
Pixar’s multi-tiered film production process begins with a basic premise pitch to the creative higher-ups, followed by (for all greenlit projects) a written story treatment. ANDREW STANTON WROTE A SCRIPT LONG BEFORE HE WAS “SUPPOSED TO.” Stanton also had a love for all things aquatic that dated back to a childhood fascination with his dentist’s fish tank, so he used this lifelong interest as a funnel for a deeply emotional story about the challenges of being a good father. As a relatively new father during the film’s development, Stanton found himself at odds with his proclivity to veer into overprotective territory, much in the way viewers see Marlin combating his neuroses in raising his son Nemo. “Autobiographical” isn’t exactly the first adjective you’d expect to assign to a road comedy about marine life, but Finding Nemo co-writer/director Andrew Stanton’s story came from a very personal place. THE FILM WAS INSPIRED BY THE DIRECTOR’S OVERPROTECTIVE NATURE. Here are a few little-known facts about the rocky road leading up to the film’s status as a bona fide blockbuster, on the 15th anniversary of its release. The same photo of Darla that her uncle had in his office can be seen on the wall in the quarantine area of the Marine Life Institute in Finding Dory.Although we now recognize 2003's Finding Nemo as one of Pixar’s most critically and commercially successful films, the underwater masterpiece didn’t exactly kick off production as a guaranteed goldmine.Darla appears in Toy Story 3 in Molly Davis' magazine.


The tank gang live in terror of Darla's visits as she likes to scream at the fish and thump the tank to liven them up. Sadly, they don't last very long-like poor Chuckles, her goldfish gift from last year.

Her uncle likes to give her reef fish as pets. Sherman's niece loves fish, especially piranhas. Peach: "She's a fish killer!" - Nemo and the Tank Gang, explaining about Darla Gurgle: "She wouldn't stop shaking the bag!"ĭeb: "He was her present last year."īloat: "Hitched a ride on the porcelain express." In the picture from the dentist's office, Darla wore pink overalls with white buttons and a teal long-sleeved shirt. Darla Sherman is small and 8 years old (according to Philip in the film and Pixarpedia), she has fair skin, red hair with pigtails, green eyes, braces with headgear, white turtleneck with a black spot in the center, purple long-sleeved shirt with white and pink sparkling letters that say "Rock n Roll Girl," yellow skirt with dark brown plaid, white socks and black Mary Jane shoes.
