Finding Dory is Pixar's most anticipated sequel since Toy Story 3, and, as with any follow-up, fans of the original Finding Nemo are dying to know if their favorite character will be returning. Obviously, Finding Dory will feature everyone's favorite forgetful fish, Dory, as voiced by everyone's favorite daytime comedian, Ellen DeGeneres. Fellow main characters Nemo and Marlin (Albert Brooks) will also return for the sequel, though Nemo will get a new voice, but what about the other characters? What about Gill, the tough, tired fish who helped Nemo escape from the dentist's office? Or what about the shark trying not to eat fish — is Bruce in Finding Dory ?
Unfortunately, a lot of the beloved supporting characters from Nemo will not be back in Finding Dory. This is probably due to the fact that Finding Dory takes place half-way around the world from Finding Nemo. While Nemo took place largely in Australia, Dory takes the fish in the opposite direction, to the Marine Biology Institute of California. It wouldn't really make sense for Nigel, an Australian pelican, to pop up on the shores of California, now would it? Don't worry too much, though, Finding Dory will no doubt introduce a whole bunch of new, fun characters to take your mind off the favorites you'll miss. Still, we'll miss all the characters who aren't returning to the franchise. Here are all the fan-favorite Finding Nemo characters who aren't in Finding Dory , so you can prepare yourself for the heartache.
1. Bruce
Bruce, the shark who taught us that "fish are friends, not food" in Finding Nemo is not returning for Finding Dory. Here's hoping the big, friendly shark is still trying to make friends with the fish of Australia.
2. Anchor
Bruce's hammer shark friend, Anchor, will also be missing from the sequel, but given how Marlin and Dory's encounter with the sharks ended in Finding Nemo, that's probably a good thing.
3. Chum
The third shark trying to abstain from eating fish, Chum, won't be in Finding Dory either.
4. Darla
The sadistic tween who desperately wanted to take Nemo home isn't getting anywhere near Finding Dory. Here's hoping she never got to take home another fish again.
5. Pearl
Nemo's pink classmate is suspiciously absent from the IMDB cast list for Finding Dory. Given the fact that Finding Dory takes place only six months after Finding Nemo and the fact that Mr. Ray, the school teacher, is returning for the sequel, I'm willing to bet that fans might still be able to catch a glimpse of Pearl in Finding Dory, even if she isn't listed.
6. Sheldon
The H2O intolerant sea horse is also MIA from the Finding Dory credits.
7. Nigel
Nigel the pelican, who befriends Nemo at the dentist's office and helps Marlin and Dory complete their journey to find the little fish, is not listed in the credits for Finding Dory. It's possible he could come back for a short cameo, but, again, he's probably off living in Australia somewhere far from a California wildlife preserve.
8. Squishy
OK, I think we all saw this one coming. Still, it's worth noting that Squishy, the mini jellyfish that wormed its way into Dory's heart in Finding Nemo probably won't be returning for a repeat cameo in Finding Dory. With Dory's short-term memory loss, however, she might just pass along the 'Squishy' name to a new character this time around.
9. Gill, Bloat, Peach, Gurgle, Bubbles, Deb/Flo & Jacques
The friends Nemo made in the fish tank at the dentist's office — Gill, Bloat, Peach, Gurgle, Bubbles, Deb and Flo, and Jacques — don't appear in any of the promotional material for Finding Dory, and it seems odd that they would appear in the sequel given their Australia residency. However, the characters are all listed on the Finding Dory IMDB page, so fans should definitely be on the lookout for their favorite rag-tag team of fish escapees.
It can be hard to say goodbye to original characters when going into a sequel, but Pixar hasn't failed us before, and there's no reason to think Finding Dory will be any different.
Images: Walt Disney/Pixar; Giphy (9)
