Character Relationship Map: Finding Dory

Characters

• Marlin (played by Albert Brooks) — protagonist

  Overprotective clownfish father who embarks on a perilous ocean journey to find his missing son.

• Dory (played by Ellen DeGeneres) — protagonist

  Forgetful regal blue tang with short-term memory loss who becomes Marlin's loyal ocean companion.

• Hank (played by Ed O'Neill) — supporting

  Grumpy, highly camouflaged octopus who reluctantly helps Dory navigate the Marine Life Institute.

• Nemo (played by Hayden Rolence) — supporting

  Brave young clownfish with a tiny fin who gets captured and learns to overcome his fears.

• Jenny (played by Diane Keaton) — supporting

  Dory's devoted father who builds a shell trail to protect his daughter.

• Charlie (played by Eugene Levy) — supporting

  Fish character who appears in the Marine Life Institute.

• Bailey (played by Ty Burrell) — supporting

  Beluga whale who believes his echolocation is broken but actually works perfectly.

• Destiny (played by Kaitlin Olson) — supporting

  Nearsighted whale shark who becomes Dory's childhood friend and ally.

• Becky (played by Gabriel C. Brown) — cameo

  Injured pelican with a bandaged wing who assists Marlin and Dory on their journey.

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Marlin → Nemo (Family Father And Son) — Marlin is Nemo's protective father.

  Marlin previously searched for his son Nemo, and the two later accompany Dory together.

• Dory → Charlie (Family Parent) — Charlie is Dory's parent and participates in the long search for her.

  The plot identifies Charlie as one of Dory's parents and states that he stayed near home while leaving shell trails for her.

• Dory → Jenny (Family Parent) — Jenny is Dory's devoted parent and never stops hoping to find her.

  Dory is separated from her parents, Jenny and Charlie, as a child. Jenny later reunites with Dory and explains that she kept searching for her.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Nemo → Dory (related)
• Nemo → Hank (related)
• Nemo → Hank (Alliance Escape Associate) — They share the final captivity and escape situation.

  Nemo is transported with Hank after Hank accidentally drops Dory into the drain, and they are freed during the truck hijacking.

• Marlin → Hank (Alliance Rescue Associate) — Marlin and Hank become cooperating members of the escape effort.

  Marlin and Nemo attempt to save Dory, while Hank later travels with them in the transport truck and helps free the aquatic animals.

• Becky → Dory (Alliance Indirect Supporter) — Becky supports Dory indirectly through the rescue group.

  Becky helps Marlin and Nemo get into the institute, contributing to their attempt to find Dory.

• Dory → Bailey (Social Friend) — Bailey becomes a supportive friend during Dory's captivity.

  Dory encounters Bailey at the Marine Life Institute, where he becomes part of the effort to help her.

• Dory → Hank (Reluctant Alliance) — A transactional partnership gradually becomes genuine cooperation.

  Hank agrees to help Dory find her parents in exchange for her transfer tag.

• Dory → Nemo (Social Friend And Family) — Dory's bond with Nemo becomes familial by the conclusion.

  Nemo travels with Dory to California, and the ending states that Dory considers Marlin and Nemo family.

• Marlin → Becky (Alliance Rescue Ally) — Becky assists Marlin during the institute rescue.

  Marlin receives help from Becky while trying to enter the Marine Life Institute and find Dory.

• Bailey → Destiny (Alliance Rescue Partner) — They cooperate during the final rescue.

  Bailey and Destiny both escape their exhibits to assist Dory's rescue operation.

• Dory → Destiny (Social Childhood Friend) — Their childhood connection is restored during Dory's search.

  Destiny is identified as Dory's childhood friend, and the two communicated through pipes when they were young.

• Dory → Marlin (Alliance Loyal Companion) — Their journeys develop into a strong mutual partnership.

  Dory meets and joins Marlin while he is searching for Nemo. Marlin then accompanies Dory to find her parents.

Story Analysis

A forgotten daughter follows memories and shell trails to reunite with her parents while building a new family through friendship and courage.

Plot Progression

1. A Memory Beneath The Reef — Dory lives with Marlin and Nemo until a sudden memory of Jenny and Charlie returns. She decides to travel to California and search for her forgotten family.
2. Quarantine And Uncertain Memories — The journey becomes dangerous when Nemo is threatened and Dory is captured by the Marine Life Institute. Hank offers help while Dory reconnects with Bailey and Destiny.
3. The Shells That Lead Home — Dory learns that her parents disappeared while searching for her, but a remembered shell trail gives her a new direction. She follows it and reunites with Jenny and Charlie.
4. The Oceanbound Escape — Marlin, Nemo, and Hank are trapped in a transport truck while Bailey and Destiny join the rescue. Dory persuades Hank to choose the ocean and helps crash the truck into the sea.
5. A New Family Reef — The aquatic creatures are freed, and Dory returns to the reef with her parents and friends. She now regards Marlin and Nemo as family.