Watership Down
Based upon Richard Adam's novel of the same title, this animated feature delves into the surprisingly violent world of a warren of rabbits as they seek to establish a new colony free of tyranny and human intervention.
Despite its small-scale budget of $1.0M, Watership Down became a solid performer, earning $3.7M worldwide—a 271% return. The film's bold vision resonated with audiences, proving that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
1 win & 4 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%)
Watership Down (1978) showcases deliberately positioned plot construction, characteristic of Martin Rosen's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 12-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 32 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes The rabbits live peacefully in their warren at Sandleford, feeding in the evening light. Fiver, a small rabbit with prophetic visions, is introduced as part of this ordinary community.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when The Chief Rabbit and the Owsla explicitly forbid anyone from leaving the warren and threaten those who spread "bad rabbits' talk." Fiver's vision is rejected, making it impossible for Hazel to protect his brother within the existing order.. 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.
At 45 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat The rabbits realize they have no does and their warren will die out without females. What seemed like a victory (finding Watership Down) is revealed as incomplete. The stakes are raised—survival now requires taking greater risks., 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, The escape plan from Efrafa is discovered. General Woundwort and his Owsla pursue the rabbits and does to the river. Bigwig fights Woundwort in brutal combat and is nearly killed. The group barely escapes across the river, but Woundwort vows revenge. Death seems imminent., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 73 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Bigwig defends the warren entrance against Woundwort's army in a heroic last stand while Hazel and Dandelion race to the farm, free the dog, and lead it back to Watership Down. The dog attacks Woundwort's forces. Woundwort faces the dog alone and presumably dies. The Efrafans scatter, and Watership Down is saved., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Watership Down's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 12 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Watership Down against these established plot points, we can identify how Martin Rosen utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Watership Down 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
The rabbits live peacefully in their warren at Sandleford, feeding in the evening light. Fiver, a small rabbit with prophetic visions, is introduced as part of this ordinary community.
Theme
Fiver has a terrifying vision of blood and destruction covering the field. He tells Hazel, "The field... it's covered with blood." This establishes the theme: survival requires heeding warnings and leaving safety behind.
Worldbuilding
The rabbits' social structure is established at Sandleford Warren. We meet the Chief Rabbit who dismisses Fiver's warning, the Owsla (police rabbits) led by the aggressive Thlayli (Bigwig), and see Hazel's growing concern for his brother Fiver despite the community's skepticism.
Disruption
The Chief Rabbit and the Owsla explicitly forbid anyone from leaving the warren and threaten those who spread "bad rabbits' talk." Fiver's vision is rejected, making it impossible for Hazel to protect his brother within the existing order.
Resistance
Hazel debates whether to leave, recruiting followers including Bigwig, Dandelion, Pipkin, and Blackberry. They argue about the risks of leaving versus staying. Holly and the Owsla pursue them as they escape, and they must cross a river and evade a dog, testing their resolve.
Act II
ConfrontationMirror World
The rabbits arrive at Cowslip's Warren, a seemingly perfect place with large rabbits, culture, and poetry. This "mirror world" reflects what leadership without truth costs—the rabbits are complicit in their own destruction, fed by a farmer who snares them. It shows what Hazel must NOT become.
Premise
The rabbits explore their new world: encountering Cowslip's eerie warren and escaping after Bigwig is nearly killed in a snare, finding Nuthanger Farm, discovering the Watership Down location, and establishing their new home. They experience freedom and begin building their warren on the hill.
Midpoint
The rabbits realize they have no does and their warren will die out without females. What seemed like a victory (finding Watership Down) is revealed as incomplete. The stakes are raised—survival now requires taking greater risks.
Opposition
Hazel leads a mission to Nuthanger Farm to free hutch rabbits, where he's shot and nearly dies. Meanwhile, Holly arrives with news that Sandleford was destroyed (Fiver was right). The group visits Efrafa, a fascist warren led by General Woundwort, who refuses to release does. The opposition intensifies as Woundwort becomes aware of them.
Collapse
The escape plan from Efrafa is discovered. General Woundwort and his Owsla pursue the rabbits and does to the river. Bigwig fights Woundwort in brutal combat and is nearly killed. The group barely escapes across the river, but Woundwort vows revenge. Death seems imminent.
Crisis
The rabbits return to Watership Down knowing Woundwort will come for them. They are exhausted, wounded, and face an enemy with superior numbers and military discipline. Fiver has visions of blood and death. The group faces their darkest hour before the final confrontation.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Bigwig defends the warren entrance against Woundwort's army in a heroic last stand while Hazel and Dandelion race to the farm, free the dog, and lead it back to Watership Down. The dog attacks Woundwort's forces. Woundwort faces the dog alone and presumably dies. The Efrafans scatter, and Watership Down is saved.