Finding Dory Parent Guide
This animation offers an amazing visual feast, along with a plot full of food for thought.
Parent Movie Review
Picking up where Finding Nemo left off, Marlin (voice of Albert Brooks), his son Nemo (voice of Hayden Rolence) and their good-but-forgetful-friend Dory (voice of Ellen DeGeneres) are happily settled in the clown fishes’ coral reef. Then a discussion about aquatic animals migrating home suddenly reminds the blue tang fish that she once had a family. Eager not to let the memory slip away, Dory determines to search for her mother and father (voices of Diane Keaton and Eugene Levy). Although she usually doesn’t remember important things, Dory knows she will need someone to go with her so she can stay focused on her quest.
Reluctantly the risk-adverse Marlin and the naïvely-optimistic Nemo agree to accompany her. With only a cloudy clue about a California location, the trio crosses the ocean. However, once within the shadow of their destination (which turns out to be an aquarium for injured and/or endangered marine life), Dory’s reckless enthusiasm, coupled with her memory lapses, soon separates the group. And that leaves the father and son desperately trying to find Dory, while she distractedly seeks the whereabouts of her parents.
Both hijinks and peril ensue as the befuddled Dory evades predators, swims in and out of trouble, and befriends an octopus named Hank (voice of Ed O’Neill) who is on the run from the Institute’s staff. While the danger never seems too intense, the many times the tang fish gets lost and is left all alone may generate some emotional destress for young audience members – especially if any of them have ever had the misfortune of misplacing their caregivers.
Yet in true Disney/Pixar style, this animation offers an amazing visual feast, along with a plot full of food for thought. Using Dory’s short term memory loss as a spring board, the script explores learning disorders and other types of challenges. While her friends and some strangers aren’t always as patient with her shortcomings as they could be, the feisty fish’s determination in the face of obstacles soon solicits their sympathy. Meanwhile, her disability becomes a motivation for her to find other hidden abilities. Her example is an inspiration to all, because everyone comes with faults and failings – including many of the other depicted characters. The trick is to learn how to have our strengths compensate for our weaknesses, while in the process remembering to show kindness and understanding to those who have imperfections different from our own.
With a minimum of content issues and plenty of creative humor, this powerful message, plus themes of teamwork and the importance of friends and family, are sure to make Finding Dory unforgettable.
Directed by Andrew Stanton, Angus MacLane. Starring Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Hayden Rolence. Running time: 97 minutes. Theatrical release June 17, 2016. Updated July 17, 2017About author
Finding Dory
Rating & Content Info
Why is Finding Dory rated PG? Finding Dory is rated PG by the MPAA for mild thematic elements.
Violence: A character constantly forgets things and gets lost, which makes her feel frightened and alone.Other characters occasionally become impatient with her memory problem. Characters are frequently in mildly perilous situations, which include being captured and trapped, touched by unfriendly hands and chased by predators. Vehicles are driven recklessly and a truck is destroyed. A cunning character escapes from his exhibit and uses creative measures to avoid being caught. Some mild bullying is depicted. Slapstick antics are plentiful. Characters grieve over the loss of loved ones.
Sexual Content: The script contains some mild sexual innuendo and infrequent bathroom humor. A slang word for a body part is used.
Language: Some mild name-calling occurs.
Alcohol / Drug Use: None noted.
Other: Several characters have handicaps or impaired abilities that present challenges for them.
Page last updated July 17, 2017
Finding Dory Parents' Guide
Dory has a short term memory problem. Which of the other characters also have disabilities? How do these challenges affect them? What things do they do to work around their handicaps? How do these shortcomings help them discover their hidden strengths?
What would you do if you became lost? What techniques do Dory’s parents use to try and help her remember important information? Could any of these ideas be helpful for you?
Hank does some amazing things to evade the Institute’s staff. While the character depicted here is a bit of an exaggeration, the octopus really is an intelligent creature that can change color and squirt ink. Learn real facts about the octopus.
News About "Finding Dory"
From the Studio: Disney•Pixar's “Finding Dory” welcomes back to the big screen everyone’s favourite forgetful blue tang Dory (voice of Ellen DeGeneres), who’s living happily in the reef with Marlin (voice of Albert Brooks) and Nemo (voice of Hayden Rolence). When Dory suddenly remembers that she has a family out there who may be looking for her, the trio takes off on a life-changing adventure across the ocean to California’s prestigious Marine Life Institute, a rehabilitation center and aquarium. In an effort to find her mom (voice of Diane Keaton) and dad (voice of Eugene Levy), Dory enlists the help of three of the MLI’s most intriguing residents: Hank (voice of Ed O’Neill), a cantankerous octopus who frequently gives employees the slip; Bailey (voice of Ty Burrell), a beluga whale who is convinced his biological sonar skills are on the fritz; and Destiny (voice of Kaitlin Olson), a nearsighted whale shark. Deftly navigating the complex inner workings of the MLI, Dory and her friends discover the magic within their flaws, friendships and family. © Walt DisneyStudios
Home Video
The most recent home video release of Finding Dory movie is November 15, 2016. Here are some details…
Home Video Notes: Finding Dory
Release Date: 15 November 2016
Finding Dory releases to home video (2-Disc Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy, or 3-Disc Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) with the following special features:
- Theatrical Short: “Piper” – A hungry sandpiper hatchling ventures from her nest for the first time to dig for food by the shoreline. The only problem is that the food is buried beneath the sand where scary waves roll up onto the shore.
- Marine Life Interviews (All-New Mini Short) – Meet the inhabitants of the Marine Life Institute as they remember our favorite blue tang.
- The Octopus That Nearly Broke Pixar – Pixar’s “Team Hank” unravels the challenges, frustrations, and rewards of bringing to life the studio’s crankiest and most technically complicated character ever.
- What Were We Talking About? – This piece showcases the complex routes Dory’s story took as the filmmakers worked to construct a comprehensive narrative involving a main character with short-term memory loss.
- Casual Carpool – What’s it like to commute with the voices of Marlin, Charlie, Bailey and Hank? Join “Finding Dory” writer/director Andrew Stanton as he drives Albert Brooks, Eugene Levy, Ty Burrell and Ed O’Neill to work.
- Animation & Acting – How do you create a connection between a human audience and a fish? This behind-the-scenes look behind the curtain examines the process of constructing believable performances through a unique collaboration between the director, voice actors and animators.
- Creature Features – The cast of “Finding Dory” share cool facts about the creatures they voice in the film.
- Deep in the Kelp – Disney Channel’s Jenna Ortega guides us on a research trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium to show how far the “Finding Dory” crew went to make Dory’s world feel real.
- Skating & Sketching with Jason Deamer – “Finding Dory” character art director Jason Deamer talks about how he got to Pixar, how he draws the characters in the film, and how falling off a skateboard teaches you lessons you can use in art and life.
- Dory’s Theme – A spirited discussion among the composer, music editor and director of “Finding Dory” about the musical elements that shape Dory’s quirky and joyful theme.
- Rough Day on the Reef – Sometimes computers make mistakes. Here you’ll see some of the funny, creepy and just plain bizarre footage the crew encountered while making “Finding Dory.”
- Audio Commentary – Director Andrew Stanton, co-director Angus MacLane and producer Lindsey Collins deliver their personal perspective on “Finding Dory.”
- Deleted Scenes (introduced by director Andrew Stanton)
Related home video titles:
This movie is a sequel to Finding Nemo. A pet rat searches for a way to get back to his family in Flushed Away.
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