Finding Dory

Finding Dory
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Name	Finding Dory
Caption	Theatrical release poster
Director	Andrew Stanton
Producer	Lindsey Collins
Writer	Andrew Stanton, Victoria Strouse
Based on	Characters created by Andrew Stanton and Albert Brooks
Starring	Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Ed O'Neill
Music	Thomas Newman
Studio	Pixar Animation Studios
Distributor	Walt Disney Pictures
Released	June 17, 2016
Runtime	97 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$200 million
Gross	$1.029 billion

Finding Dory is a 2016 American computer-animated adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Andrew Stanton with production led by Lindsey Collins, the film serves as a thematic sequel focusing on the character Dory, originally introduced in the 2003 film Finding Nemo. Featuring voice performances from Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Ed O'Neill, Hank Azaria, and Diane Keaton, the picture explores memory, family reunification, and marine conservation through a narrative set largely at the fictional Marina del Rey-inspired marine facility, the Marine Life Institute.

Plot

The story follows Dory, a blue tang fish with short-term memory loss, who experiences a sudden recollection of her childhood and family. She departs from her reef community and reunites with former companions, prompting a cross-Pacific journey involving the reef's residents and a voyage to the Marine Life Institute. The narrative interweaves Dory's flashbacks of her parents with sequences at the Institute that feature rehabilitation programs, an aquarium wing, and a rescue operation led by staff who echo institutions such as SeaWorld and Monterey Bay Aquarium in design. The film culminates in a series of rescues and reconciliations, emphasizing themes of identity, disability accommodation, and reunion akin to conservation stories associated with The Ocean Cleanup and advocacy by organizations like National Geographic Society.

Voice cast

The principal cast is led by Ellen DeGeneres as Dory and Albert Brooks as Marlin, reprising their roles and joined by Ed O'Neill as Hank the septopus. Supporting vocal performances include Hayden Rolence and Nora Dunn in background roles, with Kaitlin Olson and Idina Menzel providing additional character voices. Voice casting drew actors with backgrounds in television and film such as Ty Burrell, Dominic West, and Sigourney Weaver (the latter connected to previous marine-themed projects like Alien and Avatar through sci-fi prestige). The ensemble approach mirrors Pixar's history of blending established actors like Tom Hanks and Emma Watson with character specialists.

Production

Development began after the success of the earlier Finding Nemo, with Stanton returning to direct following his work on WALL-E and John Carter's screenplay experience. Pre-production involved extensive research trips to institutions including the Monterey Bay Aquarium and consultations with marine biologists from Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Pixar employed advanced computer-generated imagery techniques refined during Toy Story 3 and Inside Out to render water, fur, and crowd simulations. Production design referenced real-world locations such as Santa Barbara and San Diego harbors, and the Marine Life Institute architecture drew from facilities like Shedd Aquarium and The Georgia Aquarium. The film's budget and schedule reflected Pixar's established pipeline, with animation, storyboarding, and voice work overlapping across multiple studios.

Music

The score was composed by Thomas Newman, continuing his collaborations with major studios after work on films like American Beauty and The Shawshank Redemption (note: Newman did not score those; his credits include The Green Mile). The soundtrack blends orchestral textures with ambient tones to evoke underwater soundscapes, employing motifs that recall emotional beats similar to those found in Finding Nemo's score by Thomas Newman and other animated features scored by composers such as Michael Giacchino. Songs featured in promotional materials included pop and classic covers performed by guest artists, while the original score supported sequences of memory, pursuit, and reunification.

Release and box office

The film premiered in June 2016, distributed worldwide by Walt Disney Pictures, and opened across markets including United States, United Kingdom, China, and Japan. It achieved a global box office total surpassing $1 billion, joining the ranks of other billion-dollar earners like Frozen and Jurassic World. The release strategy included IMAX augmentations and partnerships with exhibition chains such as AMC Theatres and Cinemark. Marketing campaigns featured tie-ins with conservation organizations and merchandise licensed through Disney Consumer Products and retailers like Walmart and Target.

Reception

Critical response was generally positive, with reviewers praising voice performances, animation quality, and emotional resonance while noting narrative familiarity relative to the predecessor. Major outlets including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and The Guardian commented on its themes of disability representation and family dynamics. Awards nominations and wins included acknowledgments from industry groups such as the Annie Awards and nominations in animated feature categories at ceremonies like the Academy Awards and Golden Globe Awards (though not all nominations resulted in wins). Audience scores from polling services like CinemaScore reflected high viewer satisfaction.

Legacy and impact

The film reinforced Pixar's commercial and cultural influence in animated storytelling, contributing to public conversations about neurodiversity and marine conservation. Partnerships with aquaria and nonprofits led to fundraising and educational programs inspired by the film's depiction of rehabilitation facilities and animal rescue protocols, involving institutions such as Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute and Oceana. In merchandising and theme-park integration, characters were incorporated into attractions at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, and the film influenced subsequent animated productions at Pixar Animation Studios regarding sequels and character-centric storytelling. Category:2016 animated films