The Power of Wordless Storytelling: Lessons from “Up” for Content & UX Professionals
Pixar’s movie Up and visual storytelling
The opening scene of Pixar’s Up is a masterclass in visual storytelling. Using the same musical score, it conveys an entire lifetime of emotions—joy, love, ambition, heartbreak, hardship, and loss—by adjusting the pace and rhythm of the music and the visuals.
Let’s explore how Up achieves this and what we can apply to our work as ux designers, UX writers, and content strategists.
1. The Role of Music in Storytelling
One of the most striking aspects of Up’s opening sequence is its use of a single recurring musical theme. Composer Michael Giacchino’s “Married Life” plays throughout, but its tone evolves as the scene progresses—light and whimsical in moments of joy, slow and subdued during times of sorrow.
This mirrors the way a brand’s voice should adapt to different contexts while maintaining a consistent identity. Just as music guides emotions in Up, content and UX writing can use tone, pacing, and rhythm to shape user experiences.
Takeaway:
Just as the melody in Up doesn’t change, maintain a consistent voice
Use tone adapt to different emotions and scenarios
Use repetition strategically to reinforce key ideas while introducing subtle variations to keep the message engaging.
2. The Power of Tone: Shifting Yet Unified
Throughout the sequence, Up masterfully shifts through several tones, each serving a different emotional purpose:
Warm and Nostalgic – Comforting and familiar, drawing the audience into Carl and Ellie’s world.
Joyful and Playful – Lighthearted moments of laughter and dreams.
Hopeful and Aspirational – The couple’s shared dreams of adventure create motivation and excitement.
Tender and Loving – Intimate moments convey love through small, meaningful details.
Melancholic and Poignant – As life takes unexpected turns, the tone shifts subtly but powerfully.
Unified Emotional Sincerity – Despite these shifts, the storytelling remains cohesive and authentic.
Takeaway:
Whether crafting microcopy, website content, or UX flows, ensure your tone adapts to user needs while staying true to the brand’s core personality.
Don’t be afraid to evoke emotion—whether through humor, warmth, or empathy—to create a lasting connection.
3. Show, Don’t Tell: The Art of Visual Storytelling
Up communicates deep emotions entirely through visuals and music. There’s no need for dialogue because every action, expression, and transition is carefully designed to evoke a response.
As content and UX professionals, we often assume words are our primary tool. But just as Up tells its story through visuals, we must also think about:
How our content interacts with design.
The impact of whitespace, typography, and imagery in storytelling.
The way users feel as they navigate content and digital experiences.
Takeaway:
Embrace minimalism—sometimes, the best way to communicate a message is through intuitive design rather than excessive text.
Collaborate with designers to ensure content enhances the overall user experience rather than overwhelming it.
4. Lessons for Content & UX Professionals
The storytelling techniques in Up align with the best practices for brand communication, UX writing, and content strategy:
Consistency in storytelling: Just like Up maintains a cohesive emotional journey, a brand’s narrative should feel unified across all touchpoints.
Emotional design: Craft experiences that evoke emotions at the right moments, much like Up does with its shifting music and tone.
Adaptability: A single theme (or brand voice) can be flexible without losing its core identity.
Resonance over information: UX writing and content strategy should focus on emotional connection, not just conveying facts.
5. Applying These Lessons to Your Work
Now, consider how you can integrate these principles into your own content and UX writing:
UX Writing: Use microcopy, tone, and pacing to guide user emotions just as Up does with music.
Content Strategy: Maintain a consistent narrative arc while adapting to different contexts and user journeys.
Content Writing: Craft stories that evoke emotion and engagement, even with minimal words.
UX Design Collaboration: Align visual storytelling with written content to create holistic user experiences.
Brand Voice Development: Create a signature style that adapts to different scenarios while staying true to the brand.
Conclusion: The Magic of Subtle Storytelling
The opening scene of Up proves that storytelling doesn’t require words to be powerful. For content and UX professionals, it serves as a reminder that great storytelling comes from a blend of consistency, adaptability, emotional resonance, and visual communication.
As you craft your next piece of content, microcopy, or UX flow, ask yourself: How can I make this experience feel as emotionally engaging as the first 10 minutes of Up*?* If you can capture even a fraction of that magic, your audience will not just understand your message—they’ll feel it.
