One of my favorite Disney characters was Dory from Disney’s notorious films “Finding Nemo”. I loved how she was a bit quirky but caring and loyal. As time when on, I would watch the movie with my kids and find myself wondering. Why was Dory just swimming alone in the sea when Marlene found her? What happen in her life the caused the memory loss? Finally, where was her family? I know, you’re probably thinking really Kathy?
However, all jokes aside, think about it if you loved Finding Dory, haven’t you asked yourself the same questions? If your answer is absolutely, then I’m happy to introduce you the infamous Dory.
I was blessed to get a better understanding of who Dory was at an event that I attended at the Monterey Bay Aquarium for Disney’s upcoming film “Finding Dory”. During the event, I sat with the Disney•Pixar’s creators and were I was able to gain a better understanding of one of Disney’s most intriguing character.
SEE ALSO: MEET HANK FROM DISNEY•PIXAR’S FINDING DORY
Beginning The story of Dory:
Although, Director Andrew Stanton thought the story of “Finding Nemo” was completed. To his surprise, he found himself thinking of the possibilities of Dory being lost all over, the back story of Dory’s family and the origin of her memory lost. So he quietly began working with a writer to tell Dory Story.
Director Andrew Stanton is photographed on February 4, 2016 at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. (Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar)
“If I tell anybody, the horse will never get back in the barn. I had to be really careful that everything was done right. We started seriously working on it in 2011, but I waited until about the summer of 2012 to ask Ellen if she wanted to do the part”. ~ Andrew Stanton
Creating Dory Character:
Originally Dory character was written with actress and TV personality Ellen DeGeneres, in mind. Andrew Stanton couldn’t figure out how to develop the character and didn’t even know if Dory was going to be male or female. He just knew Dory’s character had to have memory loss.
SEE ALSO: 5 FUN FACTS ABOUT THE MAKING OF ‘FINDING DORY’
“I basically wrote the character with Ellen in mind. I couldn’t figure out Dory. The character wasn’t even female at that time, I just knew I needed the Character to have short term memory loss but didn’t know how to do it. During this time Ellen had an original Show in the ’90s called “The Ellen Show” that was a Sit-Com and it was on in the room while I was trying to deal with writer’s Block. Suddenly, I heard her change the sentence 5 times in one sentence, and I went that’s it, that’s how you do it”. ~ Andrew Stanton
The Origin of Dory Memory Loss
What’s most intriguing about Dory is her short term memory loss? To develop this aspect of her character Director Andrew Stanton formed it around a biological fact about Goldfish having a 5 second memory.
Honestly, we didn’t do any research about memory loss. It came from a biological fact I learned about Goldfish having a 5 second memory, and I thought that was so hilarious. We evolved the memory lost from being about every 5 seconds that Dory forget things to slowly turning it into her having an emotional memory, but she just couldn’t remember details. And of course, we picked the perfect time for when she didn’t remember something to make it more of a dramatic memory. But it’s OK cause it’s specific to a fish and we weren’t trying to represent anybody specifically in the real world. It’s specific to Dory. ~ Andrew Stanton
Where’s Dory’s Family?
Well, my friends, that’s one part that can only be answered by seeing Disney•Pixar’s new animated film “Finding Dory” in theaters June 17, 2016.
In this tell Dory is living happily in the reef with Nemo and Marlin. When Dory suddenly remembers that she has a family out there who may be looking for her, she recruits Marlin and Nemo for a life-changing adventure across the ocean to California’s prestigious Marine Life Institute (MLI), a rehabilitation center and aquarium.
SEE ALSO: HI I’M DORY
In the effort to find her mom and dad, Dory enlists the help of three of the MLI’s most intriguing residents: Hank, a cantankerous octopus who frequently gives employees the slip; Bailey, a beluga whale who is convinced his biological sonar skills are on the fritz; and Destiny, a nearsighted whale shark.
FINDING DORY In theaters
6/17/16
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