Finding Nemo 4/#100DaysOfDisney

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The first movie I’m writing about in 2015’s 100 Days of Disney is a favourite of mine – Finding Nemo. Although, to be fair, pretty much all of Disney’s and Disney Pixar animations are favourites of mine! I love writing these posts as I get to research a little bit deeper into the movie, with some stats, facts and trivia, share reasons why I love the film so much, and tell you the story – leaving out some of the plot, just in case you haven’t seen it!

The Story

Nemo is a young clownfish, he lives in the ocean with a very over-protective father, Marlin. Nemo has a smaller right fin, and his swimming abilities are a little bit limited – which is why his dad worries so much. He worries that Nemo can’t do things, and is scared of anything bad happening to him – I’m sure most dads (and mums) can relate to that!

Nemo finally is allowed to go to school, and on his first morning is taken on a field trip, by the class teacher, Mr. Ray. During the trip to the reef drop-off, some of Nemo’s classmates – Pearl, Tad and Sheldon, are daring each other to go and touch the boat (or rather, the butt, as they call it!) that can be seen further out off the reef. Marlin warns him to not to touch the boat and embarrasses him, so Nemo defies his dad, and goes to touch the boat. Feeling quite proud of himself, Nemo confidently swims back towards the reef, but is captured by a diver.

Marlin is beside himself as the boat motors off, and stars swimming frantically after it, but is blow away by strong a jet of water. Fortunately a diving mask falls into the sea from the deck and Marlin knows that, that is the key to finding his son. Along the way, he meets Dory, a good hearted, optimistic, but forgetful regal blue tang fish. She says she will help him find his son, and that she knows how to read. She eventually reads the address on the diving mask: P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney.

Marlin and Dory get into some pretty scary and sometimes exciting, situations, including meeting 3 sharks Bruce, Anchor and Chum- who are rehabilitating themselves to not eat fish, get caught up in a mine explosion, swim down into a deep trench, get chased by an anglerfish, meet a school of moonfish, get caught up in a swarm of jellyfish, and ride the currents with sea turtles, including Crush and his son, Squirt. Marlin’s epic adventure to find his son, gets spread far across the ocean.

During that time, Nemo is placed in a fish tank with some other fish – Gill, a moorish idol who has a broken fin; Bloat, a puffer fish;  Bubbles, a yellow tang; Peach, an ochre starfish; Gurgle, a royal gramma; Jacques, a pacific cleaner shrimp; and Deb, a blacktailed humbug.

Nemo’s captor – Phillip Sherman – is a dentist who has caught the tiny clown fish for his niece, Darla. Darla is always ends up killing the fish she receives by shaking the bag that they are in, causing them to go belly up. The tank gang, initiate Nemo into the fold, and set about trying to help Nemo to escape so that he can reunite with his dad.

Marlin and Dory, meanwhile, take a ride in a blue whale to Sydney Harbour, and then meet Nigel, a pelican, who knows Nemo. He takes Marlin and Dory to the dentist office… but are they too late?

Trailer Time

Stats, Facts & Trivia

• Released in 2003.
• Re-released in 3D on September 14th, 2012 (my birthday -woohoo!)
• Won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Nominated in three more categories including Best Original Screeplay.
• Second highest-grossing film of 2003, earning a total of $936M worldwide.
• 31st highest-grossing film of all time, and the 5th highest-grossing animated film.
• A sequel, Finding Dory is in production, set to be release in June 2016.
• The first Pixar film not to be scored by Randy Newman. It was scored by his cousin, Thomas Newman.
• Nemo first appeared as a stuffed toy on a couch in Boo’s room in Monsters Inc.
• Pixar developed a very realistic look of the surface water, but had to make it look more fake so people wouldn’t think it was real footage of the ocean surface.
• The ever forgetful Dory, does get Nemo’s name correct 7 times, but also calls him: Chico, Fabio, Bingo, Harpo and Elmo.
• The dentist’s camera’s model number is A-113, a number which appears in all Pixar movies as a reference to the California Arts University room where the animators of Pixar Studios attend.
• Crush says “dude” 21 times in the film. Squirt says it 4 times.
• Dory says the address 11 full times (counting figuring it out at first as 1). She also says it 9 partial times (3 of them were stating they were in Sydney).
• Has inspired several theme park attractions including: Turtle Talk with Crush at Epcot (2004), California Adventure Park (2005), Hong Kong Disneyland (2008), Tokyo DisneySea (2009); Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage in Disneyland Park, California (2007); The Seas with Nemo & Friends at Epcot (2007), Finding Nemo – The Musical at Disney’s Animal Kingdom (2007) and Crush’s Coaster at Walt Disney Studios Park, Paris (2007)

Quotes

Just keep swimming. – Dory

I shall call him Squish and he shall be mine and he shall be my Squishy. Come on, Squishy, come on, little Squishy. [Squishy stings her] Ow. Bad Squishy, bad Squishy. – Dory

‘Cause we were like, “woaaah”, and I was like, “woaaah” and you were like, “woaaahh”. – Crush

Mine. – Seagulls

I’m H2O intolerant [sneezes]. – Sheldon

Hey. You guys made me ink. – Pearl

[gasp] He touched the butt. – Sheldon

You think you can do these things, but you just can’t Nemo. – Marlin

First day of school! Wake up! Come on. First day of school. – Nemo

[swims up quickly to Marlin, giving him a hug] Love you, Dad. – Nemo

The Cast

Why I Love Finding Nemo

• Under the sea – I love the water, I love the creatures that swim in it, so that’s one of the reasons why I love Finding Nemo!
• The animation – it’s just phenomenal in this movie. So bright and colourful, and beautiful to watch.
• Dory – Ellen DeGeneres is perfect in this role, she is hilariously funny and has great comedic timing in this film.
• The Tank Gang – all with their own funny quirks, and have some great lines in the movie.
• The seagulls – Mine.
• Crush – duuuuuuude! He really does teach Marlin about fatherhood.
• Just keep swimming – the best piece of advice ever!

Thanks for reading Day 4 of 100 Days of Disney 2015! 96 to go! Come back tomorrow for another Disney post!

Posts in the 100 Days of Disney Series: 
Disney Crafts | Disney Printables | Disney Dining | Disney Vacation Planning | Around Walt Disney World | Disney Resorts | Disney Photography | Disney Theme Parks | Disney Rides + Attractions | Disney Shows + Parades | Disney Fashion | Disney Merchandise | Disney Movies | Disney Songs

And if you are a blogger, don’t forget that the 100 Days of Disney – The Blogger Linky is now open!

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