Scientists are worried everyone will want their own Dory when Finding Dory comes out…
Marine biologists are worried that Pixar’s upcoming Finding Dory film will make Dory’s species becoming endangered.
The film giant last month shared the first look at a number of new characters from the eagerly awaited sequel – which is a follow up to 2003’s hit film Finding Nemo.
And on 30 April Pixar released a new trailer for the film, which stars Ellen Degeneres as the title character.
But when Finding Nemo was released, it led to a hugely increased demand for orange and white clownfish, the species of the title character.
So now biologists are worried the same thing will happen to the blue tang fish, when the sequel comes out.
Marine science magazine Hakai notes that while clownfish are quite easy to breed in captivity, blue tang do not breed well in aquariums.
“As Dory graduates from sidekick to leading lady, the lack of a captive-bred option will drive collectors to source more blue tangs from the wild—a harvest that’s often unregulated and destructive,” reads the magazine.
Research is actively trying to find out if there is a way to make the captive breeding of blue tang more viable for the film’s release.
Among new characters are Dory’s parents, Charlie and Jenny (voiced by Eugene Levy and Diane Keaton); Hank (voiced by Ed O’Neill), the seven-armed octopus who becomes an unlikely ally with Dory (Ellen DeGeneres); whale shark Destiny (Kaitlin Olson); Bailey the beluga whale (Ty Burrell); lazy sea lions Fluke and Rudder (Idris Elba and Dominic West); and Becky the loon (Torbin Bullock). Oh, and the most adorable otters you’ve ever seen in your life.
“I think that fish should be in the ocean. It’s what this whole sequel is about,” DeGeneres has said of the film’s plot.
“It’s about rehabilitation and putting them back in the ocean,” she added.
“We have to protect our oceans. Hopefully that discussion starts with this film, because we really need to protect that environment.”
Finding Dory will focus more time on the fish voiced by the popular TV personality – who recently opened up about coming out as gay – after her character sets off to find her family.
The trailer shows Dory finally regain some of her allusive memory, which leads her on an epic journey of self-discovery.
“The movie will be mostly set at the California Marine Biology Institute, a huge complex of sea life rehabilitation and aquarium, where Dory was born and raised,” said Pixar president Jim Morris.
“We will get to meet new characters, like an octopus, sea lions, a beluga whale, among others.”
It will also bring back characters voiced by Albert Brooks and Willem Dafoe – as well as bringing Diane Keaton and Idris Elba into the fold.
Finding Dory is set for release in the US on June 17 and UK on July 29 2016.
Watch the full trailer below: