Dan Harmon's 8-Segment Story Circle

Title

Dan Harmon's 8-Segment Story Circle

Description

Dan Harmon hardly invented the circular narrative structure or traced the cyclical nature of stories in the three-act structure. He merely simplified the Hero’s Journey and adapted it to his own screenwriting needs.

In Harmon's 8-Segment Story Circle, there are only 8 parts: You. Need. Go. Struggle. Find. Take. Return. Change.
The way the story circle works is that your main character, much like Campbell’s hero, moves from a zone of comfort towards a want, and with that, into the chaos of the second act, from where they’ll return changed. The top half of the circle represents order and the bottom half chaos. The right side of the circle represents the hero resisting their transformation, the left side represents the hero moving towards their transformation.

Use this as a template for Dan Harmon's story structure:

The protagonist has a need. He goes to search for it. He finds what he needs, but in order to get it, he must face extreme challenges. In this journey, the protagonist returns to where he started, but he gained new experience which will help him change his world once and for all.

Designer

Tim Stotz

Date

1990

Bibliographic Citation

Storytelling 101: The Dan Harmon Story Circle: Boords. boords.com. (2022, October 24). https://boords.com/blog/storytelling-101-the-dan-harmon-story-circle

School, A. F. (2020, March 5). Create a better movie: Dan Harmon’s Story Circle. AV FilmSchool. https://avfilmschool.com/create-a-better-movie-dan-harmon-story-circle/

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Title

The Application of Harmon's 8-Segment Story Circle in Lion King

Description

The You: Introduce the protagonist and the world they inhabit. In The Lion King, Simba is born, and his potential to become the next king is established.
The Need: Define the protagonist’s goal or desire. Simba’s need is to prove himself and claim his rightful place as king.
The Go: The protagonist embarks on a journey. Simba leaves the kingdom after his father’s tragic death, feeling responsible for the event.
The Search: The protagonist searches for what they need. Simba encounters Timon and Pumbaa, who teach him a carefree and carefree lifestyle away from his responsibilities.
The Find: The protagonist finds what they are looking for. Simba reunites with his childhood friend, Nala, and realizes the importance of his duty to his kingdom
The Take: The protagonist takes hold of what they found. Simba decides to return to his homeland, challenge his evil uncle Scar, and reclaim his place as king
The Return: The protagonist returns to where they began. Simba confronts Scar and his past, facing the ultimate test of his bravery and strength.
The Change: The protagonist undergoes a transformation. Simba defeats Scar, takes his rightful place as king, and learns the importance of responsibility and leadership. Simba restores balance to the Pride Lands, reunites with his family, and brings harmony back to his kingdom.

Designer

avfilmschool

Bibliographic Citation

Siu, E. (2023, June 22). The Power of Storytelling in Marketing: How to Engage Your Audience. Single Grain. https://www.singlegrain.com/blog/ms/storytelling-in-marketing/

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