify: the weather worsens, Santa's condition becomes critical, some children begin to break down emotionally about their absent parents, and Danny's hope about his father becomes increasingly fragile as doubts surface.
Collapse
Danny's hope dies as he confronts the truth that his father isn't coming - experiencing the death of his idealized family Christmas and the innocence of believing everything will work out as promised.
Crisis
Danny processes his grief and disappointment while the other children comfort him. The group faces their darkest moment, questioning whether their efforts mattered and dealing with the pain of broken expectations.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Danny realizes that family isn't about who you wish was there, but who actually shows up - seeing Ms. Trapper, his friends, and the community as his true family. This realization gives him and the others the strength to finish what they started.
Synthesis
The children complete their mission with renewed purpose, not to create a perfect Christmas, but to show love to their community. Parents eventually return. The town comes together. Danny accepts his new understanding of family and finds peace.
Transformation
Christmas morning shows Danny and the children transformed - no longer dependent on absent parents or perfect circumstances for happiness, but finding joy in the chosen family and community they've built together.