Why Pixar Recast Marlin in Finding Nemo

When Finding Nemo first premiered in 2003, it struck a chord with both children and parents. Though this film is set underwater, these humble fish express true emotion, proving that Pixar has the ability to make everything appear human. As such, the film not only exemplifies the true power of animation but also showcases the exceptional level of Pixar’s storytelling techniques.

Marlin is the ultimate father, and although he struggles to find an adequate balance between firm and fair, his love for his son resonates with a lot of dads. Although Marlin is a tiny fish with very little movement, he communicates with other characters and the audience with his powerful voice. But, many viewers are unaware that he was meant to be voiced by a completely different actor.

The Original Voice Actor Just Wasn’t the Right Fit For Marlin

Finding Nemo focuses on a small clownfish who is determined to take on the world as well as his first day of school. Yet, his father, Marlin, sees the ocean as a dangerous place, especially since he lost his wife, Coral, in a barracuda attack. Though he has the best intentions, Marlin’s overbearing attitude forces Nemo to rebel, and he unfortunately gets captured by a scuba diver. But Marlin isn’t willing to give up his son that easily and teams up with his new forgetful friend, Dory, to tackle the ocean for themselves so that they can save Nemo.

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Marlin’s voice is one of the most memorable parts of his entire character as it’s able to convey so much. This fish is able to communicate a sense of sadness, desperation, and anger all in one scene. As such, Marlin may not be as animated or vivacious as other Pixar characters like Woody or Doug, but his voice allows him to stand out from the crowd. Although many fans believe that Albert Brooks was the first choice for this role, it was originally given to William H. Macy. The Shameless actor recorded the vast majority of the lines before the production company decided that his performance was just a tad too dramatic for a timid fish like Marlin. Thus, Disney was forced to let him go and restart their search for the perfect voice. Eventually, Brooks was hired and forced to re-record all the lines, which Pixar believed saved the film.

Though a lot of fans appreciate Macy’s acting abilities, especially in straight roles like Fargo and Air Force One, it’s hard for viewers to imagine him as a tiny clownfish trying to find his son in a vast ocean. As such, it seems that Albert Brooks will always be synonymous with Marlin. In fact, he even reprised his role in the film’s sequel, Finding Dory, back in 2016. But, for fans of the Disney Parks and related video games, Marlin is voiced by Jess Harnell, who fans may also recognize as Wakko Warner from Animaniacs. As such, Albert Brooks proves that voice acting is just as important as animation when it comes to creating stand-out kids’ films because Marlin instantly connects with viewers of any age.

Marlin Gives a Tragically Accurate Portrayal of Grief

Though Finding Nemo is classified as a G, many fans believe that its depiction of grief is much more grown-up. At the beginning of the film, viewers are introduced to Marlin and Coral, a fun-loving couple who are excited about raising their hoard of eggs. Suddenly, a barracuda wreaks havoc on their sanctuary and leaves Marlin alone with a single egg, which he names Nemo. The film does an excellent job of showing how this loss impacted Marlin without boring the audience with tons of added context or exposition. The difference between the first scene and the next is very apparent, as Marlin is filled with anxiety and sees the world as a horrifyingly scary place. It should be noted that expressing grief in film is very difficult as it’s such a complex and frustrating emotion. Yet, Pixar makes it look effortless, even with a fish who has very limited facial expressions. So, even though Marlin is unable to shed tears or explode in a fit of rage, this voice ensures that his grief is apparent and relentless.

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Even though Marlin may believe that he is being consumed by his grief, his actions throughout the film prove that he’s not. Despite saying that he’s scared of the ocean and the other creatures that lurk beneath, he still manages to swim all the way to Australia (an iconic moment in the Pixar franchise) and makes friends with a collection of new fish. Thus, Marlin’s transformation throughout the film is pretty inspiring as it proves that even though grief can make it hard to do basic things, it doesn’t make them entirely impossible. Plus, Marlin’s distaste towards Nemo’s laissez-fair attitude may be because he wants to go back in time before his grief made him paranoid. As such, it could be argued that Nemo’s careless behavior mimics how Marlin acted before losing Coral and their babies. Overall, Marlin’s character is a fantastic way of making a family-friendly film. While the parents are heavily relating to Marlin’s worries, the kids can kick back and enjoy a rip-roaring adventure.

Finding Nemo Touched Audiences Around the World

After the success of Toy Story and Monsters Inc., it seemed almost impossible for Pixar to create another hit film. Yet, Finding Nemo managed to hit it out of the park, securing $940.3 million at the box office against a $94 million budget. Plus, the film managed to partner with a ton of iconic brands, including Kellogg’s and McDonald’s, helping to create a ton of lucrative marketing campaigns before the film was actually released. Aside from its compelling story and heartwarming character interactions, this film did a great job of making viewers feel as if they were underwater. The Pixar team was determined to create an accurate representation of the ocean, so they spent a lot of their time exploring the coral reef. The team also enrolled in a ton of marine biology courses so that they could get a better understanding of how these fish traveled and what type of conditions they lived in. To many people, this sounds like a lot of hard work for a kids’ film, but it certainly paid off, as Finding Nemo was instantly praised for its visual elements.

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Despite scooping up four Oscars at the 2004 Academy Awards, the sequel to Finding Nemo wasn’t released until 2016. This was mainly due to disagreements between Steven Jobs and Pixar, but the issues were ultimately resolved when Disney made another production company called Circle 7. Finding Dory brought back many of the film’s original cast, including Ellen DeGeneres, and again focused on the concept of parents. Though Dory seems to forget everything, she always remembers her parents and is determined to find them with the help of her friends. As such, it’s clear that the writers were keen to create a sequel that also embodied the values of the first film, and this wasn’t seen as an easy way to capitalize on a fan-favorite film.

Overall, a film like Finding Nemo relies heavily on its voice actors because they work to bring these obscure creatures to life. Though William H. Macy is a fantastic character actor, it’s clear that Albert Brooks was the better choice for the role. Brooks also lends his voice to The Simpsons, so he is able to deliver sharp punchlines without making them too obvious or overbearing. Thus, he’s a great choice for a clownfish who is terrible at telling jokes.

After his son is captured in the Great Barrier Reef and taken to Sydney, a timid clownfish sets out on a journey to bring him home.

Director

Andrew Stanton , Lee Unkrich

Release Date

May 30, 2003

Studio

Cast

Albert Brooks , Ellen DeGeneres , Alexander Gould , Willem Dafoe , Brad Garrett , Allison Janney

Writers

Andrew Stanton , Bob Peterson , David Reynolds

Runtime

100 Minutes

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