Finding Dory is Here at Last!

Posted on June 17, 2016 by Erin

Finding Dory is Here at Last!

By Erin

Have you seen her? Finding Dory has finally found her way into theaters after all this time. 13 years of waiting is over! The reunion of everyone’s favorite forgetful blue tang, Dory, with her friends Nemo and Marlin is finally here. Finding Dory is back and ready to swim into your heart. Disney•Pixar’s Finding Dory finds Dory living happily in the reef with Marlin and Nemo about a year after their life-changing adventure. 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. Be ready for the ride of your life as you follow this lovable bunch on their quest across the ocean to find Dory’s family.

Family is a key theme in Finding Dory. Dory can’t remember where she’s from, but she has to have a family, right? Dory finds herself asking ‘Where are they?’–there’s a sad truth to that and she is curious and determined to find out where they are.

LOST AND FOUND — In "Finding Dory," everyone's favorite forgetful blue tang Dory finds herself lost in the kelp forest while searching for answers about her past. Directed by Andrew Stanton (“Finding Nemo,” “WALL•E”) and produced by Lindsey Collins (co-producer “WALL•E”), “Finding Dory” swims into theaters June 17, 2016. ©2016 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

In the effort to find her mom and dad, Dory gathers the help of three of the MLI’s most fascinating 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. Navigating their way through the complex inner workings of the MLI, Dory and her friends discover the magic within their flaws, friendships and family.

I don’t want to ruin any of the magic for you in Finding Dory, so I will leave you with some fun facts and some fun numbers to know to get you ready to swim on over and go see this adorable film!

FINDING DORY. ©2016 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Dory Fun Facts

A New Voice for Nemo – Alexander Gould, who was the original voice of Nemo in 2003’s Finding Nemo is all grown up and turned 22 in May, so filmmakers had to recast the character, calling on 12-year-old Hayden Rolence to voice the junior clownfish in Finding Dory. Gould, who won filmmakers’ hearts 13 years ago, can be heard in the new movie as the voice of a truck driver. Rolence, who was cast long before recording began, was told that he couldn’t tell anyone about the role. You can imagine how rough this was for a young kid who wanted more than anything to share the news with his grandma.

Comedian Albert Brooks Returns–as the voice of clownfish Marlin in Finding Dory. Filmmakers say Brooks is all about improv, infusing his iconic comedy into the character. While Marlin carried a big emotional load in Finding Nemo, he’s been freed up in Finding Dory, allowing Brooks a lot more improvisational leeway this time.

Meet the Cast of Finding Dory! #FindingDory

Posted on June 15, 2016 by Erin

Meet the Cast of Finding Dory!

By Erin

Can you believe it? It’s been 13 years since that absentminded Blue Tang, Dory swam on screen and into our lives and hearts. It’s about time, right? I’m pretty sure Ellen thinks it’s about time too. 😉 The familiar characters of Finding Nemo that we have all fallen in love with: Nemo, Marlin & Dory are all back in true Disney*Pixar fashion along with plenty of new friends that you will love just as much. I was lucky enough to get to attend the Finding Dory press junket held in Beverly Hills, California as a guest of Disney. It was truly an unforgettable experience sitting right across from Ellen and just feet away from such an amazing cast!

Making waves in theaters starting this Friday, June 17, this much awaited movie picks up where Finding Nemo left off, starting about a year later with Dory, the fish with “short term remembery loss.”

So, have you seen her? We actually got to see her as we entered the room for the press junket. You couldn’t miss her! She was right in the center of the room.

