The Emotional Appeal and Realistic Animation of Finding Nemo

Premiered in 2003, Finding Nemo depicted the hardships of a parent-child relationship after the loss of a mother. With a simple plot but amazing animation, Pixar, alongside director Andrew Stanton, was able to create a masterpiece that estimated a worldwide gross of $1 billion. How was it possible that a myriad of people were hooked (pun intended) by this movie?

Appealing to the ethical and emotional side of human nature, Stanton drew large numbers to the cinema seats. For greater impact, the plot he created revolved around the importance of family.

This theme captivated everyone, disregarding any age differences. From the youngest to the oldest, everyone was able to identify with one of the characters in the movie, including Stanton (and me).

In the movie, Marlin and Coral, soon-to-be parents expecting many children, are looking forward to their life together as a couple. Everything was going great and just as expected. However, as every great movie must have a pivotal moment, the unexpected happens that changes the whole course of the film. A hungry barracuda is staring at Marlin and Coral's babies with its huge, gleaming fangs. Coral, determined to protect her children, rushes to the cave to defend them. Alas, her strength wasn't enough to withstand the barracuda's ruthless actions. After everything settles down, Marlin is left as a widower with his now only child, with only each other to lean on. Eventually, time passes and Nemo is ready for school. Marlin, still traumatized after the incident, grapples with Nemo's newfound yearn for independence. Nemo convinces Marlin to let him go to school, where, to his dismay, he is abducted by a diver. This sends Marlin, alongside Dory, a forgetful fish reflecting the opposite characteristics of Marlin, on a quest to find his missing son.

Aside from the excellent and emotionally stimulating plot, the cinematic and realistic features were remarkable. As I was watching the movie, it was nearly impossible to look away. Every detail was incredible. Compared to their older movies, the animation was more realistic. The film was thriving with vivid colors. The characters' emotions were animated to perfection. The water seemed "photo-realistic". It was clear that so much dedication went into the production of this moving picture. The creators explain that they used colors to portray danger to the audience. If the hues were brighter and pleasing to the eyes, it conveyed a message indicating a safe place. For example, at the beginning of the movie when Marlin and Coral were attacked, their "backyard" full of "houses" and diverse neighbors contrasted with the dull, vacant "front yard". The predator attacked in the open, hence the color hint.

Another effect of this movie, which helped to understand the relationship between Marlin and Nemo, was the different perspectives the director gave us as the audience. Some scenes would focus on Nemo’s point-of-view, while others were locked on Marlin. This style of cinematography allowed the audience to comprehend the difference in how Marlin and Nemo think. I personally loved this concept because it adds a sentimental attachment to both Marlin and Nemo. For example, throughout Marlin’s voyage, I was able to notice his overprotective instinct. This characteristic is clearly seen when he is traveling the current with the turtles. Squirt, a baby turtle, is accidentally thrown out of the current. As an effect, Marlin’s fatherly instincts tell him to go after him, but the father of the turtle stops him, and tells him that it is okay to let go sometimes. This tells me that Marlin thinks Nemo is weak. In other words, Marlin believes Nemo is incapable of being independent. On the other hand, through Nemo’s eyes, I am able to see that he is in some ways knowledgeable and capable of handling problems with just a little motivation. He doesn’t specifically need his father's guidance to get through life.

Overall, Finding Nemo was able to convey the importance of a parent-child relationship in a way that everyone can relate to and connect with. For example, Andrew Stanton was having difficulty finishing the plot because it made him realize that he wasn’t as close as he would like to be with his children. He expressed that once he took his son to the park to make up for the absence, and the majority of the time there, he would say, “Don’t touch that! Don’t do this!” rather than saying what his heart felt which was, “I miss you.” Stanton revealed that he was Marlin but wanted to be Dory, a character who symbolized “the desire to be free of the anxieties and fears of the future and the past.” That's why he created the sequel, Finding Dory. This perspective of the movie is relatable to adults because there comes a time when parents have to give their children freedom and allow them to explore the world on their own. The character who helped Marlin realize this in the movie was the turtle, Crush.

To a child, this is relatable because of Nemo. A child might feel compelled to oppose a parent’s belief just like Nemo. Children tend to be rebellious but eventually suffer a consequence. Other characteristics represented by Nemo that identify with children are adventurousness, friendliness, and difficulty accepting that they can’t do everything. The characteristic of being rebellious is counteracted by Gill. Gill teaches Nemo how to be independent in a way that is respectful when they are at the fish tank observing humans. As said by Price, “Animals making sense to humans is a parallel to children growing up and making sense of the world around them.”

In conclusion, Finding Nemo was a way to open the eyes of all the viewers. The young ones may learn to be respectful to parents, while the parents learn that it is okay to let go of their children. It is part of nature to grow up. I would recommend this movie to a family that yearns for a connection with entertainment.

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