Finding Nemo

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Lore & Background

The franchise expands beyond the original film with a standalone sequel, Finding Dory, released in 2016. This second installment focuses on the amnesiac character Dory as she travels to California to find her long-lost parents, Jenny and Charlie. Set one year after the events of Finding Nemo off the coast of Morro Bay, it explores the idea of family reunion while broadening the universe with new characters. Director Andrew Stanton noted in June 2016 that he felt Finding Dory was the "missing piece, emotionally, for the first movie." He emphasized that sequels must feel inevitable and preordained, a challenge he found just as hard, if not harder, on Finding Dory to achieve successfully.

In Their Own Story

In 2003, Marlin watches his son Nemo swim too far toward the edge of the reef before being abducted by divers. While Nemo is held in a Sydney dentist's office aquarium, Marlin sets out with Dory, an amnesiac regal tang who aids him on the journey. Together they navigate jellyfish fields and other dangers to reach Sydney Harbour, where Marlin learns to take risks and let little Nemo take care of himself. In 2016, the narrative shifts to Dory, who travels from the Great Barrier Reef to Morro Bay, California, one year after the first film's events. Her journey leads her to explore her past and reconnect with her parents, Jenny and Charlie, proving that the world continues to open up for these characters.

Reader's Guide

The series consists of two main films directed by Andrew Stanton: Finding Nemo (2003) and Finding Dory (2016). Finding Nemo is the fifth Pixar film, while Finding Dory is the seventeenth. Both are set in the ocean, with the first traveling from the Great Barrier Reef to Sydney Harbour, and the second moving from there to Morro Bay, California. The franchise also includes short films such as "Exploring the Reef with Jean-Michel Cousteau" (2003), where characters interrupt a documentary, and "Marine Life Interviews" (2016). Future developments include a potential third film; while Andrew Stanton stopped saying "never" in 2016, Pete Docter suggested in May 2024 that the studio was considering another installment. However, Ellen DeGeneres stated in July 2024 she would not reprise her role as Dory again, though a new short film is announced for April 25, 2026.

Did You Know?

• Finding Nemo was the best-selling DVD of all time, with over 40 million copies sold as of 2006.
• The short film 'Exploring the Reef with Jean-Michel Cousteau' features Marlin, Dory, and Nemo interrupting a real documentary about the Great Barrier Reef.
• Ellen DeGeneres announced in July 2024 that her Netflix special would be her last act in show business, stating she was not returning as Dory at that time.
• Finding Nemo is the second highest-grossing film of 2003, trailing only The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
• In a 2016 Q&A, Ellen DeGeneres responded to questions about reprising her role by saying, 'No, I'm going bye-bye, remember.'