The Amazing Talent in Attendance Included:

· Ellen DeGeneres (voice of “Dory”)
· Ed O’Neill (voice of “Hank”)
· Ty Burrell (voice of “Bailey”)
· Kaitlin Olson (voice of “Destiny”)
· Albert Brooks (voice of “Marlin”)
· Eugene Levy (voice of “Charlie”)
· Hayden Rolence (voice of “Nemo”)
· Director Andrew Stanton
· Producer Lindsey Collins

Director Andrew Stanton and Producer Lindsey Collins came out to chat with us first. Creating Finding Dory took them a very laborious four years to create but was a labor of love and a true passion project for them. Stanton said it all started one morning when “he woke up one day worried about Dory” and that’s how he got started with creating Finding Dory, but the hold up then was having the right story to tell. He realized 13 years in between films is a crazy amount of time so he wanted to be sure to create a stand along film that was not reliant on history.

Next we met the rest of the very talented cast where Ellen’s presence was at the center of it all. In true Ellen fashion she had us all laughing and wishing we could sit down and chat with her one on one or maybe even dance with her (as we heard later some other very lucky writers got to dance with her!!). You’ll notice the many faces of Ellen below, one moment she shares something so profound and serious, it really makes you think, then the next second she says something to have you laughing in tears. All in good-natured fun though. She is definitely a genuinely nice person with an amazing heart.

Fun facts from the press conference!

*Hank had a very bad experience in the ocean where he lost a tentacle, which is why he does not want to go back.

*If Ellen could have any of Dory’s traits she would want to have as many traits as she has. “As far as optimism and perseverance, non-judgment. Not having any resentment or holding on to anger. She doesn’t feel like a victim, and I think that’s why she is such a lovable character. She just thinks everything is possible. She doesn’t think there is anything wrong with anyone else. She just keeps swimming. I’d like to have all of those traits.”

Finding Dory: All Things Hank!| #FindingDoryEvent

Posted on June 2, 2016 by Erin

Finding Dory: All Things Hank!

By Erin

*I was invited to Monterey courtesy of Disney • Pixar for a media event. All opinions are my own*

FINDING DORY – When Dory finds herself in the Marine Life Institute, a rehabilitation center and aquarium, Hank—a cantankerous octopus—is the first to greet her. Featuring Ed O'Neill as the voice of Hank and Ellen DeGeneres as the voice of Dory, "Finding Dory" opens on June 17, 2016. ©2016 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

We are now just days away from the release of Finding Dory! Are you excited yet? You may remember that earlier this year I was up in Monterey for a very special Finding Dory media event. During this time, we had the pleasure of meeting one of Dory’s new friends, Hank. Hank is the cantankerous yet lovable octopus in Finding Dory voiced by Ed O’Neill. Created from initial character design to being animated to his final look in the film by a very talented team that included Supervising Technical Director John Halstead, Character Art Director Jason Deamer, Supervising Animator Mike Stocker, Character Supervisor Jeremie Talbot. We had the chance to sit down with some of the designers to learn about some of the new characters that you will see in this lovable new film. Here, I will share with you about all things Hank!

FINDING DORY – Hank Design (Concept Art) by Character Designer Jason Deamer. ©2016 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

One of the first things we learned was that Hank the Septopus was one of the most challenging and rewarding characters that they have ever worked with. Ever wonder how a new character is developed? They shared with us how they develop a new character from scratch and what developing and animating a new character that is an animal that they have never animated before looks like.

Jason Deamer (Character Art Director) presents at the Finding Dory Long Lead press day at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, CA. Photo by Marc Flores. ©2016 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Here are some fun things we learned about this special guy, Hank!

All Things Hank

*Dory’s New Friend– Hank is an octopus, or rather a “septopus” as he lost a tentacle—along with his sense of humor—somewhere along the way. But Hank is just as competent as his eightarmed peers. An accomplished escape artist with camouflaging capabilities, Hank is the first to greet Dory when she finds herself in the Marine Life Institute.

*Lucky Number 7 – When designers were working on Hank, the cantankerous octopus in “Finding Dory,” they created tapered tentacles for the cephalopod. The tentacles were modeled separately from the body, but when they tried to attach them, only seven would fit. Filmmakers later decided that it made sense that Hank would have an affliction, so they worked it into the script. Designers gave Hank 50 suckers per arm for a total of 350 suckers.

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Finding Dory is Here at Last!