by K.J. Ness

Created on: January 24, 2010

The animated film, “Finding Nemo”, will thrill children and adults alike.  The story weaves together colorful sea creature characters and facts about marine life in a seamless plot focused on a clownfish father’s search for his fish-napped son named Nemo.  Stunning coral reef animation, funny dialogue, and an adventure built on bonds of family and friendship make this movie a winning combination of learning and entertainment. 

Nemo is a young clownfish living on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.  The audience quickly learns that Nemo is an only ‘child’ after the opening scene (which is a bit scary for young children) in which Nemo’s parents set up their home in an anemone on the wall of the reef only to be attacked by a barracuda who kills Nemo’s mom and unborn siblings.  Nemo is left with a damaged fin to be raised by his father who has become extremely overprotective as a result of the attack. 

Nemo and his other marine creature friends attend school on the reef and, during one outing, Nemo ventures off the reef into deep water to a boat in defiance of his father’s restrictions.  He is caught in the net of a scuba diver and taken to a dentist office aquarium in Sydney, Australia.  Nemo’s father makes it his mission to find Nemo, hence the title of the movie.  Along the way, Nemo’s father meets a neurotic fish with short term memory who provides comic relief throughout the journey.  They travel long distances, battle sharks, dodge jellyfish, escape from the belly of a whale, catch a ride with sea turtles on the East Australia Current, and finally make it to Sydney Harbor. 

Meanwhile, the audience is introduced to Nemo’s new friends in his aquarium world.  We see Nemo’s struggle to fight against his own self-imposed limitations.  We see Nemo gain a new admiration for his father when he learns about the trials (and sharks) his father has overcome to rescue Nemo.  In the end, Nemo and his father are reunited and return to their home on the reef, both changed for the better by the experience of almost losing each other.  

Warning for parents of young, pre-school age children:  This movie contains several scenes that may frighten young children.  My solution was to fast forward through the scary parts.  One such part is the very first scene where the barracuda attacks Nemo’s parents.  The second is the shark scene, where Nemo’s father and travel friend are chased by hungry sharks that initially befriended them.  Another scene that may scare some children is the scene where Nemo’s father and friend are trapped in the belly of a whale.   

Fun Fact:  Nemo and his father are called ‘clownfish’ in the movie, but this fish species is also commonly called ‘anemone fish’ because of its symbiotic relationship with the giant anemone.  The name ‘Nemo’ comes from the word ‘anemone’. 

Learn more about this author, K.J. Ness.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.