How well do you know Finding Nemo?

Finding Nemo: A Summary

• Finding Nemo is a 2003 American computer-animated comedy-drama adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures.
• The film tells the story of an overprotective clownfish named Marlin who, along with a forgetful regal blue tang named Dory, searches for his missing son Nemo.
• Pre-production of the film began in early 1997. The inspiration for Finding Nemo sprang from multiple experiences, going back to Stanton's childhood, when he loved going to the dentist to see the fish tank.
• To ensure that the movements of the fish in the film were believable, the animators took a crash course in fish biology and oceanography.
• Premiering in Los Angeles on May 18, Finding Nemo was released in theaters in the United States on May 30, 2003. Upon its release, it received widespread acclaim from critics and became the highest-grossing animated film at the time of its release.
• The film received three nominations at the 76th Academy Awards, winning one for Best Animated Feature, becoming the first Pixar film to do so.
• Finding Nemo is the best-selling DVD title of all time, with over 40 million copies sold as of 2006.
• The film was re-released in 3D in 2012.
• In 2008, the American Film Institute named it as the 10th greatest American animated film as part of their 10 Top 10 lists.
• A sequel, Finding Dory, was released in June 2016.
• The idea for the characters of Marlin and Nemo came from a photograph of two clownfish peeking out of an anemone.
• The film was dedicated to Glenn McQueen, a Pixar animator who died of melanoma in October 2002.
• Finding Nemo was the first Pixar film not to be scored by Randy Newman. The original soundtrack album was instead scored by Thomas Newman, his cousin, and released on May 20, 2003.Finding Nemo: A Summary of Box Office, Home Media, and Promotional Campaigns

Box Office:

• Finding Nemo grossed $871.0 million worldwide during its original theatrical run, making it the second-highest-grossing film of 2003 behind The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
• It sold an estimated 56.4 million tickets in the United States during its initial theatrical run.
• The film grossed $339.7 million in the United States and Canada, making it the highest-grossing animated film in North America at the time.
• It was the highest-grossing film in Japan after Armageddon and the highest-grossing film in the UK, Ireland, and Malta in October 2003.
• Finding Nemo was re-released in 3D in 2012, earning $69.3 million worldwide.

Home Media:

• Finding Nemo was released on VHS and DVD on November 4, 2003, selling over 8 million copies on the first day of release and surpassing Monsters, Inc. for having the highest single-day record for an animated movie.
• The DVD release sold over 15 million copies, becoming the best-selling DVD of its time and holding the record for the best-selling DVD release of all time with over 40 million copies sold.
• The DVD consists of two separate discs with bonus features such as the in-depth documentary Making Nemo, visual commentary with deleted scenes and design galleries, and sneak peeks for upcoming film releases.
• Finding Nemo was released on Blu-ray in 2012 and on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray in 2019.

Promotional Campaigns:

• Finding Nemo was promoted through partnerships with companies such as Frito-Lay, Keebler, Pepsi, and Kellogg's, featuring sweepstakes, hidden image games, and Nemo-themed products such as Pop-Tarts and waffles.
• Kellogg's recalled Frosted Flakes cereal boxes due to their resemblance to a Hasbro memory card game and was sued by the company for trademark infringement.
• The film premiered in Los Angeles on May 18, 2003, and opened in theaters on May 30, 2003, becoming the first Pixar film to be released during the summer instead of November.
• Finding Nemo received critical acclaim, with a 99% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 90 out of 100 on Metacritic. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.Finding Nemo: Critical Acclaim, Accolades, Environmental Consequences, and Legacy

Critical Acclaim:

• The Boston Globe gave the film three and a half out of four, calling it the best family film since Monsters, Inc.
• The San Francisco Chronicle gave the film four out of four, praising its visuals and storytelling.
• The Washington Post gave the film a positive review, highlighting its characters and humor.
• Newsweek called the film a visual marvel and the best big-studio release of the year.
• Time praised the film's underwater fantasia and design glamour.
• Entertainment Weekly gave the film an A, calling it marvelously soulful and fluidly American.
• The Philadelphia Inquirer praised the film's eccentricity and humor.
• The New Yorker called the film a flood of wizardry and animation vigor.
• The 3D re-release prompted a retrospective on the film nine years after its initial release, with The Star-Ledger describing it as a timeless classic.
• On the 3D re-release, Entertainment Weekly wrote that its emotional power was deepened by the dimensionality of the oceanic deep.

Accolades:

• Finding Nemo won the Academy Award and Saturn Award for Best Animated Film.
• The film won numerous other awards, including Best Animated Film at the Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards, the Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards, the National Board of Review Awards, the Online Film Critics Society Awards, and the Toronto Film Critics Association Awards.
• Ellen DeGeneres won several awards for her voice acting, including the Kids Choice Award for Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie and the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Environmental Consequences:

• The film's use of clownfish as characters led to mass purchases of the fish breed as pets in the United States, causing environmental devastation for the clownfish.
• The Australian Tourism Commission launched several marketing campaigns in China and the United States utilizing Finding Nemo clips to draw tourists to Australia.
• The demand for tropical fish skyrocketed after the film's release, causing reef species decimation in Vanuatu and several other reef areas.
• Some aquarium owners released their pet fish into the ocean, which introduced harmful species to the indigenous environment, harming reefs worldwide.
• A 2017 study found little evidence for fan-based purchases of wild-caught fish immediately following the film.

Legacy:

• A spin-off sequel, Finding Dory, was released in 2016 and focused on Dory's journey to reunite with her parents.
• A video game based on the film was released in 2003 and received mixed reviews.
• Finding Nemo has inspired numerous attractions and properties at Disney Parks around the world, including Turtle Talk with Crush, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, The Seas with Nemo & Friends, Finding Nemo – The Musical, and Crush's Coaster.