Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
It's 'vege-mania' in Wallace and Gromit's neighborhood, and our two enterprising chums are cashing in with their humane pest-control outfit, "Anti-Pesto." With only days to go before the annual Giant Vegetable Competition, business is booming, but Wallace & Gromit are finding out that running a "humane" pest control outfit has its drawbacks as their West Wallaby Street home fills to the brim with captive rabbits. Suddenly, a huge, mysterious, veg-ravaging "beast" begins attacking the town's sacred vegetable plots at night, and the competition hostess, Lady Tottington, commissions Anti-Pesto to catch it and save the day. Lying in wait, however, is Lady Tottington's snobby suitor, Victor Quartermaine, who'd rather shoot the beast and secure the position of local hero-not to mention Lady Tottingon's hand in marriage. With the fate of the competition in the balance, Lady Tottington is eventually forced to allow Victor to hunt down the vegetable chomping marauder. Little does she know that Victor's real intent could have dire consequences for her ...and our two heroes.
Despite a mid-range budget of $30.0M, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit became a runaway success, earning $192.6M worldwide—a remarkable 542% return.
1 Oscar. 41 wins & 25 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%)
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) exhibits deliberately positioned narrative design, characteristic of Steve Box's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 25 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 Wallace and Gromit run Anti-Pesto, a humane pest control service protecting the town's prized vegetables before the Giant Vegetable Competition. The town is vegetable-obsessed, peaceful, and orderly.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 9 minutes when A giant rabbit ravages Lady Tottington's garden at night, threatening the upcoming competition. The creature is too large and dangerous for normal methods, putting both the competition and Anti-Pesto's humane philosophy at risk.. 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 19 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 22% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Wallace uses the Mind Manipulation-O-Matic to brainwash a rabbit, but the experiment goes catastrophically wrong, accidentally switching Wallace's mind with rabbit instincts. Wallace becomes the Were-Rabbit, though he doesn't realize it yet., moving from reaction to action.
At 41 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Victor discovers gold "24-carrot" bullets are the only way to kill the Were-Rabbit and vows to hunt it. The stakes shift from capture to kill. Gromit realizes Wallace is in mortal danger, and the humane solution may not be possible., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 61 minutes (72% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Victor frames Gromit for the Were-Rabbit attacks, and Gromit is arrested. Wallace is left alone, vulnerable, and about to transform. The partnership is destroyed, and Gromit faces execution. Death looms both literally and metaphorically., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 66 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 78% of the runtime. Lady Tottington chooses compassion over violence, protecting Were-Wallace from Victor and declaring "there's still some humanity in him." Her faith in humane values gives Gromit the resolve to break out and save Wallace., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit'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 Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit against these established plot points, we can identify how Steve Box utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit 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
Wallace and Gromit run Anti-Pesto, a humane pest control service protecting the town's prized vegetables before the Giant Vegetable Competition. The town is vegetable-obsessed, peaceful, and orderly.
Theme
Lady Tottington tells Wallace that his humane approach is "so much kinder" than traditional pest control. Theme: compassion and humanity versus aggression and violence as problem-solving methods.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Anti-Pesto's operations, the town's vegetable mania, the impending competition, Lady Tottington's estate, Victor Quartermaine as her suitor and rival pest controller, and Wallace's growing attraction to Lady Tottington.
Disruption
A giant rabbit ravages Lady Tottington's garden at night, threatening the upcoming competition. The creature is too large and dangerous for normal methods, putting both the competition and Anti-Pesto's humane philosophy at risk.
Resistance
Wallace attempts increasingly desperate humane solutions, culminating in the Mind Manipulation-O-Matic brain-washing experiment. Gromit expresses concern about the untested technology. The rabbit problem intensifies, and Victor lobbies to hunt the beast.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Wallace uses the Mind Manipulation-O-Matic to brainwash a rabbit, but the experiment goes catastrophically wrong, accidentally switching Wallace's mind with rabbit instincts. Wallace becomes the Were-Rabbit, though he doesn't realize it yet.
Mirror World
Lady Tottington and Wallace share a tender moment discussing their shared love of vegetables and humane values. She represents the compassionate path Wallace must choose, contrasting with Victor's violent approach.
Premise
The "fun and games" of Were-Rabbit chaos: Wallace transforms nightly and ravages gardens; Gromit investigates and discovers the truth; the town panics; Victor seizes the opportunity to position himself as a hunter-hero; Wallace courts Lady Tottington while battling his rabbit cravings.
Midpoint
Victor discovers gold "24-carrot" bullets are the only way to kill the Were-Rabbit and vows to hunt it. The stakes shift from capture to kill. Gromit realizes Wallace is in mortal danger, and the humane solution may not be possible.
Opposition
Victor hunts the Were-Rabbit with increasing aggression; Gromit tries to protect Wallace while hiding the truth from Lady Tottington; Wallace's transformations become more frequent and uncontrollable; the town mob turns bloodthirsty; Anti-Pesto's reputation crumbles.
Collapse
Victor frames Gromit for the Were-Rabbit attacks, and Gromit is arrested. Wallace is left alone, vulnerable, and about to transform. The partnership is destroyed, and Gromit faces execution. Death looms both literally and metaphorically.
Crisis
Gromit sits in prison awaiting his fate. Wallace transforms at the competition, wreaking havoc. Lady Tottington discovers the truth about Wallace. The darkest moment before resolution: compassion seems to have failed utterly.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Lady Tottington chooses compassion over violence, protecting Were-Wallace from Victor and declaring "there's still some humanity in him." Her faith in humane values gives Gromit the resolve to break out and save Wallace.
Synthesis
Gromit escapes and pursues Victor to save Wallace. Final confrontation on Lady Tottington's rooftop: Victor attempts to shoot Were-Wallace, Lady Tottington defends him, Gromit intervenes. Wallace's humanity returns when he protects Lady Tottington. Victor falls to his apparent doom, and Wallace is restored.
Transformation
The Giant Vegetable Competition proceeds peacefully. Wallace and Gromit return to their work, but Wallace now has rabbit-like buck teeth—a permanent reminder. He's content with his simple life with Gromit, having learned that compassion has consequences but remains the right choice.