We created a story mountain of the Pixar movie ‘Finding Nemo’ in order to understand the narrative analysis. The film consists of three main acts and five stages which convey the key themes and messages.
In Act 1 the audience is introduced to the main protagonists Nemo and Marlin. In the set up we learn that Marlin is an overprotective father as Nemo is the only egg that survives the attack and is left with some disability.
During the disruption, which takes place in between Act 1 and 2, Nemo gets captured by a scuba diver when he ignores Marlin’s instruction to stay away from the boat. After being caught Marlin goes into a frenzy whilst Nemo is put in a fish tank at a dentists. At first Nemo is afraid of the other fish in the tank but soon realises they are friendly.
In Act 2 during the climax the other fish, especially Gill, help Nemo escape by being flushed down the drain. This allows him to get back into the ocean and is luckily found by Dory who met Marlin whilst he was searching for Nemo. With the help of Dory Nemo and Marlin have a joyous reunion. However this is cut short when the other fish flag that there is a big fish net scooping up the fish.
Unfortunately Dory is trapped in the net alongside the other fish. Nemo, who is desperate to save his new friend, realises that he is able to save her with his genius plan of telling the fish to swim down. He insists to his dad that he needs to go back into the net to inform all the fish of his plan. Marlin, who has grown as a character throughout the film, realises he has to let Nemo go and to support him. As Marlin chants ‘Keep swimming, keep swimming, keep swimming’ the fish all work together causing the net to break free. This means that Nemo’s plan saved all the fish. This sequence causes the revelation to take place. Marlin realises that Nemo has grown into an independent, intelligent and caring fish who no longer needs his dad to hold his hand.
In Act 3, the denouement takes place. The themes of independence, nature and a father-son relationship are conveyed. Marlin, Nemo and Dory return home and life continues for the better. Their father-son relationship is restored and even stronger than before as Marlin allows Nemo to happily go off to school without being strict or worried.