Talkin Pets

Ellen DeGeneres, the Voice of the Beloved Blue Tang Fish in 2003’s “Finding Nemo,” Shares Plans for the All-New Big-Screen Adventure

BURBANK, Calif. (April 2, 2013) –When Dory said “just keep swimming” in 2003’s Oscar®-winning film “Finding Nemo,” she could not have imagined what was in store for her (not that she could remember). Ellen DeGeneres, voice of the friendly-but-forgetful blue tang fish, revealed details today about Disney•Pixar’s “Finding Dory”—an all-new big-screen adventure diving into theaters on Nov. 25, 2015.

“I have waited for this day for a long, long, long, long, long, long time,” said DeGeneres. “I’m not mad it took this long. I know the people at Pixar were busy creating ‘Toy Story 16.’ But the time they took was worth it. The script is fantastic. And it has everything I loved about the first one: It’s got a lot of heart, it’s really funny, and the best part is—it’s got a lot more Dory.”

Director and Pixar veteran Andrew Stanton takes audiences back to the extraordinary underwater world created in the original film. “There is no Dory without Ellen,” said Stanton. “She won the hearts of moviegoers all over the world—not to mention our team here at Pixar. One thing we couldn’t stop thinking about was why she was all alone in the ocean on the day she met Marlin. In ‘Finding Dory,’ she will be reunited with her loved ones, learning a few things about the meaning of family along the way.”

According to Stanton, “Finding Dory” takes place about a year after the first film, and features returning favorites Marlin, Nemo and the Tank Gang, among others. Set in part along the California coastline, the story also welcomes a host of new characters, including a few who will prove to be a very important part of Dory’s life.

“Finding Nemo” won the 2003 Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature; the film was nominated for three additional Oscars® (Best Writing, Original Screenplay; Best Music, Original Score; Best Sound Editing). It was also nominated for a Golden Globe® Award for Best Motion Picture–Comedy or Musical. In 2008, the American Film Institute named “Finding Nemo” among the top 10 greatest animated films ever made. At the time of its release, “Finding Nemo” was the highest grossing G-rated movie of all time. It’s currently the fourth highest grossing animated film worldwide. The film has more than 16 million Likes on Facebook, and Dory—with more than 24 million—is the most Liked individual character from a Disney or Disney•Pixar film.

DeGeneres’ distinctive comic voice has resonated with audiences from her first stand-up comedy appearances through her work today on television, in film and in the literary world. Her syndicated talk show, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” is in its 10th season and has earned 38 Daytime Emmy® Awards. DeGeneres has won 12 People’s Choice Awards and the Teen Choice Award for Choice Comedian for three consecutive years. Additionally, her show won two Genesis Awards and a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Talk Show Episode. For her unforgettable turn as Dory, DeGeneres was nominated for an MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance.

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“SEA”IT IN THEATERS FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN BREATHTAKING DIGITAL 3D AND OWN IT FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER ON BLU-RAY™ & BLU-RAY 3D™

BURBANK, Calif. (June 1, 2012) — Disney•Pixar’s “Finding Nemo” dives back into theaters and homes this year in breathtaking Digital 3D™. The must-“sea,” must-own Oscar®-winning underwater adventure—featuring the unforgettable Marlin, his forgetful friend Dory and the lovable young Nemo—returns to the big screen in a spectacular 3D theatrical release beginning September 14, 2012, and then swims into living rooms for the first time ever in high-definition Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D and Digital platforms on December 4, 2012.

“‘Finding Nemo’ was originally shot in 3D,” said John Lasseter, chief creative officer for Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios and the film’s executive producer. “At last, with today’s technological advances, this spectacular underwater world can be seen as it was intended—showcasing its eye-popping detail and breathtaking colors to both theatrical and in-home audiences and creating a truly immersive experience.”

“Finding Nemo,” first released in theaters in 2003, earned the Oscar® for Best Animated Feature Film and remains the fifth highest grossing animated film worldwide. In 2008, the American Film Institute named “Finding Nemo” among the top 10 greatest animated films ever made, and it is the second highest grossing Pixar film to date (behind “Toy Story 3”).

The Blu-ray 2D and 3D debuts mark the first time “Finding Nemo” has ever been available in these hi-def formats. Featuring pristine high definition picture and sound, the Blu-ray creates an incredible at-home experience with a host of interactive features and bonus features including 3D Virtual Aquariums, 2D Virtual Aquariums, CineExplorer, a Filmmaker Roundtable and more.

The home entertainment release of “Finding Nemo” will be available this holiday season as follows:

· 5-Disc Blu-ray 3D Ultimate Collector’s Edition (2 Blu-ray 2D + 1 Blu-ray 3D + 1 DVD + 1 Digital Copy)

· 3-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack (2 Blu-ray 2D + 1 DVD)

· 3D Digital

· High-Definition Digital

ABOUT “FINDING NEMO”

In this stunning underwater adventure teeming with memorable comedic characters and heartfelt emotion, “Finding Nemo” follows the momentous journey of an overprotective clownfish named Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks) and his young son Nemo (voiced by Alexander Gould). When the two are unexpectedly separated in the Great Barrier Reef, Nemo is carried far from his ocean home and deposited in a fish tank in a dentist’s office. Buoyed by the companionship of Dory (voiced by Ellen DeGeneres), a friendly-but-forgetful blue tang fish, Marlin embarks on a dangerous trek and finds himself the unlikely hero of an epic effort to rescue his son––who hatches a few daring plans of his own to return safely home.

Directed by Oscar® winner Andrew Stanton, co-directed by Oscar winner Lee Unkrich and produced by Graham Walters, “Finding Nemo” also features the voices of Willem Dafoe (as Gill), Brad Garrett (as Bloat), Allison Janney (as Peach), Austin Pendleton (as Gurgle), Stephen Root (as Bubbles), Vicki Lewis (as Deb/Flo), Joe Ranft (as Jacques) Geoffrey Rush (as Nigel), Elizabeth Perkins (as Coral), Bob Peterson (as Mr. Ray), Barry Humphries (as Bruce), Eric Bana (as Anchor), Bruce Spence (as Chum), and director Andrew Stanton (as Crush).

Social Media:

Those who would like to stay connected with the exciting “Finding Nemo” release are encouraged to:

· “Like” the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PixarFindingNemo

· Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DisneyPixar

· Visit the official website: www.disney.com/FindingNemo

ABOUT THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS

For more than 85 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under the following banners: Disney, including Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios; Disneynature; Marvel Studios; and Touchstone Pictures, the banner under which live-action films from DreamWorks Studios are distributed. The Disney Music Group encompasses the Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records labels, as well as Disney Music Publishing. The Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Disney on Broadway, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!.

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© 2012 Disney