The Triplets of Belleville
Madame Souza, an elderly woman, instills in her grandson Champion (for who she acts as his guardian) a love of cycling. As a young man, he does become a dedicated road racer with his grandmother as his trainer. During a mountainous leg of the Tour de France in which Champion is racing, he goes missing. Evidence points to him being kidnapped. Indeed, he and two of his competitors were kidnapped, the kidnappers who want to use the threesome's unique skills for nefarious purposes. With Champion's overweight and faithful pet dog Bruno at her side, Madame Souza goes looking for Champion. Their trek takes them overseas to the town of Belleville. Without any money, Madame Souza and Bruno are befriended and taken in by three eccentric elderly women, who were once the renowned jazz singing group The Triplets of Belleville. The triplets help Madame Souza and Bruno try to locate and rescue Champion.
Working with a limited budget of $9.5M, the film achieved a modest success with $14.8M in global revenue (+56% profit margin).
Nominated for 2 Oscars. 20 wins & 41 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 Triplets of Belleville (2003) demonstrates meticulously timed narrative architecture, characteristic of Sylvain Chomet's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 20 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.6, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Champion, a young orphaned boy, sits alone with his dog Bruno in Madame Souza's home, melancholic and withdrawn, staring vacantly at a toy train.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when During the Tour de France, Champion is kidnapped by mysterious French mafia henchmen in a black van, along with two other cyclists, while Madame Souza and Bruno watch helplessly.. 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 First Threshold at 20 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Madame Souza and Bruno arrive in the massive, grotesque city of Belleville (a distorted version of New York), entering a completely foreign world where they must navigate urban chaos to find Champion., moving from reaction to action.
At 40 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat Madame Souza discovers where Champion is being held: the mafia is forcing kidnapped cyclists to power a gambling machine in a secret underground operation. She now knows exactly what she must do., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 60 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, During the rescue attempt, the plan goes awry and the mafia pursues Souza, the Triplets, and the freed cyclists in a violent chase. Bruno appears to sacrifice himself to save them, disappearing in the chaos., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 64 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Bruno reappears, swimming to their aid, and Madame Souza uses the Triplets' ingenuity and Champion's remaining cycling strength to mount a final coordinated counterattack against the mafia using improvised weapons and tactics., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Triplets of Belleville'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 Triplets of Belleville against these established plot points, we can identify how Sylvain Chomet utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Triplets of Belleville within the animation genre.
Sylvain Chomet's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Sylvain Chomet films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.7, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. The Triplets of Belleville takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Sylvain Chomet 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 Sylvain Chomet analyses, see The Illusionist.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Champion, a young orphaned boy, sits alone with his dog Bruno in Madame Souza's home, melancholic and withdrawn, staring vacantly at a toy train.
Theme
Madame Souza realizes that Champion finds joy in cycling, establishing the film's theme of perseverance and the transformative power of dedication and love.
Worldbuilding
Madame Souza discovers Champion's passion for cycling and dedicates years to training him rigorously. Champion transforms from a lonely child into a gaunt, obsessed Tour de France cyclist, while Souza becomes his tireless coach and Bruno grows old alongside them.
Disruption
During the Tour de France, Champion is kidnapped by mysterious French mafia henchmen in a black van, along with two other cyclists, while Madame Souza and Bruno watch helplessly.
Resistance
Madame Souza and Bruno pursue the kidnappers, following clues across the ocean. They rent a pedalo boat and cross the Atlantic, demonstrating Souza's unwavering determination despite her age and limited resources.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Madame Souza and Bruno arrive in the massive, grotesque city of Belleville (a distorted version of New York), entering a completely foreign world where they must navigate urban chaos to find Champion.
Mirror World
Madame Souza meets the Triplets of Belleville, three elderly jazz musicians from the 1930s who live in resourceful poverty. They recognize Souza as a fellow musician and take her and Bruno into their eccentric home.
Premise
Madame Souza integrates into the Triplets' world, performing with them in a nightclub and learning their ingenious survival tactics. Meanwhile, she searches for Champion, following leads and observing the city's criminal underworld, aided by the Triplets' street-smart resourcefulness.
Midpoint
Madame Souza discovers where Champion is being held: the mafia is forcing kidnapped cyclists to power a gambling machine in a secret underground operation. She now knows exactly what she must do.
Opposition
Madame Souza and the Triplets plan Champion's rescue while evading the mafia's watchful eyes. The mafia's grip tightens as they become aware of being watched. Champion, meanwhile, is drugged and exhausted, cycling endlessly in captivity.
Collapse
During the rescue attempt, the plan goes awry and the mafia pursues Souza, the Triplets, and the freed cyclists in a violent chase. Bruno appears to sacrifice himself to save them, disappearing in the chaos.
Crisis
The frantic chase continues through Belleville's streets and harbor. The mafia closes in with grenades and gunfire, and it seems all might be lost as the group struggles to escape with Champion in his weakened state.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Bruno reappears, swimming to their aid, and Madame Souza uses the Triplets' ingenuity and Champion's remaining cycling strength to mount a final coordinated counterattack against the mafia using improvised weapons and tactics.
Synthesis
The group defeats the mafia through cleverness and teamwork. The crime boss's car crashes spectacularly, ending the threat. Madame Souza, Champion, and Bruno escape Belleville and return home, where Champion recovers from his ordeal.
Transformation
Years later, an elderly Champion sits peacefully with the now-deceased Madame Souza's empty chair, reminiscing. He has found contentment not in cycling fame, but in the love and sacrifice of his grandmother, finally at peace.