Exploring the Story Structure of Filipino Fantasy Films Through Propp’s Theory
Keywords:
Cinematic narrative, Filipino fantasy films, Metro Manila Film Festival, Propp’s Morphology, Structural analysisAbstract
This study applies Vladimir Propp’s Morphology of the Folktale to analyze narrative structures in selected Filipino fantasy films from the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). Aiming to address limited academic research on Philippine cinema in education, it identifies recurring narrative patterns and character functions that help students and viewers understand film meanings. Using qualitative textual analysis, the films were examined based on Propp’s seven-character roles and thirty-one narrative functions. Findings show that the films consistently employ core heroic functions that reflect Filipino cultural values, such as resilience, moral responsibility, and communal identity. Although the films vary in their adherence to Propp’s full narrative sequence, Ang Panday adheres most closely to it. Despite differences, all films maintain essential functions that support heroic storytelling. The study concludes that Propp’s framework is effective for analyzing Filipino fantasy cinema and can enhance film literacy, providing future English educators with a practical approach to integrating cinematic texts into literature instruction.
Downloads
References
Agustin, V., Qalyubi, I., & Mirza, A.A. (2023). View of implementing Vladimir Propp’s theory of narratology in writing skill using Bumi Manusia movie. Scripta. https://doi.org/10.37729/scripta.v10i2.3782
AL-Emad, Y. (2020). The explanation of the thirty-one functions by Vladimir Propp. International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts.
Amelia, E. (2022). The implementation of Picture Word Inductive Model in teaching descriptive text - IDR UIN Antasari Banjarmasin. Institutional Digital Repository Perspetakaan UIN Antasari Banjarmasin.
Barbour, L. (2020). ‘Nemeses! Dragons! Symbolism!’: Queering the fantasy hero narrative in Nimona. Journal of Graphic Novels & Comics, 12(5), 811–823. https://doi.org/10.1080/21504857.2020.1786418
Barinova, D., Belov, V., & Zhang, S. (2024). Using Vladimir Propp’s approach to create digital storytelling when teaching undergraduate students. In Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems (pp. 32–46). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-76800-2_2
Baptista, D.L., Saldua, L.R., & Padre, W. (2025). Validity item analysis on the released PISA 2022 Creative Thinking Assessment in the Philippine context. International Multidisciplinary Journal of Research for Innovation, Sustainability and Excellence. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14820168
Bello, I. (2023). Critical issues in the methods of data collection in geoinformatics and environmental sciences. International Journal of Social Sciences and Management Research, 9(8), 18–28. https://doi.org/10.56201/ijssmr.v9.no8.2023.pg18.28
Chamalah, E. (2019). Functions of character in Indonesian folklore Princess of the Runaway Valley: A study of Vladimir Propp narrative structure theory. International Journal of Language and Literary Studies, 1(3), 60–70. https://doi.org/10.36892/ijlls.v1i3.71
Creswell, J. (2012). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. Boston, United States: Pearson.
Datulio, J.S. (2023). Exploring the aftereffects of watching English movies without subtitles: Perspective of students. Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7808932
Dayana, Y.F., Fatoni, A.U., Adijaya, N., Istiara, F., & Zain, M.Y. (2024). A narrative analysis of Angel Has Fallen movie. IJLHE International Journal of Language Humanities and Education, 7(2), 345–354. https://doi.org/10.52217/ijlhe.v7i2.1646
Fajrin, S.S., & Lestari, I. (2023). An analysis of narrative functions and characters in the dinosaur movie based on Vladimir Propp’s theory. UG Journal.
