Dark Pixar Fan Theory: Nemo Doesn't Really Exists explained
The 2003 Pixar film's storyline has some viewers thinking there is a sinister Finding Nemo subtext. Under Andrew Stanton's direction, the tale centers Marlin the clownfish searching for his missing son, Nemo. Though Finding Nemo was a popular with fans of all ages, the truth in Marlin's search for Nemo might have been darker than first assumed. One common assumption held was that Dory's seeing of her family perish caused short-term memory loss. That proved not to be the case given the events of Finding Dory.
Apart from the Pixar Shared Universe notion, which links all previous Pixar films into one merged universe, there are several more noteworthy Finding Nemo ideas and the scenario surrounding Dory wasn't the only gloomy notion to surround a main character. Another sinister Pixar notion holds that the animated movie should highlight the terrible loss seen from the perspective of a father and husband. More precisely, the hypothesis holds that Nemo was a hallucination of Marlin's imagination rather than existing in Finding Nemo.
Marlin Losing His Whole Family During the Barracuda Attack
The specific Finding Nemo meaning is that Marlin the clownfish indeed lost his wife and soon-to-be children to a barracuda attack. Where the story veers, though, is the idea that one fish egg survived prior to transforming into Nemo in the main timeline. Rather, the idea emphasizes a view Marlin created Nemo after all the eggs were destroyed as a means of coping with the terrible loss of his family prior to meeting Dory, a fish suffering memory loss.
Marlin portrayed in Finding Nemo as an extremely overprotective parent who will go to tremendous distances for his family. The theory holds that, given his search for his "missing son," his path may have been part of the coping strategy used to get over his loss. Along with gaining vital life lessons from those Marlin encountered on his path, there is another belief the trip helped Marlin overcome his fears. Although the argument implying Nemo never existed is intriguing, it feels somewhat depressing for Pixar. The studio doesn't hold back when it comes to death and sorrow, but if Nemo never existed the film wouldn't have concentrated on scenes told from his point of view. If Nemo weren't a real part of the narrative, the couple also wouldn't fit into the Finding Dory sequel. Though the argument lacks sufficient legs to support it, some of the foundation for Marlin's trip in Finding Nemo remains valid. Through the rescue operation, Marlin gains knowledge about what it means to be the greatest father he could be to Nemo despite his death.
How Finding Nemo Might Address The Five Stages Of Grief?
This idea clearly relates to another somber Finding Nemo meaning: the film explores the five stages of Grief. For the longest period, the clinical consensus was that sorrow is felt in five stages: denial, anger, bargaining, despair, and acceptance, even if this is being reinterpreted these days. Denial results from his pursuit of the "butt" Nemo touched, crying "no, no, no, no!" at the open air as he peeks his head above the waves to try to track the boat.
When he loses his cool with the Dory, he gets angry; Marlin bargains with several aquatic life throughout his trip. Though his hopelessness is evident in Finding Nemo, his forlorn acceptance comes as he gives up and chooses to head home—right before Dory follows him down to inform her she'd located Nemo at last. Though Finding Nemo isn't exactly about the grieving process, Marlin bravely negotiates all phases of loss throughout. Marlin's treatment of Nemo likewise reflects this. His rejection when he won Nemo permission to attend school, his wrath when Nemo swims too far, and his negotiating when he attempts to get him back all line the thesis that Finding Nemo is dark and extremely cleverly hidden in its examination of the five stages of grief and loss. With Nemo a figment of Marlin's subconscious and the absent-minded Dory perhaps reflecting Marlin's conscience as it leads him through the process, this all the more realistic. If their mating partner dies, Clownfish can change sex; so, all the female pronouns meant for Dory from others could have been directed toward Marlin. None of these ideas require much mental acrobatics to explain, hence even if this is only a piece of speculative fun and not true, it still shows how deep Pixar's undersea adventure Finding Nemo meaning genuinely is.
Maybe not even the darkest Pixar theory
Though many ideas abound on the relationships between the Pixar films, some of them—such as Nemo not being real—are quite sinister for a children's film. Another especially sinister view of Pixar is that most of the films really take place in an apocalyptic environment.
Like in WALL-E, humanity have brought about their own collapse. The argument has been made that cars have evolved because humans have died out, for example, and it has been confirmed that humans once existed in the Cars universe. Of course, another particularly dark theory is that WALL-E causes the downfall of the planet, not humans. The idea is that the titular robot actually caused the destruction of Earth by systematically wiping out the other cleaner bots, which is why the audience sees him cannibalizing his “siblings” for parts at the start of the movie. It’s WALL-E who prevented the other robots from doing their jobs, causing himself to be alone on the planet. Another theory, with a more human element, is that Up, which is already regarded as one of the biggest Pixar tear-jerkers, is even sadder than audiences know. The idea is that Carl’s journey with his house of balloons isn’t just an adventure to honor Ellie, but his last adventure - into the afterlife. Russell is meant to be a trainee guardian angel of sorts, earning his final badge to become a full-fledged angel by helping Carl reach his life-after-death. That’s something of a bittersweet Pixar Theory compared to that of Nemo not existing in Finding Nemo.
Finding Nemo: A Deeper Dive into the Pixar Film
Finding Nemo is a beloved Pixar animated film that has captured the hearts of audiences worldwide. The film tells the heartwarming story of Marlin, an overprotective Clownfish, who sets out on a perilous journey to find his son, Nemo. Along the way, Marlin encounters the unforgettable Dory, a forgetful blue tang, who becomes his unlikely companion. Finding Nemo is a film that explores themes of loss, friendship, courage, and the power of family.
While Finding Nemo is often viewed as a lighthearted adventure, the film has also sparked numerous theories and discussions about its deeper meanings. The "Nemo doesn't exist" theory, while perhaps a bit far-fetched, highlights the film's exploration of grief and the different ways that characters cope with loss. The film's touching portrayal of Marlin's journey to find his son, and his eventual acceptance of his son's independence, has resonated with audiences, reminding viewers of the importance of family and the enduring power of love.
