As a kid, rather than watching Saturday morning cartoons on TV, I loved sitting around and watching one Disney and Pixar film after another. From "The Lion King" to "Monsters Inc." to "Ratatouille", I've seen them all. Some I rewatched more often than others; I can sing all the songs from "Cinderella" and "Aladdin," but I can only recite some of the lyrics from "Mulan" and "Pocahontas."
Whenever a childhood favorite makes a comeback about a decade later, and my generation goes from toddlers to teens and young adults, a wave of nostalgia and excitement comes over me. Reunion episodes for old TV shows are popular for this reason -- characters we know and love who have gone out of our lives for years suddenly reappear, played by the same actors (who have often clearly aged with us), and suddenly it's as though no time at all has passed. This is how I felt when "Fuller House" (the sequel to "Full House", a popular sitcom in the early 90's) came out on Netflix earlier this year, and I watched D.J. and Stephanie Tanner, Kimmy Gibbler, and Uncle Jesse all reunite in the same San Francisco house I had gone too long without seeing.
"Finding Dory", the sequel to the 2003 hit "Finding Nemo", has been a success not only because of this nostalgic factor present in most 90's kids, but because it appeals to a new generation, one that may not even have seen "Finding Nemo" (a terrifying thought, I know), as well. When I finally found myself sitting in the theater, waiting for the lights to dim and the trailers to end so the movie could begin, I couldn't believe that I was about to see Dory, Nemo and Marlin embark on another journey together. Though the story takes place only a year after the original adventure, I have been unknowingly waiting for this sequel for 13 years. And it delivered.
Similar to "Finding Nemo" in many aspects, "Finding Dory" features many of the same beloved characters, such as Crush the Sea Turtle and his son Squirt, as well as new, entertaining and loving ones, such as Hank the Octopus and a whale shark by the name of Destiny. While this time the journey across the ocean takes less time than navigating the final destination, there are numerous twists and turns that kept me rooting for the trio on Dory's quest to find her family.
Both the original Disney movie as well as its 2016 counterpart never fail to take me on an exciting journey with fun jokes and unexpected turns along the way. The films are filled with great lessons and reminders for kids and adults alike, from following your heart and trusting those you care about to never giving up on yourself. Disney and Pixar did a truly incredible job combining the endearing aspects of "Finding Nemo" that have stayed with me since I was little with a memorable story line and precious new characters that will leave just as much of a mark on my heart as the first movie did long ago.
All I can wonder now is: will the children who weren't around in 2003 be watching "Finding Marlin" in 2029? If they are, you know I'll be there, too.
