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Entertainment • Film

Finding Dory

Finding Dory is a 2016 American computer-animated adventure comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Finding Dory is a 2016 American computer-animated adventure comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. It is a sequel to Finding Nemo and follows Dory, a blue tang fish with short-term memory loss, as she searches for her long-lost parents. The film was directed by Andrew Stanton and released in U.S. theatres on June 17, 2016.

Premise

The film follows Dory after she remembers that she has a family who may be looking for her. Her search leads her, Marlin and Nemo to the Marine Life Institute in California, where she meets new marine creatures and tries to find her parents.

Production

Finding Dory was directed by Andrew Stanton and produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. It was written by Stanton and Victoria Strouse.

Cast

The film features Ellen DeGeneres as Dory and Albert Brooks as Marlin, with Hayden Rolence as Nemo. Supporting voices include Ed O’Neill, Kaitlin Olson, Ty Burrell, Diane Keaton and Eugene Levy.

Release

The film premiered in Los Angeles on June 8, 2016, and opened in U.S. theatres on June 17, 2016. It was distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Key facts

  • It is both a sequel and spin-off of Finding Nemo (2003).
  • Ellen DeGeneres voices Dory, with Albert Brooks returning as Marlin.
  • The story centers on Dory’s search for her parents after recovering memories of her childhood.
  • Much of the film takes place at the Marine Life Institute in California.
  • The film was released theatrically in the United States on June 17, 2016.
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Canadian context

Canadian readers may know the film through its wide theatrical release and its continued popularity as part of the Pixar catalogue, which has been widely distributed in Canada through Disney releases.

Frequently asked questions

What is Finding Dory about?
It follows Dory, a blue tang fish with memory loss, as she searches for her long-lost parents with help from Marlin and Nemo.
Is Finding Dory a sequel?
Yes. It is a sequel to Finding Nemo (2003) and also functions as a spin-off centered on Dory.
Who directed Finding Dory?
The film was directed by Andrew Stanton.
Who voices Dory?
Dory is voiced by Ellen DeGeneres.
When was Finding Dory released?
It was released in U.S. theatres on June 17, 2016.

References

  1. Movie Insider — https://www.movieinsider.com/m10902/finding-dory
    Supports: Release date, premise, principal cast, setting, and production background.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2277860/
    Supports: Film synopsis, release year, and cast information.
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/finding_dory
    Supports: Director, producer, genre, runtime, rating, release date, studio, and synopsis.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finding_Dory
    Supports: Director, writers, sequel/spin-off status, cast, and premiere/release dates.