Finding Nemo (2003)
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An overprotective clownfish and a forgetful blue tang embark on an epic journey across the ocean to find a lost young fish.
The story
After a tragic event leaves him as the sole protector of his son, Marlin, an overprotective clownfish finds himself separated from his only child, Nemo, when the young fish is swept up by a fishing boat. Marlin must navigate the vast and dangerous ocean to find him. Along the way, he teams up with Dory, a regal blue tang who suffers from short-term memory loss. Together, they face various marine perils and obstacles as they race toward a distant harbor, while Nemo finds himself in an unexpected environment and must navigate his new surroundings to survive.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Marlin and Coral, a clownfish couple, live on the Great Barrier Reef. After a barracuda attack leaves Marlin alone with their son, Nemo, he becomes hyperprotective. When Nemo is captured by divers during a school trip, Marlin and Dory, a forgetful blue tang, embark on a journey to find him. They encounter a group of sharks, a school of jellyfish, and a sea turtle named Crush. Meanwhile, Nemo is in a dentist's tank in Sydney, where he joins the 'Tank Gang' and attempts to escape. Marlin and Dory eventually reach Sydney, where they find Nemo in the tank. After a series of events involving a fishing net and a rescue by a pelican, the pair is reunited. The film ends with Marlin and Dory and Nemo together, and the Tank Gang successfully escaping their tank.
- First release year
- 2003
- Runtime (minutes)
- 100
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Andrew Stanton
- Writers
- Andrew Stanton · screenplay; Bob Peterson · screenplay; David Reynolds · screenplay; Andrew Stanton · story
- Cast and characters
- Albert Brooks · Marlin; Ellen DeGeneres · Dory; Alexander Gould · Nemo; Willem Dafoe; Geoffrey Rush
- Genres
- animated; comedy-drama
- Themes
- parental protection; overcoming fear
- Tone and mood
- adventurous; heartwarming
- Setting
- The Great Barrier Reef and the ocean leading to Sydney, Australia.
- Premise and plot tags
- underwater adventure; father-son relationship
- Source material / true-story basis
- Pierrot the Clownfish
- Franchise connections
- Finding Nemo
- Reception
- The film received widespread acclaim from critics, who praised the visual elements, screenplay, animation, Newman's score and characters who have been cited as entertaining to both children and adult moviegoers.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 99% · scale: percentage · review count: 266; Metacritic · score: 90 · scale: 100 · review count: 38
- Awards and nominations
- Best Animated Feature · Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards · win; Saturn Awards · Best Animated Feature · win; Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards · Best Animated Feature · win; National Board of Review Awards · Best Animated Feature · win; Online Film Critics Society Awards · Best Animated Feature · win; Toronto Film Critics Association Awards · Best Animated Feature · win; Favorite Movie · Kids Choice Awards · win; Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie · Kids Choice Awards · win; Best Supporting Actress · Saturn Awards · win
- Production trivia
- The film was the best-selling DVD title of all time at the time of its release.; The character of Gill was originally different in the script.; The film's music was the first Pixar film not to be scored by Randy Newman.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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