---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like stories that exist both in the…"
description: "\"I like stories that exist both in the naturalistic world and in our imaginative lives, films are so immersive in that sense, we can explore how our cha..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc7/dave-mckean-15219_character_i-like-stories-that-exist-both-in-the-na_2886644.png"
---

#  I like stories that exist both in the naturalistic world…

![“I like stories that exist both in the naturalistic world and in our imaginative lives, films are so immersive in that sense, we can explore how our characters think and dream, as well as how they exist in the real world.” quote by Dave McKean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc7/dave-mckean-15219_character_i-like-stories-that-exist-both-in-the-na_2886644.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc7/dave-mckean-15219_character_i-like-stories-that-exist-both-in-the-na_2886644.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc7/dave-mckean-15219_character_i-like-stories-that-exist-both-in-the-na_2886644.png)

> “I like stories that exist both in the naturalistic world and in our imaginative lives, films are so immersive in that sense, we can explore how our characters think and dream, as well as how they exist in the real world.”

[Dave McKean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mckean/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Stories that blend reality and imagination let us explore characters' inner worlds and their real‑world impact.

**In simple terms:** Mixing real and imagined worlds deepens storytelling.

Key Takeaway

Use both perspectives to enrich narratives.

Themes

creativity storytelling imagination

Mood

inspired curious

Type

analytical creative

When to use this quote

- film analysis
- creative writing
- education
- therapy

Key Concepts

narrative theory psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How does this blend affect audience empathy?
- What techniques achieve seamless integration?

A Different Perspective

Balancing realism and fantasy can be challenging.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Imaginative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imaginative/) [Real world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-world/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [I don't think every movie should be made in 3-D, and it should depend on whether it's one of these films that's more immersive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-kosinski/i-don-t-think-every-movie-should-be-made-in-3-d-and-it-should-depend/)

[Joseph Kosinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-kosinski/)

> [“A story unwritten is without beginning or end. But in its potential lies another story; and in the heartbeat before pen meets page, both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/a-story-unwritten-is-without-beginning-or-end-but-in-its-potential/)

[Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/)

> [There are characters in some short stories who exist as people, and there are other characters in different short stories who exist as purely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/there-are-characters-in-some-short-stories-who-exist-as-people-and/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [I believe these stories exist because we sometimes need to create unreal monsters and bogies to stand in for all the things we fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/i-believe-these-stories-exist-because-we-sometimes-need-to-create/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

> [I don't necessarily think stories have functions any more than diamonds have functions, or the sky has a function... Stories exist. They keep us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-don-t-necessarily-think-stories-have-functions-any-more-than/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [Stories are living and dynamic. Stories exist to be exchanged. They are the currency of Human Growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-houston/stories-are-living-and-dynamic-stories-exist-to-be-exchanged-they-are/)

[Jean Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-houston/)

> [“Do ghosts exist? We do not know. Perhaps we can never really know. But yes, ghost stories do exist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minakshi-chaudhry/do-ghosts-exist-we-do-not-know-perhaps-we-can-never-really-know-but/)

Minakshi Chaudhry

> [But that's what we all are-just stories. We only exist by how people remember us, by the stories we make of our lives. Without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-lint/but-that-s-what-we-all-are-just-stories-we-only-exist-by-how-people/)

[Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/)

> [I love stories that exist in this amped-up, personal world - sort of like 'Pee-wee's Big Holiday,' actually. That world really only exists inside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-beatriz/i-love-stories-that-exist-in-this-amped-up-personal-world-sort-of/)

[Stephanie Beatriz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-beatriz/)

> [“People think that stories are shaped by people. In fact, it’s the other way around. Stories exist independently of their players. If you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/people-think-that-stories-are-shaped-by-people-in-fact-it-s-the-other/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [Acting is an imaginative leap, really, isn't it? And imaginations prosper in different circumstances. And it's being able - I can't tell you how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/acting-is-an-imaginative-leap-really-isn-t-it-and-imaginations/)

[John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/)

> [It is not necessary to have an extravagant food budget in order to serve things with variety and tastefully cooked. It is not necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-schaeffer/it-is-not-necessary-to-have-an-extravagant-food-budget-in-order-to/)

[Edith Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-schaeffer/)

> [When any civilization is dust and ashes," he said, "art is all that's left over. Images, words, music. Imaginative structures. Meaning—human meaning, that is—is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/when-any-civilization-is-dust-and-ashes-he-said-art-is-all-that-s/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [I definitely go through periods where I'm in a particular mood, or there's a consistent imaginative context that I feel I'm in, and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/i-definitely-go-through-periods-where-i-m-in-a-particular-mood-or/)

[Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/)

> [Individually, museums are fine institutions, dedicated to the high values of preservation, education and truth; collectively, their growth in numbers points to the imaginative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hewison/individually-museums-are-fine-institutions-dedicated-to-the-high/)

[Robert Hewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hewison/)

## More by Dave McKean

> [“And then a strange thing happened. Out of the diseased and deteriorated pool os tired thoughts came life. A simple and poisoned life, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mckean/and-then-a-strange-thing-happened-out-of-the-diseased-and/)

