Finding Nemo
A clown fish named Marlin lives in the Great Barrier Reef and loses his son, Nemo, after he ventures into the open sea, despite his father's constant warnings about many of the ocean's dangers. Nemo is abducted by a boat and netted up and sent to a dentist's office in Sydney. While Marlin ventures off to try to retrieve Nemo, Marlin meets a fish named Dory, a blue tang suffering from short-term memory loss. The companions travel a great distance, encountering various dangerous sea creatures such as sharks, anglerfish and jellyfish, in order to rescue Nemo from the dentist's office, which is situated by Sydney Harbour. While the two are searching the ocean far and wide, Nemo and the other sea animals in the dentist's fish tank plot a way to return to the sea to live their lives free again.
Despite a significant budget of $94.0M, Finding Nemo became a commercial juggernaut, earning $940.3M worldwide—a remarkable 900% return.
1 Oscar. 49 wins & 63 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Finding Nemo (2003) exemplifies precise narrative design, characteristic of Andrew Stanton's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 40 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.5, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Marlin
Nemo
Dory
Gill
Crush
Nigel
Main Cast & Characters
Marlin
Played by Albert Brooks
An overprotective clownfish father who embarks on a journey across the ocean to rescue his son Nemo.
Nemo
Played by Alexander Gould
A young clownfish with a small fin who longs for adventure and independence from his anxious father.
Dory
Played by Ellen DeGeneres
A friendly but forgetful blue tang fish who helps Marlin search for his son despite her short-term memory loss.
Gill
Played by Willem Dafoe
A scarred moorish idol fish who leads the Tank Gang and mentors Nemo in planning their escape from the dentist's aquarium.
Crush
Played by Andrew Stanton
A laid-back sea turtle who helps Marlin and Dory by giving them a ride on the East Australian Current.
Nigel
Played by Geoffrey Rush
A friendly pelican who befriends the Tank Gang and helps reunite Marlin with Nemo.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Marlin and Coral admire their new home at the reef and their hundreds of eggs, dreaming of their future family. Marlin is optimistic and playful, joking about naming all the children.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when After Marlin embarrasses Nemo at school by calling him "not ready" for the drop-off, Nemo rebels by swimming out to touch "the butt" (boat). He is captured by divers and taken away as Marlin screams his name helplessly.. At 10% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 22 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 22% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to After finding the diver's mask with an address (P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney), Marlin makes the active choice to journey to Sydney despite all his fears. He commits to leaving the reef and entering the vast open ocean., moving from reaction to action.
At 45 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 45% of the runtime—arriving early, accelerating into Act IIb complications. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Marlin's story of crossing the ocean spreads throughout the sea via the fish network, reaching Sydney. Nigel the pelican hears and brings news to Nemo in the tank. Nemo learns his father IS coming for him - false victory as both believe reunion is imminent., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 66 minutes (66% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Marlin sees Nemo floating upside-down in a plastic bag (playing dead as part of escape plan) but doesn't know it's a trick. Believing Nemo is dead, Marlin gives up completely. "I'm done" - his darkest moment of loss and failure., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 71 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 71% of the runtime. Nemo escapes and finds Dory, who (despite memory loss) remembers him. She reunites father and son. Marlin realizes what he's learned: "I have to let him go" and trusts Nemo when he says he can save Dory and the fish caught in the net., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Finding Nemo's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Finding Nemo against these established plot points, we can identify how Andrew Stanton utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Finding Nemo within the animation genre.
Andrew Stanton's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Andrew Stanton films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.7, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Finding Nemo represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Andrew Stanton filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional animation films include The Bad Guys, Puss in Boots and Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll. For more Andrew Stanton analyses, see John Carter, Finding Dory and WALL·E.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Marlin and Coral admire their new home at the reef and their hundreds of eggs, dreaming of their future family. Marlin is optimistic and playful, joking about naming all the children.
Theme
Nemo's teacher Mr. Ray sings about exploration: "Let's name the zones of the open sea... There's so much to explore!" establishing the film's central tension between safety and adventure.
Worldbuilding
Marlin loses Coral and all but one egg to a barracuda attack. Years later, overprotective Marlin raises Nemo alone, constantly warning him of ocean dangers. Nemo's first day of school reveals Marlin's helicopter parenting and Nemo's desire for independence despite his "lucky fin."
Disruption
After Marlin embarrasses Nemo at school by calling him "not ready" for the drop-off, Nemo rebels by swimming out to touch "the butt" (boat). He is captured by divers and taken away as Marlin screams his name helplessly.
Resistance
Marlin frantically searches for Nemo, encountering Dory, a regal blue tang with short-term memory loss. Initially resistant to help, Marlin reluctantly partners with Dory after she claims to have seen the boat. They encounter sharks at a "Fish Are Friends" support group meeting.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
After finding the diver's mask with an address (P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney), Marlin makes the active choice to journey to Sydney despite all his fears. He commits to leaving the reef and entering the vast open ocean.
Mirror World
Dory demonstrates her ability to read the address on the mask, and her optimistic, fearless approach to life becomes clear. She represents everything Marlin is not: spontaneous, trusting, living in the moment. "Just keep swimming" philosophy introduced.
Premise
Marlin and Dory's underwater road trip: navigating an anglerfish attack in the deep, hitching a ride with sea turtles on the EAC (East Australian Current), where Marlin learns to let go and have fun. Meanwhile, Nemo meets the Tank Gang in the dentist's aquarium and plans escape.
Midpoint
Marlin's story of crossing the ocean spreads throughout the sea via the fish network, reaching Sydney. Nigel the pelican hears and brings news to Nemo in the tank. Nemo learns his father IS coming for him - false victory as both believe reunion is imminent.
Opposition
Nemo's escape plan via clogging the filter succeeds but nearly kills him. Marlin and Dory face jellyfish (Dory is stung protecting Marlin), get swallowed by a whale, and are spit out in Sydney Harbor. Time is running out as Darla, the fish-killing niece, arrives tomorrow.
Collapse
Marlin sees Nemo floating upside-down in a plastic bag (playing dead as part of escape plan) but doesn't know it's a trick. Believing Nemo is dead, Marlin gives up completely. "I'm done" - his darkest moment of loss and failure.
Crisis
Marlin, devastated, leaves with Dory in silence. Dory tries to comfort him but her memory loss frustrates him. In his grief and anger, Marlin tells Dory to leave him alone, pushing away the one friend who helped him cross the ocean.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Nemo escapes and finds Dory, who (despite memory loss) remembers him. She reunites father and son. Marlin realizes what he's learned: "I have to let him go" and trusts Nemo when he says he can save Dory and the fish caught in the net.
Synthesis
Nemo leads the trapped fish to swim down together, breaking the fishing net and saving Dory. Marlin watches proudly as his son succeeds using courage and teamwork. They return home together, with Dory joining their family. Marlin has transformed from fearful to trusting.
Transformation
Marlin confidently sends Nemo off to school, telling him to "have an adventure!" - a complete reversal from the opening. He trusts Nemo, jokes with Dory, and has learned to balance love with letting go. The former overprotective father now encourages exploration.