Finding Dory (2016) is Pixar’s heartfelt and visually stunning sequel to Finding Nemo (2003). Directed by Andrew Stanton, the film continues the story of Dory, the forgetful blue tang fish, on a journey that’s both adventurous and deeply emotional.
Detailed Summary
A Forgetful Beginning
The story opens with a young Dory living happily with her loving parents, Charlie and Jenny. However, her short-term memory loss causes her to become separated from them at a young age. She drifts through the ocean alone, forgetting where she came from but never quite losing the feeling that she has a family somewhere.
Years later, after the events of Finding Nemo, Dory lives near Marlin and Nemo in the coral reef. One day, a random comment about “the jewel of Morro Bay, California” triggers flashes of her forgotten past—her parents, her home, and her longing to find them.
The Journey to Morro Bay
Convinced that her family might still be out there, Dory convinces Marlin and Nemo to accompany her on a journey across the ocean. Their adventure brings them to the Marine Life Institute (MLI) in California, a rescue and rehabilitation center for sea creatures.
Inside the Institute, Dory becomes separated from Marlin and Nemo and ends up in a quarantine area where she meets Hank, a cranky but clever “septopus” (an octopus missing one tentacle). Hank just wants to live in a safe tank far away from the ocean, but he agrees to help Dory find her parents in exchange for her tag, which would get him sent to an aquarium in Cleveland.
Dory’s Memories Return
As Dory navigates the various tanks and exhibits of the MLI, she slowly regains fragments of her memory. She recalls her home in the “Open Ocean Exhibit,” where her parents taught her survival skills to deal with her forgetfulness. Dory also meets new friends like Destiny, a near-sighted whale shark, and Bailey, a beluga whale struggling with echolocation.
Dory pieces together her past—she remembers following shells as a trail home, something her parents designed to help her find them if she ever got lost.
The Heartbreaking Discovery
Dory finally reaches her old home in the Open Ocean Exhibit, only to find it empty and overgrown with coral. The heartbreaking truth dawns on her: her parents might not have survived after she went missing. Overwhelmed, she drifts out into a drain pipe, lost and alone once again.
But in true Dory fashion, she refuses to give up. Using the shells as her guide, she follows a trail leading outside the facility—where she miraculously finds her parents alive. They have been waiting for her all these years, laying out shell paths every day in hope that one day she would find her way home. It’s one of the most emotional reunions in Pixar history.
Movie Ending
After reuniting with her parents, Dory learns that Marlin and Nemo were captured while trying to rescue her and are now trapped on a truck headed to Cleveland. Determined to save them, Dory and her new friends hatch a wild plan.
Hank helps Dory sneak aboard the truck. Using Destiny’s and Bailey’s help (and some hilarious whale sounds), they manage to cause chaos at the Marine Life Institute. In a spectacular sequence involving a runaway truck and a version of Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” playing ironically in the background, Hank and Dory hijack the truck and drive it off a cliff—crashing into the ocean and freeing all the sea creatures inside.
In the final scenes, everyone reunites safely in the ocean. Hank finds peace in the open sea, Marlin and Nemo become part of Dory’s extended family, and Dory finally finds a place where she truly belongs—surrounded by those she loves.
The film closes with Dory watching the ocean currents, now at peace with her memory loss and grateful for her newfound family.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
Yes. The film has a post-credits scene that reunites several beloved characters from Finding Nemo: the Tank Gang (Gill, Bloat, Deb, and others). They are still inside their plastic bags—just as they were at the end of Finding Nemo—and have somehow made it all the way to California. They are rescued by staff from the Marine Life Institute, still in their bags, proving that they haven’t had much luck since we last saw them.
Type of Movie
Finding Dory is an animated adventure comedy-drama with elements of family and emotional storytelling. It’s also a coming-of-age journey centered on memory, identity, and resilience.