Fithrotin. (2022). The analysis of hero’s journey and archetype toward the main character as reflected in the Disney movie: Mulan (1998). Undergraduate thesis, Universitas Islam Sultan Agung Semarang. http://repository.unissula.ac.id/id/eprint/27881
Haq, A., & Masroor, F. (2024). Heroic quests, magical helpers and obstacles: An exploration of archetypal patterns and traditional narrative in modern day fairy tales. International Journal of Linguistics and Culture, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.52700/ijlc.v5i1.256
Hasibuan, F.W.J., & Lubis, Y. (2024). Student’s difficulty in listening to western movie. Indonesian EFL Journal, 10(2), 271–278. https://doi.org/10.25134/ieflj.v10i2.9996
Indradewi, A., & Jayantini, I.G.A.S.R. (2024). A comprehensive analysis of narrative and character elements in The Conjuring (2013) through repertoire of elements and Propp’s theory. Journal of Language and Literature Studies. https://doi.org/10.36312/jolls.v4i4.2112
Kara, H. (2023). Secondary data. In Policy Press eBooks (pp. 123–134). https://doi.org/10.56687/9781447366263-011
Khoirunnisa, A.D. (2023). Study of Vladimir Propp’s narrative structure in Le Fantôme de l’Opéra novel by Gaston Leroux. CaLLs (Journal of Culture Arts Literature and Linguistics, 9(2), 307. https://doi.org/10.30872/calls.v9i2.12426
Lawther, C. (2024). Victimhood and heroes and hierarchies. In Oxford University Press eBooks (pp. 60–93). https://doi.org/10.1093/9780191938634.003.0003
Liu, A. (2021). Analysis on the basic narrative structure of short films. Arts Studies and Criticism, 2(3). https://doi.org/10.32629/asc.v2i3.451
Magsalin, C.N., & Roquel, K.I.D. (2022). Cinematic patterns: Deciphering the cultural dynamics and movie preferences of the Filipino people. Asian Research Journal of Arts & Social Sciences. https://doi.org/10.9734/arjass/2023/v21i4496
National Ethical Guidelines for Health and Health-Related Research. (2017). Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Health Research and Development.
Opriasa, J. (2024). Watching movies with English subtitles and vocabulary performance of SPA learners. Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10667251
Pederson, L., Vingilis, E., Wickens, C., Koval, J., & Mann, R. (2020). Use of secondary data analyses in research: Pros and cons. Journal of Addiction Medicine and Therapeutic Science, 058–060. https://doi.org/10.17352/2455-3484.000039
Propp, V.I. (1968). Morphology of the folktale (2nd ed., L. Scott, Trans.; L. A. Wagner, Ed.). University of Texas Press. Retrieved December 19, 2025, from https://tinyurl.com/2sbf8d5c
Ramakrishnan, M. (2022). The modality of Proppian “False Hero”: Neither a hero nor a villain in (folk) narratives and real life. ShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts, 3(2), 89–96. https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v3.i2.2022.150
Rozario, R. (2021). Studying and understanding film. Creative Industries Journal.
Saberi, E. (2024). The impact of non-linear narrative structures on better character development in animated-short movies. Avanca - Cinema. https://doi.org/10.37390/avancacinema.2023.a505
Sas, N.M. (2023). Hero and villain archetypes in the context of delinquent behaviour. Ukrainian Society, 85(2), 43–52. https://doi.org/10.15407/socium2023.02.043
Sherman, S.R., & Koven, M. (2021). Folklore cinema: Popular film as vernacular culture.
Suwarno, A.B., & Suparto, S. (2023). An analysis of Vladimir Propp’s narrative functions on the Northman movie. Journal of English Education, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.30998/jedu.v3i1.7489
Tama, K., & Dhani, K.R. (2022). Analisis fungsi karakter dalam film Eternals dengan teori fungsi narasi Vladimir Propp. EKSPRESI, 11(2). https://doi.org/10.24821/ekp.v11i2.8726
Weller, S.-L., Brown, A., & Clarke, C. (2021). Questing for meaningfulness through narrative identity work: The helpers, the heroes and the hurt. Human Relations, 76(4), 551–576. https://doi.org/10.1177/00187267211043072
Zhang, J. (2023). The research on the portrayal of characters in the movie I Love Lucy by using industry multi-camera approaches. SHS Web of Conferences, 179, 03009. https://doi.org/10.1051/shsconf/202317903009
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Interdisciplinary Perspectives
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
