Underdogs
All seems well for Amadeo, a shy but talented foosball player who's in love with the free-spirited Laura. Trouble strikes when Grosso, the world's best soccer player, returns home with plans to destroy the village and turn it into a new sports stadium. When Grosso kidnaps Laura, Amadeo receives the ultimate surprise when the figurines from his foosball table spring to life to help him save his beloved and reclaim the town.
Working with a moderate budget of $21.0M, the film achieved a respectable showing with $32.8M in global revenue (+56% profit margin).
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%)
Underdogs (2013) exemplifies carefully calibrated narrative architecture, characteristic of Juan José Campanella's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 11-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 47 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Amadeo lives a quiet life in his small village, running a humble bar with his beloved foosball table, content in his simple existence.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Ace returns to the village as a world-famous soccer star, seeking revenge on Amadeo and planning to demolish the town to build a massive soccer stadium.. 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 27 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Amadeo accepts Ace's challenge to a soccer match to save the town, but loses catastrophically when Ace cheats. The village is demolished and the foosball table is destroyed in the chaos., moving from reaction to action.
The Collapse moment at 80 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The foosball players are captured by Ace and imprisoned. Amadeo is alone, his team is gone, and Laura expresses disappointment in his cowardice. All hope seems lost for saving the village., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 86 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Amadeo rescues the foosball players in a daring infiltration. Together, they face Ace in the climactic match, using teamwork and strategy. Amadeo plays with newfound confidence, and they defeat Ace's team, saving the village., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Underdogs's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 11 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Underdogs against these established plot points, we can identify how Juan José Campanella utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Underdogs within the animation genre.
Juan José Campanella's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Juan José Campanella films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.8, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Underdogs represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Juan José Campanella 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 Juan José Campanella analyses, see The Secret in Their Eyes.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Amadeo lives a quiet life in his small village, running a humble bar with his beloved foosball table, content in his simple existence.
Theme
A patron mentions that "it's not about size or strength, it's about heart and believing in yourself" while watching Amadeo play foosball, establishing the film's underdog theme.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to the village, Amadeo's relationship with Laura, his history as an undefeated foosball champion, and the flashback showing young Amadeo defeating young Ace in foosball, causing Ace to leave town humiliated.
Disruption
Ace returns to the village as a world-famous soccer star, seeking revenge on Amadeo and planning to demolish the town to build a massive soccer stadium.
Resistance
Ace challenges Amadeo to a rematch, but Amadeo refuses out of fear and complacency. The town pressures him to accept. Ace begins buying up property and bulldozing homes, forcing Amadeo to reconsider.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Amadeo accepts Ace's challenge to a soccer match to save the town, but loses catastrophically when Ace cheats. The village is demolished and the foosball table is destroyed in the chaos.
Premise
Amadeo and the living foosball players embark on an adventure to challenge Ace. Comic misadventures ensue as the tiny foosball players navigate the real world, training and bonding with Amadeo while pursuing Ace's team.
Opposition
Ace prepares devastating tactics and discovers the foosball players are real. He sets traps and uses his resources to capture them. Amadeo struggles with self-doubt. The team faces setbacks and near-captures as Ace's forces close in.
Collapse
The foosball players are captured by Ace and imprisoned. Amadeo is alone, his team is gone, and Laura expresses disappointment in his cowardice. All hope seems lost for saving the village.
Crisis
Amadeo hits rock bottom, questioning whether he has the courage to face Ace alone. He contemplates giving up entirely, mourning the loss of his friends and his town.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Amadeo rescues the foosball players in a daring infiltration. Together, they face Ace in the climactic match, using teamwork and strategy. Amadeo plays with newfound confidence, and they defeat Ace's team, saving the village.