If you are interested in seeing the best computer-generated animation out there today, look no further than Finding Nemo, the latest offering from the Pixar/Disney team that brought you the Toy Storys, A Bug’s Life, and Monsters, Inc. But good animation does little if there’s not a good story to support it, and Finding Nemo delivers here as well. It tells the tale of two clown fish: Marlin (voiced by actor/director/comedian Albert Brooks), a loving but overly-cautious father, and Nemo (voiced by Alexander Gould), his adventurous son. When the two get separated in their Great Barrier Reef home, Marlin is forced to leave to search for Nemo, teaming up along the way with loveable-but-forgetful fish Dory (wonderfully voiced by comedian Ellen DeGeneres) and enlisting the help of several other colorful characters along the way.

Finding Nemo is a standout in many ways. Its portrayal of an underwater world is groundbreaking, with elements such as lighting, murk, and surge/swell combining to realistically portray reef and fish tank environments. The story has aspects that almost everyone can connect with: kids can relate to overprotective parents, parents can relate to being afraid for their children, and we expats can relate to being “fish out of water”! The voice acting is also very well done; Brooks and DeGeneres play off of each other perfectly. Overall, you will be hard-pressed to find a more heartwarming tale for all ages this holiday season.