Early video, photos of revamped ‘Finding Nemo’ show at Animal Kingdom

Disney has released early video and photos from the revamped “Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!” show that debuts June 13 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World.

The reimagined return of this popular stage show invites guests into the undersea setting that charmed audiences around the world in the Disney and Pixar smash-hit animated film, “Finding Nemo.”

The fully updated, 25-minute show is based on the Disney-Pixar hit “Finding Nemo.” It’s the story of Marlin and Nemo – an overprotective clownfish father and his curious son – through a dazzling production that combines music, puppets, dancers and animated backdrops. “This show incorporates many of the songs from the original musical, as well as amazing puppetry and live performers that fill the stage,” show director James Silson, Disney Live Entertainment, said.

This underwater adventure is a reimagined retelling of Disney-Pixar’s “Finding Nemo: The Musical,” which debuted at the theme park in 2007 and ran for more than 13 years. As in the original production, Marlin and Nemo each go on a separate journey that ultimately teaches them how to love and understand each other better. Except in this algae-friendly adaptation of that beloved tale, the storytellers are a group of fish living at the Marine Life Institute.

The 1,500-seat Theater in the Wild transports guests to an undersea world through innovative special effects, sound and lighting, and the theatrical puppetry of Michael Curry, who co-designed the richly detailed character puppets seen in the Broadway version of Disney’s “The Lion King.” Main characters such as Marlin, Nemo and Dory are represented by live performers operating animated puppets. Some puppets are larger-than-life – such as Crush, the cool sea turtle, who is nearly the size of a car.

In addition to a new script, the show features new set pieces and a custom LED video wall that visually extends the physical sets on stage – including a 32-foot-long sunken submarine. “We’ve taken a new approach to the set for ‘Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!’,” said art director Matt Fiuza, Disney Live Entertainment. “We were inspired by 3D cut paper art and sculptures as we developed the scenic in the show. Our team had such an exciting time looking at our tank set through this brand-new lens of this watercolor sculpture aesthetic.”