Why Finding Nemo’s Darkest Fan Theory Would Make It Even Better

Among countless fan theories surrounding Pixar’s Finding Nemo, its grimmest one may give the movie an even better edge than the original storyline. According to the claim, the entire plot of the movie may actually be more metaphorical than it first appears, despite main protagonist Marlin’s many character-defining adventures. Whether or not there’s any truth to the idea, however, there’s no doubt that the darker interpretation adds a whole new layer to the already multifaceted film.

The story opens up with a tragedy – Marlin’s mate and unborn children are attacked by a barracuda, and he is left alone with a single egg. The incident transforms Marlin into a helicopter parent who has lost his humor and is obsessed with keeping Nemo safe from the outside world. On Nemo’s first day of school, he is captured by divers. Marlin doggedly treks across the ocean to Sydney, accompanied by the very forgetful Dory and navigating a myriad of threats while also receiving help from many fish. When he finds Nemo floating upside-down, Marlin mistakenly assumes that he is dead. However, Nemo is alive and reunites with Marlin, who enjoys a better relationship with his son towards the end of the movie.

While Finding Nemo did rise to critical acclaim, it could have garnished a better reception had its darkest fan theory been incorporated as canon – that Nemo is actually a figment of Marlin’s imagination, whose “journey across the ocean” is a metaphor for processing the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Integrating this not only increases the movie’s entertainment value, but viewers would also be more emotionally invested in the story. And while animated movies generally don’t delve deep into advanced tropes, Pixar has proved itself quite capable of handling such topics with some of its later movies. Up and The Incredibles, for instance, successfully deal with profound themes of loss and family by striking a delicate balance between mature and family-friendly entertainment. The Finding Nemo fan theory certainly makes the entire movie a richer metaphor for loss.

Moreover, Finding Nemo’s fan theory about Marlin’s five stages of grief has the added advantage of fitting in seamlessly with the movie’s main plot. Proponents refer to when Marlin invents an imaginary egg; when Nemo is taken and Marlin chases after him; when Marlin enlists the help of other animals; when Marlin’s first sight of Nemo is his “dead” body; and when father and son reunite, respectively. This makes for an emotional roller-coaster ride that positive Pixar fans still delight in, all while featuring subtle hints that suggest the truth is more complicated. For example, “Nemo” is Latin for “no-one”, which drastically alters the meaning of the title. Marlin also never mentions his dead family, acting as if it’s always been only him and Nemo, and even the sharks unanimously agree that he’s in denial. Viewers would enjoy uncovering these Easter Eggs, especially how Marlin’s (and the movie’s) final line is an emotionally layered “Bye, son.”

Finding Nemo already features some pretty dark moments even for a Pixar movie that has prompted fans to classify it as a horror. Death by predators is a threat that relentlessly shadows the main characters: sharks, anglerfish, jellyfish, whales, pelicans – even an underwater minefield and a homicidal 8-year-old. But the humor, colorful visuals and entertaining characters save the movie from a PG-rating. This inherent darkness arguably means that Pixar could have gone even further by canonizing the Marlin-is-grieving-because-his-entire-family-died storyline as an underlying sub-plot. Adults would appreciate the complexity of the narrative and the emotional depth it carries, and Pixar could have passed it off as a heartwarming portrayal of a father-son bond for younger viewers.

Unfortunately, the Finding Dory sequel does pose a problem for this theory. However, advocates could simply follow the example of the Ice Age movies, where the franchise more or less treated the events of the first installment as a standalone. While kids might not understand how Marlin’s journey is an allegory for his grief, or that Nemo is a coping mechanism for his trauma, the message may have more appeal with mature audiences. Finding Nemo will forever be one of Pixar’s crowning gems, but should a live-action ever be made, there’s no doubt that utilizing this fan theory would make for a gripping watch.