Finding the Real and Virtual ‘Dory’

by Christine Bord
Last updated: 2:00 PM ET, Mon March 14, 2016

PHOTO: The Monterey Bay Aquarium during the #FindingDoryEvent. (photo via Twitter/LaurenGallaway)

Ellen DeGeneres recently debuted a new trailer for "Finding Dory" on her daytime talk show and fans are already saying, "Oh, boy! This is gonna be good, I can tell."

The new movie picks up six months after "Finding Nemo" and follows forgetful Dory, who will once again be voiced by DeGeneres, as she realizes she has a family of her own and goes on a quest to find them. The new trailer also shows Dory making her way around an aquarium that many think is meant to be the Monterey Bay Aquarium, based on an image of a chubby little hand reaching into a touch pool that closely resembles one of Monterey Bay's most popular attractions.

Though Pixar and Disney haven't confirmed "Finding Dory" is set at the aquarium, they did hold a special press event there last week where they treated 25 bloggers to a sneak peek of the movie and a private tour. The #FindingDoryEvent also brought VIPs "behind the scenes to learn all about the research that went into the making of this latest adventures of everyone's favorite fish Dory."

The aquarium's conservation efforts also fit in with the movie's overall theme of rehabilitation. According to DeGeneres, that is what the sequel is really about. "I think that fish should be in the ocean," she said in an interview with Yahoo. "It's what this whole sequel is about: It's about rehabilitation and putting them back in the ocean … And we have to protect our oceans. Hopefully that discussion starts with this film, because we really need to protect that environment."

Assuming "Finding Dory" is set at Monterey Bay Aquarium, some kind of special events may be planned to coincide with the movie's June 17 release date, just in time for family vacation season. The educational center is already a favorite summer destination where kids can feed animals, get up close and personal with baby otters and African penguins, dive into coral reefs and plan a sleepover, so if Pixar and Disney have any plans, it will only enhance this experience.

But, Monterey Bay won't be the only travel option for "Dory" fans this summer.

Philadelphia's Franklin Institute is hosting The Science Behind Pixar through Sept. 5. The exhibit gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at the many steps that go into making Pixar films, like "Finding Nemo" and "Finding Dory." Using math and science, the animators and artists at Pixar are able to bring everyone under the sea with Dory, inside the mind of Riley and along for the latest adventures of Woody and Buzz Lightyear. Their techniques are revealed throughout the various sections of the hands-on exhibit.

In Orlando, Dory will soon be swimming into Epcot where she'll join Turtle Talk With Crush. Visitors will also be able to interact with her friends Destiny the whale shark, Hank the "septopus," Bailey the beluga whale and maybe even Nemo, when the attraction is updated this summer.

Wherever you're planning on taking your family this summer, Pixar and Disney are hoping Dory will somehow fit into your plans just swimmingly.

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