The Great Mouse Detective
In Victorian London, England, a little mouse girl's toymaker father is abducted by a peglegged bat. She enlists the aid of Basil of Baker Street, the rodent world's answer to Sherlock Holmes. The case expands as Basil uncovers the crime's link to a plot against the Crown itself.
Despite its limited budget of $14.0M, The Great Mouse Detective became a solid performer, earning $38.6M worldwide—a 176% return.
1 win & 3 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%)
The Great Mouse Detective (1986) demonstrates precise narrative design, characteristic of Ron Clements's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 14 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 Peaceful scene of Flaversham's toy shop on Olivia's birthday. A loving father creates mechanical toys for his daughter, establishing their warm relationship and innocent world.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 8 minutes when Fidget kidnaps Flaversham, violently shattering Olivia's safe world. She is left alone and terrified, her father dragged away for unknown sinister purposes.. 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 18 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Basil actively chooses to take the case after discovering Ratigan's involvement. He commits to finding Flaversham and stopping whatever scheme is in motion, transforming from detached intellectual to engaged detective., moving from reaction to action.
At 37 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat False victory: Basil captures Fidget and finds the list, believing he's ahead of Ratigan. Actually, this is Ratigan's trap - Basil's arrogance has led him directly into danger. Stakes dramatically raised., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 53 minutes (71% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Basil watches helplessly as Ratigan departs for Buckingham Palace. The death trap activates and Basil has a complete emotional breakdown, believing he has failed utterly. His ego and intellect have led to ruin., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 58 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Basil has a breakthrough: he realizes the trap mechanism itself provides the means of escape. Combining deductive reasoning with Dawson's help and Olivia's courage, they escape and race to stop Ratigan., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Great Mouse Detective'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 The Great Mouse Detective against these established plot points, we can identify how Ron Clements utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Great Mouse Detective within the animation genre.
Ron Clements's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Ron Clements films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Great Mouse Detective represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Ron Clements 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 Ron Clements analyses, see The Princess and the Frog, Treasure Planet and Hercules.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Peaceful scene of Flaversham's toy shop on Olivia's birthday. A loving father creates mechanical toys for his daughter, establishing their warm relationship and innocent world.
Theme
Flaversham tells Olivia "You can do anything if you set your mind to it" - establishing the theme of believing in oneself despite perceived limitations or others' doubts.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Victorian mouse London. Olivia's birthday celebration is interrupted when the peg-legged bat Fidget breaks in, establishing the criminal underworld threat.
Disruption
Fidget kidnaps Flaversham, violently shattering Olivia's safe world. She is left alone and terrified, her father dragged away for unknown sinister purposes.
Resistance
Olivia searches for help, meeting Dr. Dawson who guides her to Basil of Baker Street. Basil initially dismisses the case as trivial until he learns Ratigan is involved. Preparation and clue-gathering begins.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Basil actively chooses to take the case after discovering Ratigan's involvement. He commits to finding Flaversham and stopping whatever scheme is in motion, transforming from detached intellectual to engaged detective.
Mirror World
Dawson and Olivia represent the emotional counterpoint to Basil's pure logic. Dawson's loyalty and Olivia's faith in Basil embody the theme that heart and belief matter as much as intellect.
Premise
Detective adventure unfolds: investigating the toy shop, tracking Fidget to the riverfront, infiltrating the seedy tavern, and the thrilling pursuit through the streets. Classic Sherlock Holmes-style deduction and action.
Midpoint
False victory: Basil captures Fidget and finds the list, believing he's ahead of Ratigan. Actually, this is Ratigan's trap - Basil's arrogance has led him directly into danger. Stakes dramatically raised.
Opposition
Ratigan springs his trap at his lair. Basil, Dawson, and Olivia are captured and placed in an elaborate death trap. Ratigan reveals his plot to replace the Mouse Queen with a robot and mocks Basil's failure.
Collapse
Basil watches helplessly as Ratigan departs for Buckingham Palace. The death trap activates and Basil has a complete emotional breakdown, believing he has failed utterly. His ego and intellect have led to ruin.
Crisis
Basil sits in despair until Dawson and Olivia's faith pulls him back. He processes the failure and finds new humility, recognizing he needs others and can't succeed through brilliance alone.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Basil has a breakthrough: he realizes the trap mechanism itself provides the means of escape. Combining deductive reasoning with Dawson's help and Olivia's courage, they escape and race to stop Ratigan.
Synthesis
Final confrontation at Buckingham Palace, exposing the robot queen plot. Chase through Big Ben with spectacular aerial combat. Basil defeats Ratigan through a combination of intellect, courage, and faith in his friends.
Transformation
Basil reunites Olivia with her father. The once-arrogant detective now warmly embraces friendship and connection. He credits the team effort and accepts Dawson as a permanent partner, transformed from isolated genius to collaborative hero.