Pixar “just kept swimming” after 13 years for their summer blockbuster, Finding Dory.

The original directors and screenwriters are back on board, with Ellen DeGeneres and Albert Brooks reprising their roles as Dory and Marlin. Pixar and Disney continue the underwater adventure back across the Pacific to discover Dory’s childhood and memory.

The story starts by Dory being reminded by her parents of her short term memory loss and how to live with it. She ends up getting lost, eventually wandering in the ocean by herself. Then picking up right after the events in “Finding Nemo,” we meet Dory having a small memory relapse. She sets out on the journey back across the Pacific to rediscover her past.

While on her quest, she meets equally adorable and lovable new characters who help her find what she is looking for, leading up to a quintessential happy Disney ending.

The plot for Finding Dory was very different from what I expected it to be. Knowing that this is sequel to Nemo, I thought Dory was going to get lost in the ocean and her only flaw would be her short term memory loss. I was wrong.

The whole meaning of the story seemed to go deeper than that. The audience sees the progression of her memory loss, starting from where she would only forget seconds, to later forgetting where she came from. This is definitely sadder than Finding Nemo in that sense.

However, the audience learns more about Dory and what triggers her memory and where some of Dory’s quirks come from. Before, she is just a secondary fun character, now she is the star of her own life story.

Also, can we take a moment to talk about Baby Dory?!? Definitely one of the cutest things I have ever seen. Literally in love. I want a stuffed animal baby dory. Kudos to you Pixar, you melted my heart.