Andrew Stanton's Finding Nemo is a movie that holds a special place in the hearts of millions. Its powerful story about parenthood resonated with people around the globe, young and old. To this day, it remains one of the most universally loved films in Pixar or Disney's catalogue. But Finding Nemo isn't just a beloved film about tropical fish, it also turned out to be the saving grace needed to save a language on the verge of extinction.
According to the Language Conservancy, nine languages go extinct every year, never to be spoken again, that's one every forty days. The World Economic Forum predicts that up to 1,500 languages could become extinct by the end of the 21st century. As of 2024, nearly half of the world's languages are endangered, one of those being Navajo. Today, there are over 330,000 people in the United States of Navajo Descent, and even though it remains the largest tribe in America, there are only 170,000 native speakers of this indigenous tongue. But what does all of this have to do with Finding Nemo? Well, in 2015, Pixar began work dubbing Finding Nemo into Navajo, in collaboration with the Navajo Nation Museum in Window Rock, Arizona. Translated by Joe Kee, this made it the second ever Disney film to ever be dubbed in the language, after Star Wars: A New Hope two years prior. While Star Wars is an immensely popular franchise, Finding Nemo was the first film to be dubbed with a primarily child audience in mind. One of the most effective ways to learn and maintain a new language is to start learning it while young, making the new dub a particularly big deal for the Navajo community.
While it is technically the widest-spoken Native American language in the United States, most Navajo people grew up not speaking the language around the house. The vast majority of fluent Navajo speakers are forty and above, putting the language at a greater risk of extinction. According to the dialogue director, Rick Dempsey, the biggest challenge of dubbing the film was finding a voice actor for the titular role due to the lack of young fluent speakers. The role eventually went to eleven year old, Quinton Kein. Marlin and Dory were ultimately played by Andrew Boddie Harvey and Natalie Benally. Dubbing Finding Nemo in Navajo was not only a celebration of indigenous culture, it was also a desperate effort to save the language from fading into obscurity.
On March 18th, 2016, Pixar, and Knifewing studios released: Nemo Há'déést'į́į́', it premiered in nine different theaters across Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico from the 18th to the 24th, much to the delight of the Navajo Nation! As an unexpected bonus, Fall Out Boy lead singer, Patrick Stump recorded a Navajo version of "Beyond The Sea" for the film's closing credits.
Many people who speak multiple languages started at a young age, and a lot of them learned from observing movies and television. Growing up, Toy Story was a huge influence on me learning English. These days with so many apps, programs, and media it's never been easier to learn a new language, but what if that language isn't available? As of 2024, there are only three major films that have been dubbed in Navajo: Star Wars: A New Hope, Finding Nemo, and A Fistful of Dollars. Lacking media representation makes a language significantly harder to learn and decreases interest among children. In the years since Nemo Há'déést'į́į́', various other films have been dubbed into indigenous languages including The Avengers in Lakota, Moana in Hawaiian, Frozen in Maori, Toy Story in Chickasaw, and Brother Bear in Yupik, Inukitut, and Aleut.
I've had a fascination with linguistics my whole life, being Irish another culture with a dying language. Language is one of the most substantial part of ones culture, and without it, so much is lost. No one should have to mourn their native tongue. Not only is the story of Nemo Há'déést'į́į́' a heartwarming tale of resilience, it's also a testament to the power and importance of cinema. Movies can make us laugh, make us cry, bring us together, and inspire generations reconnect with their roots. Let's hope that in the future, more languages are given a second chance by the power of cinema.
Nahat'ági at'éego baa yiníłnii.
Comments