Last week, I rewatched Ratatouille for the fifth time (or was it the sixth)?

Chef Gusteau's motto that “Anybody Can Cook” (except me). Remy’s and Linguini’s unthinkable partnership. And who can forget Anton Ego's epic monologue?

Ratatouille is my favorite Pixar movie.

That night, I was pondering over why I love the movie so much. Is it because of a rat that cooks? A critic that turns into a believer? Or because watching Skinner’s evil plans get foiled over and over again is super funny?

It’s all of the above.

But more importantly, it’s because of how Remy and Linguini show resilience and resourcefulness to overcome every obstacle they face.

In many ways, I see Diana and myself in them. Despite multiple setbacks and failures, we stuck to entrepreneurship… and eventually launched Consistent Character AI.

That’s the real magic of Pixar movies! They create characters whom we see ourselves in, whose journeys strike a chord. This isn't a fluke. Pixar designs this through their proven 'Want vs Need' framework.

It's why they invest $200 million per film. It’s why those movies succeed at the box office. And it’s why they go on to become eternal inspirations across generations.

Today, let’s dive deep into Pixar’s “Want Vs Need” framework. Specifically:

• The framework itself
• What makes it effective
• How you can apply it to your characters for animation and books.
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Pixar’s “Want Vs Need” Storytelling Framework

In a nutshell, the company drives a story by splitting a character’s want (their surface goal) from their need (the deeper lesson they must learn).

Here’s how it works.

The protagonist starts with an external goal it wants badly. But through struggle, it discovers what it really needs. This fuels internal conflict which leads to growth, which, in many cases, occurs by sacrificing want for need.

In Pixar director Andrew Stanton’s words, a well-crafted want-vs-need arc confirms:

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Meanwhile, the audience feels catharsis, empathy, and discovers its own learnings along the way.
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Why This Framework Works

Simple: it mirrors real life.

People (including yours truly) often chase what they think they want, only to realize that what they need lies much deeper. When used in storytelling, where a character’s clear want and hidden need oppose each other, it makes people see themselves in it.

The result? They relate more and invest their emotions in a story.

Here are a few examples:

• In Ratatouille, Remy the rat wants to become a great chef in the human world. But what he needs is to learn how to bridge the human and animal world, and that authenticity matters more than approval.
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• Stoick from How to Train Your Dragon wants to keep his clan safe by slaying dragons. But he needs to trust his son Hiccup who shows that the real way is to live in harmony with dragons.
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• Finally, there’s the lovely Elsa from Frozen. She wants to hide her powers and protect everyone from herself. But what she needs is to accept the truth, embrace her identity, and love, not run from, her powers.

Is it any wonder that we love these characters?

That we root for them because they go through this universal struggle?

That we learn new lessons each time we rewatch any of Pixar’s movies?
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3 Steps to Apply This Framework To Your AI-Generated Characters

The secret ingredient of a story is not its animation but its character journey.

A story that entails conflict, growth, and victory doesn’t just bring new audiences — it also makes the existing ones return for more. And this story can only come from inside you.

AI can generate consistent characters and stunning visuals in seconds. But only you can create the emotional journey that makes people care.

Here are three steps to apply the ‘want vs need’ framework to your animation for book illustrations, marketing material, and creative design:
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1. Define Both Elements Early

Before generating your first image, before even writing the first line of your story, nail down your hero’s explicit goal (want) and underlying lesson (need).

Do they want to escape to a new place and start from scratch? But do they need to find peace and forgiveness within themselves? The want drives the story while the need drives the emotional arc.

It’s best if the need gets “discovered” at the end to complete the circle.
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2. Focus On Your Main Character

Want vs Need is most useful for protagonists. Other characters can have simpler motivations.

Give your hero a strong personality and clear opinions while they grapple with internal conflict. Send them into a storm and let them emerge better on the other side.

Show transformation, not just change. Make your hero abandon want for need.
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3. Keep It Internal And Thematic

Remember to show the need as an intrinsic shift rather than an external goal.

Ask yourself, “What lesson does this character need to learn?” It could be empathy, self-acceptance, or letting go. This transformation through events, experiences, and reflections, is what creates your story’s theme.

External wants and goals create conflict; a need alters life.
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Wrapping Up

The “Want vs Need” framework, like all of Pixar’s work, is an eternal work in progress.

Artists and directors keep iterating and refining the script to capture it during production (which is why Pixar’s budgets could exceed $200 million).

Apply this framework, and don’t get discouraged if you don’t succeed at first. The more you practice it, the more you will figure out what you actually need. And like Elsa, you will witness a transformation.

In your stories, and more importantly, in yourself.

AI Insider: The Future of AI Animation

This is where AI animation is headed.

A multi-shot video with a different camera angle generated from a single image and text prompt.

​Check it out.

Have you generated any videos like this? If yes, share them with us by hitting reply.

Talk soon,

Sachin and Diana,

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PS. Our user Aldric points out that Consistent Character AI outperforms Midjourney, ChatGPT, and other AI tools.

There are 100s of stories like this.

You guys keep pushing the boundaries of what you think is possible.
And you keep pushing us to do better.

So go ahead. Log in to Consistent Character AI and start generating AI images for your creative project.