Finding Dory: Our Favorite Fish in the Finding Nemo Universe Returns for a Story of Her Own

Dedicated to Liz Fu, last year’s editor-in-chief 🙂

When Finding Nemo was released in 2003, the heartwarming movie about one father’s quest to find his son and venture out in the unknown became an instant classic. In many ways, Marlin was a modern Bilbo Baggins, who lived quietly in his anemone plant hobbit hole in the Great Barrier Reef. Determined to find his son, Marlin left his peaceful life and  went through his own journey, learning that maybe a few risks and adventures weren’t that bad at all.

 

Along his journey, Marlin met a blue tang fish named Dory, perhaps known for her catchy mantra ‘just keep swimming’. Dory instantly became a fan favorite, a fish who wasn’t afraid to take risks and who truly lived life in the moment. She showed Marlin that spontaneity was beautiful in its own way.

 

Now Dory comes back to the big screen for her own story: Finding Dory.

 

One year after the events of Finding Nemo, Dory lives happily with Marlin and Nemo. However, everything changes when Dory begins to remember her family. Little memories of her mother and her father begin to appear in her mind, urging her to take a journey to find them. When Dory’s journey leads her to the Marine Life Institute, she has to channel everything that makes her Dory in order to reunite with her family.

 

Essentially, this is a story about Dory’s path to self-acceptance. Her moving speech to Marlin at the end of Finding Nemo did not address all of her insecurities–she felt like everyone left her and that no one truly cared. In addressing the dilemma of how to accept one’s flaws, Pixar created yet another heartwarmer that appeals to both children and grown-ups alike.

 

We all have insecurities, from our athleticism to our outward appearance to our intelligence. Dory’s story shows us that all of our flaws, everything that makes us unique, can be used for good. Finding Dory was truly a movie that proved that one’s weaknesses might actually be revealed to be their very own strengths.