Life along the Great Barrier Reef is full of dangers when you’re a tiny clown fish. And for Marlin, a single parent determined to protect his only son, Nemo, there are constant fears and anxieties. When it becomes time for Nemo to leave the protective shelter of his sea anemone home for the first day of school, Marlin nervously accompanies him and agonizes over his every move.

When Nemo defies his father and swims beyond the reef’s awesome “drop off” to investigate a boat, he is suddenly scooped up by a diver as Marlin helplessly watches.

Marlin’s sinking feeling turns to desperate action as he frantically swims off in search of his son. As he passes a school of fish, he literally bumps into Dory, an agreeable blue tang who offers to help.

Word of this heroic clown fish traveling the ocean in search of his son even reaches Nemo back in his tank in a dentist’s office overlooking Sydney Harbor. Nemo is surprised and thrilled when he learns of his father’s search for him. With fellowprisoner Gill’s encouragement and motivated by a strong desire to return to his father, Nemo moves forward with a daring escape plan. But time is running out; the dentist’s rambunctious niece Darla is set to pick up Nemo the next day.

Arriving at Sydney Harbor, Marlin and Dory get a major helping hand from Nigel, a friendly pelican who has also heard the amazing stories of this brave clown fish searching for his son. With the clock furiously ticking and numerous forces at play, the father and son remain oceans apart in their efforts to reunite.