Pixar's Finding Dory Explores Memory Loss and Disability

Thirteen years after Finding Nemo won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, Pixar returns to the CGI ocean depths with Finding Dory, directed by Andrew Stanton. The film shifts focus from the clownfish Nemo to his forgetful friend Dory, who suffers from short-term memory loss. When a distant memory of her childhood with her parents surfaces, Dory embarks on a perilous journey across the ocean to find her origins, relying only on instinct. The film has been interpreted as a meditation on disability, particularly memory impairment, and its challenges—ranging from comedic situations to genuine danger. Finding Nemo had already touched on disability through Nemo's smaller fin, but Dory's condition carries symbolic weight, reflecting the disorientation of a generation (Generation X) navigating without clear coordinates. Finding Dory is not just for children but also for parents, who may find the shared sense of disorientation relatable, even anguishing. The film encourages turning weaknesses into strengths, with Dory's mantra 'There's always a way' and the help of friends like Hank, a grumpy octopus. The article was published on Artribune Magazine #33 by Beatrice Fiorentino.