Nemo Doesn’t Really Exist: Dark Pixar Fan Theory Explained

Finding Nemo might harbor a dark message based on an intriguing fan theory surrounding the plot of the 2003 Pixar movie. Directed by Andrew Stanton, Finding Nemo marked the fifth feature film in the animation studios’ history. With a voice cast that included Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould, and Willem Dafoe, the story featured a clownfish named Marlin embarking on a journey to locate his missing son, Nemo. Though the movie was a bonafide hit with viewers of all ages, the truth in Marlin’s search for Nemo may have been bleaker than initially thought.

Aside from the Pixar Theory, which connects all existing installments into one shared universe, there are several notable Finding Nemo theories. In fact, there’s a supposed theory linking Finding Nemo to Toy Story 3, particularly Andy’s sister Molly. Viewers were quick to notice Molly reading a magazine that featured Darla Sherman, the dentist’s niece from Finding Nemo, on the cover. There was also a popular belief suggesting Dory had short-term memory loss due to watching her family die. That didn’t turn out to be the case based on the events of Finding Dory, which followed the regal blue tang fish reunite with her parents.

Granted, the situation surrounding Dory in the original movie wasn’t the only grim theory to surround a core character. Another dark Pixar theory suggests the animated film predominantly set under the sea is meant to showcase the tragic loss in the eyes of a husband and father. More specifically, the theory posits that Nemo never existed in the movie, and instead, the little clownfish was a figment of Marlin’s imagination. The name Nemo suspiciously translates to “no one” or “nobody” in Latin, which means the title of the Pixar movie could be called “Finding No One.”

The particular Pixar fan theory presents the idea that Marlin truly lost his wife and soon-to-be children to a barracuda attack. However, where the plot deviates is the notion one fish egg survived before becoming Nemo in the primary timeline. Instead, there’s a belief highlighted in the theory that Marlin made up Nemo after all of the eggs were destroyed as a way to cope with his tragic loss of his family before meeting Dory, a fish with memory loss. In Finding Nemo, Marlin showcased himself as a very overprotective father who would go to great lengths for his family. Granted, his journey in finding his “missing son” may have been part of the coping mechanism in an effort to overcome his loss, according to the theory. There’s also a thought the journey gave Marlin a way to work through his insecurities while learning important life lessons from those he met during his journey.

While the theory suggesting Nemo never existed is an interesting one, it seems a bit too bleak for Pixar’s standards. Although the studio doesn’t shy away from death and loss, the movie wouldn’t have focused on sequences told from Nemo’s point of view if he never existed. The pair also wouldn’t have fit into the Finding Dory sequel if Nemo wasn’t a true piece of the story. Even though the theory doesn’t have strong legs to stand on, some of the basis for Marlin’s journey in Finding Nemo remains true. The father did indeed experience tragedy before Nemo came along, and by going on the rescue mission, he learns important lessons on what it means to be the best father he could be to Nemo.

About The Author

Kara Hedash
(1744 Articles Published)

Kara Hedash is a features editor and writer for Screen Rant. From time to time, she dives into the world’s most popular franchises but Kara primarily focuses on evergreen topics. The fact that she gets to write about The Office regularly is like a dream come true. Before joining Screen Rant, Kara served as a contributor for Movie Pilot and had work published on The Mary Sue and Reel Honey. After graduating college, writing began as a part-time hobby for Kara but it quickly turned into a career. She loves binging a new series and watching movies ranging from Hollywood blockbusters to hidden indie gems. She also has a soft spot for horror ever since she started watching it at too young of an age. Her favorite Avenger is Thor and her favorite Disney princess is Leia Organa. When Kara’s not busy writing, you can find her doing yoga or hanging out with Gritty.

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