[Dave McKean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mckean/)

> [I love the silent era because you can see the rules being written, the grammar of film being created. Most of my films are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mckean/i-love-the-silent-era-because-you-can-see-the-rules-being-written-the/)

[Dave McKean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mckean/)

> [“I suppose cats have sayings like... "A dead mouse...has no entertainment value." How's that? Doesn't exactly trip off the tongue, does it? Okay, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mckean/i-suppose-cats-have-sayings-like-a-dead-mouse-has-no-entertainment/)

[Dave McKean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mckean/)

> [“It's not even been a two-and-two-make five sort of day, it's more like a two-and-two-make...fish”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mckean/it-s-not-even-been-a-two-and-two-make-five-sort-of-day-it-s-more-like/)

[Dave McKean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mckean/)

> [“It a heasy t'ing to live for de lightnin' crack hillumination of possession. It heasy to hide in de dark o' faith , pretendin'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mckean/it-a-heasy-t-ing-to-live-for-de-lightnin-crack-hillumination-of/)

[Dave McKean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mckean/)

> [Pride in what and who you are is a strong foundation, but don't be defined by your oppression; use your anger, don't let it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mckean/pride-in-what-and-who-you-are-is-a-strong-foundation-but-don-t-be/)

[Dave McKean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mckean/)

> [“She looked out at the other trees, and she realised that her life was one of thousands, any one of which could have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mckean/she-looked-out-at-the-other-trees-and-she-realised-that-her-life-was/)

[Dave McKean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mckean/)

> [I kind of enjoy the limits. If you've got no limits, you can do absolutely anything, it's very difficult, actually. I always enjoyed working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mckean/i-kind-of-enjoy-the-limits-if-you-ve-got-no-limits-you-can-do/)

[Dave McKean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mckean/)

> [Sometimes the things I learn making paintings or drawings - composition, colour, expressionism, texture - can directly influence the making of a film. Sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mckean/sometimes-the-things-i-learn-making-paintings-or-drawings-composition/)

[Dave McKean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mckean/)

> [When you just get fantasy stories that are about fairies or goblins, I just don't care. I'm never going to meet a goblin, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mckean/when-you-just-get-fantasy-stories-that-are-about-fairies-or-goblins-i/)

[Dave McKean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mckean/)

> [Film gives me live actors, editing, music, sound, a huge and powerful toolbox to play with. If there is a problem for me, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mckean/film-gives-me-live-actors-editing-music-sound-a-huge-and-powerful/)

[Dave McKean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mckean/)

> [I don't want to get pigeonholed just doing just family films and fantasy films... I don't really want to get pigeonholed just doing anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mckean/i-don-t-want-to-get-pigeonholed-just-doing-just-family-films-and/)

[Dave McKean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mckean/)

> [“I mean, it's not even been a two-and-two-make five sort of a day, it's more like a two-and-to-make... fish... or something... You know? Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mckean/i-mean-it-s-not-even-been-a-two-and-two-make-five-sort-of-a-day-it-s/)

[Dave McKean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mckean/)

> [ “The depressing majority of comics seem to be about violence of one sort or another, \[...\] And I just don’t enjoy violence. I can… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mckean/the-depressing-majority-of-comics-seem-to-be-about-violence-of-one/)

[Dave McKean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mckean/)

> [There are so many comics about violence. I'm not entertained or amused by violence, and I'd rather not have it in my life. Sex,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mckean/there-are-so-many-comics-about-violence-i-m-not-entertained-or-amused/)

[Dave McKean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mckean/)

[Explore all 43 Dave McKean quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mckean/)

## More Character quotes

> [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/)

[Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/)

> [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/)

[Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/)

> [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/)

[Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/)

> [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/)

[Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/)

> [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/)

David Hudgins

> [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/)

[Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/)

> [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/)

[Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/)

> [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/)

[Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/)

> [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/)

[Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/)

> [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/)

[Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/)

> [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/)

[Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/)

> [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/)

[Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/)

[Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I like stories that exist both in the naturalistic world and in our imaginative lives, films are so immersive in that sense, we can explore how our characters think and dream, as well as how they exist in the real world.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dave McKean"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mckean/i-like-stories-that-exist-both-in-the-naturalistic-world-and-in-our/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Character"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mckean/i-like-stories-that-exist-both-in-the-naturalistic-world-and-in-our/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc7/dave-mckean-15219_character_i-like-stories-that-exist-both-in-the-na_2886644.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc7/dave-mckean-15219_character_i-like-stories-that-exist-both-in-the-na_2886644.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc7/dave-mckean-15219_character_i-like-stories-that-exist-both-in-the-na_2886644.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I like stories that exist both in the naturalistic world and in our imaginative lives, films are so…” — Dave McKean",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Dave McKean",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mckean/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I like stories that exist both...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mckean/i-like-stories-that-exist-both-in-the-naturalistic-world-and-in-our/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mckean/i-like-stories-that-exist-both-in-the-naturalistic-world-and-in-our/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
