Now it is fair to say that the good folk of Disney have been producing decent films for decades, usually they are fun to watch, well written and offer a broad appeal for all age groups. But these films pale when compared to the work Disney have produced since teaming up with Pixar. Disney/Pixar is behind the recent computer-animated classics Toy Story 1 and 2, a Bugs Life and Monsters Inc, and now they add another masterpiece to their collection in the form of Finding Nemo. Andrew Stanton is responsible for writing and directing Finding Nemo along with Bob Peterson and Dave Reynolds, and their work can only be described as beautiful. Every part of the 1 hour 41 minute adventure is brimming with sublime animated effects, and enriched by many colourful and loveable characters. Finding Nemo cost a reported $94 Million to make, but has already taken $340 Million at American Cinemas alone, it seems any film with the Disney/Pixar label attached is destined to be a momentous success and it is little wonder considering the artistry involved.

Marlin witnesses the abduction of his son but despite frenziedly chasing the boat he loose it and, he thinks, his son forever. It is at this point that Marlin, seemingly inconsolable, bumps into the third main character of the film, Dory. Dory is a gregarious Regal Blue Tang fish with short term memory loss, but an abundance of enthusiasm. She sees the distress Marlin is in and vows to help him find his son, a decision that turns out to be both a help and a hindrance in fairly equal measure. Marlin and Dory happen upon one of the divers’ masks which conveniently has an address attached, and so they set out on the long and treacherous journey to Sydney harbour in the hope of rescuing Nemo. Along the way they meet all kinds of nice and not so nice sea life including a group of sharks led by Bruce, (brilliantly voiced by Barry Humphries), who is determined not to fall off the wagon of an Alcoholics Anonymous type program to wean themselves off killing and eating fish. Marlin and Dory also get stranded in a field of pink jellyfish that look nice but pack a near fatal sting, and get a Jonah type ride in the stomach of a giant whale.

Back in the Ocean, Marlin and Dory encounter a group of surfer style sea turtles led by a laid back dude named Crush who they join to ride the East Australian Current which takes them ever closer to finding Nemo. When they arrive in Sydney harbour they are nearly eaten by a pelican who just in time hears that they are searching for Nemo and, instead of consuming them, points them in the right direction. A group of hungry Seagulls are ever ready to eat any type of sea life with the shrill call of “Mine” accompanying their every move, and a couple of crabs with attitude guard the outlet pipe of the local water treatment works looking for treasures. Marlin is about to give up on his search for Nemo when the youngster pops out of the treatment works pipe to be reunited with his Dad, however their joy at finally seeing each other again is short lived when Nemo and Dory are captured in a huge fishing net, has all of Marlin and Dory’s hard work in tracking down Nemo been for nothing?, this is a children’s film so no prizes for guessing how it all turns out.