Finding Nemo (2003)
1. The narrative characteristics of the Action-Adventure genre that are present in Finding Nemo are that of the hero's (at first) reluctance to accept the call to adventure, but then is willing to sacrifice all in order to embark on the hero's journey. Marlin does this, despite his fear of the ocean in order to save his one and only son, Nemo. Another aspect that is present in the film is Marlin and even Nemo, encountering more and more ordeals, before anything gets better, and good finally conquering evil. The characteristics that don't seem to be present in the film is that of the hero dealing with a higher external problem and a larger world scope with global stakes.
2. The characteristics that I see of a Romance genre in Finding Nemo is that of Marlin making the noble sacrifice to save his son at all costs and the journey of the heart in both Marlin, Dori and Nemo. While there is a great father-son bond as well as a new found friendship between Marlin and Dori, most of the elements such as forbidden love, a larger world scope with global stakes and romance triangles and rivals do not exist in the endearing and fun filled children's film.
3. The central goal or problem that needs to be solved by the main protagonist is Marlin crossing the entire ocean and trying to find Nemo. Marlin reaches his resolution and finds not only his son, but regains his relationship and trust with Nemo and his new comrade Dori.
4. The secondary goal that needs to be solved throughout the film is Marlin conquering his fear of the ocean and Nemo becoming an able bodied guppy despite is abnormally small fin.
5. Hero's Journey paradigm:
-Call to Adventure-> Nemo swims out to touch the boat and get's caught by a diver.
-Crossing of the Threshold-> Marlin crosses paths with the short term memory loss fish Dori and they encounter a group of vegetarian sharks, whom they barely escape from. (The great white Bruce smelt Dori's bloody nose and went rogue)
-Supreme Ordeal-> Dori & Marlin swim through a sea of jelly fish which almost kills them/Nemo almost dies trying to clog the tank in the dentist's office.
-Road Back-> Marlin & Dori get swallowed by a large whale which spits them out at their desired destination of Sydney Harbor/Nemo successfully clogs the tank.
-Resurrection (Climax)-> Marlin is finally taken by the friendly neighborhood pelican to the dentist's office where Nemo is, only to find Nemo is a plastic bag pretending to be dead, so he can get flushed down the drain which leads to the ocean.
-Return with the Elixir-> Marlin is reunited with his son, realizes that he misses and wants to be Dori's friend and the happy family returns home with their father-son relationship better than ever.
6. Both the first and secondary problems are addressed towards the end of the film, where both Marlin and Nemo realize how much they love each other, and how Marlin can conquer his fears of losing his son and trust Nemo to be capable of doing things on his own. Marlin becomes aware of his pride and trust in his son when he starts talking to Dori about him in the middle of the film. But it isn't until Dori gets caught in a giant net of tuna, that Marlin realizes Nemo can save all the fish if he lets him go into the net and tell the fish to swim down and work together. At the end of the film Marlin's old goal of finding Nemo is accomplished, so his focus now switches to trusting Nemo and allowing him to grow up and realize even with his small fin he can do what any other fish can, if not better.
