2003 | Dir. Andrew Stanton | 100 Minutes
"When I look at you, I can feel it, and I look at you, and I'm home."
When a clownfish named Nemo is taken from the Great Barrier Reef by a scuba diving dentist, his father Marlin embarks on a perilous mission to rescue him. Along the way, Marlin befriends Dory, a friendly blue tang with short-term memory loss, and together they overcome numerous challenges. Meanwhile, Nemo bands together from the inhabitants of the fish tank at the dentist’s office to plot a daring escape.
Pixar Animation Studios beautifully renders an entire ocean full of vibrant life and wonder. Before its opening titles, the film begins with heartbreaking tragedy, immediately setting the emotional stakes of the plot ahead and definitively establishing Marlin's motivation as an overprotective father. Through his friendship with Dory and their journey together, the events the film teach Marlin to let go of his fear and insecurity.
Comedian Albert Brooks brings a genuine emotional resonance to the film as the voice of Marlin, although it is Ellen DeGeneres' performance as Dory that steals the show, striking the perfect balance between wacky and endearing. Willem Dafoe plays Gill, a Moorish Idol with a broken fin and authority figure of the fish tank at the dentist's office who takes a liking to Nemo. The supporting voice cast also features Brad Garrett, Stephen Root, Allison Janney, Austin Pendleton, Vicki Lewis, storyboard artist Joe Ranft, and Oscar-winning actor Geoffrey Rush.
Finding Nemo is an exemplary animated feature and another major success for Pixar Animation Studios. The film is a true crowd-pleaser with gorgeous animation, lovable characters, and a genuinely heartwarming story.
JOHN RATZENBERGER AS...
- A school of moonfish
A113
- The model number of the Dentist's underwater camera
PIXAR INTERCONNECTIVITY
- A boat in Sydney Harbor is named after 2000 Pixar animated short For the Birds
- During Gil's breakdown of the escape plan, he visualizes the Pizza Planet delivery truck from Toy Story driving by
- The mermaid from 1989 Pixar animated short Knick Knack makes a quick cameo appearance in the fish tank of the dentist's office as the masthead on a ship decoration
- Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story is seem lying by the toy chest in the dentist's waiting room
- A boy reads a comic book featuring Mr. Incredible from The Incredibles (in development at the time of the film's release) in the dentist's waiting room
- Luigi from Cars (in development at the time of the film's release) can briefly be seen driving by the dentist's office
- Mike Wazowski from Monsters, Inc. swims by in a snorkel and fins during the end credits
MCU CONNECTIONS
- Willem Dafoe (Norman Osborn in Spider-Man: No Way Home)