Cast
- Ellen DeGeneres as Dory
- Albert Brooks as Marlin
- Ed O’Neill as Hank
- Kaitlin Olson as Destiny
- Ty Burrell as Bailey
- Diane Keaton as Jenny (Dory’s mother)
- Eugene Levy as Charlie (Dory’s father)
- Idris Elba and Dominic West as Fluke and Rudder
Film Music and Composer
The music was composed by Thomas Newman, who also composed Finding Nemo’s score. His soundtrack beautifully balances whimsy and emotion, using soft piano motifs and sweeping orchestration to mirror Dory’s inner journey.
Filming Locations
As an animated film, the “filming locations” were digital rather than physical. However, the Marine Life Institute was inspired by real places such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California. Pixar’s art team visited aquariums and marine sanctuaries to study lighting, movement, and underwater texture to ensure the realism and depth of their oceanic world.
Awards and Nominations
- Academy Award Nomination – Best Animated Feature (2017)
- BAFTA Nomination – Best Animated Film
- People’s Choice Award – Favorite Family Movie (Winner)
- Multiple nominations from the Annie Awards and Critics’ Choice Awards
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Ellen DeGeneres campaigned for a sequel for over a decade before Pixar greenlit it.
- Hank, the octopus, was one of Pixar’s most complex animated characters ever—animators spent nearly two years developing his movement.
- Many animators from Finding Nemo returned to work on the sequel to maintain continuity in design and emotion.
- Real marine biologists were consulted to ensure scientific accuracy about marine behavior and ecology.
Inspirations and References
The movie was inspired by Finding Nemo, of course, but specifically focused on exploring Dory’s backstory. Director Andrew Stanton said the idea came from wondering how someone like Dory—so forgetful yet optimistic—would survive on her own. The Marine Life Institute was inspired by real rescue centers that rehabilitate injured sea animals.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
A deleted scene featured Dory meeting a group of sea turtles who gave her advice about life and memory. Another version of the ending showed Hank deciding to stay at the Institute rather than return to the ocean, but Pixar changed it to give the film a more satisfying emotional closure.
Book Adaptations and Differences
There is a junior novelization of Finding Dory published by Disney, which follows the same plot with slight expansions on Dory’s internal thoughts. There’s no major difference, but the book offers more backstory about Dory’s parents and her time growing up.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Baby Dory trying to remember her name while her parents gently remind her: “Hi, I’m Dory.”
- Dory’s emotional flashback of her parents teaching her to follow the shells home.
- The scene where she finally finds her parents alive among thousands of shells.
- Hank’s wild truck escape sequence—pure Pixar chaos and creativity.
Iconic Quotes
- Dory: “Just keep swimming.”
- Marlin: “You think you can do these things, but you just can’t, Nemo!” (callback from the first film)
- Dory: “What if I forget you?”
- Charlie (Dory’s father): “You’ll find us again. That’s what you do.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The Pizza Planet Truck from Toy Story can be seen parked outside the Marine Life Institute.
- A child at the aquarium wears a Mr. Incredible t-shirt.
- Sigourney Weaver’s voice (as herself, the Institute’s recorded narrator) is a running meta-joke throughout the movie.
- The marine life transport truck has the license plate “CAL 1200,” referencing the month and year Pixar was founded (December 2000).
Trivia
- Dory’s species, the blue tang, saw a surge in pet store sales after the film, prompting conservationists to issue warnings about buying them as pets.
- The film grossed over $1 billion worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing animated films ever.
- Ellen DeGeneres recorded her lines separately from most of the cast to better capture Dory’s spontaneous nature.
Why Watch?
Because Finding Dory is more than just a sequel—it’s a moving story about family, persistence, and self-acceptance. It teaches that even when you forget, love and hope can guide you home. It’s a perfect mix of humor, heart, and classic Pixar magic.
Director’s Other Movies
- Finding Nemo (2003)
- WALL-E (2008)
- John Carter (2012)
- A Bug’s Life (1998)
Recommended Films for Fans
- Up (2009)
- Inside Out (2015)
- The Good Dinosaur (2015)
- Luca (2021)
- Moana (2016)
