Adorable puppets can't exactly carry this revamped new show
Everyone loves Nemo and wants to find him as soon as possible. I will say, however, that this cute clownfish doesn’t have a lot of luck when it comes to theme park attractions, at least in Walt Disney World. We have The Sea with Nemo and Friends in Epcot, which is just a very basic dark ride, and now we also got a revamped show called Finding Nemo: the big Blue… and beyond! in Animal Kingdom, which is fun but I also think it could have been much more.
This show originally debuted in 2007 and unfortunately closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it made a comeback in 2020 with a few surprises up its sleeve. I still remember the original show and probably watched it three or four times. The show featured a blend of puppets and acrobatics on stage. One memorable moment involved the main performers being suspended in the air by ropes, creating the illusion of soaring above the audience. I remember two instances when something went awry, leaving an actor suspended mid-air and stuck there for a few minutes. The show got canceled both times. Bummer.
The reimagination is a toned down version of the first show. There aren’t that many acrobatics anymore, and no one gets suspended in the air. I guess changes were necessary since there were so many technical issues with the first version, but I do think the show lost a bit of charm during this transaction.
By far the most significant change is the introduction of a digital screen behind the actors, showcasing scenes and locations from the movies. This screen primarily functions as a backdrop, while the actors, accompanied by their puppets, take to the stage to engage in dialogue or perform musical numbers. Each actor dons costumes tailored to match their respective puppets, and they all look fine.
That’s probably my main problem with Finding Nemo: the big Blue and Beyond. You take out the puppets and a few songs from the movies and there isn’t much to it. You can even compare it to other shows in Animal Kingdom. Festival of the Lion King has numerous actors on stage ,that range from singers to acrobats and even actors spitting fire. Feathered Friends in Flight feature birds that interact with the audience in very fun ways. The big Blue and Beyond mostly feels like a toned down Broadway show that doesn’t have much in the way of originality.
Oh yeah, this show now lasts for 25 minutes, while the original ran for 40 minutes. So Disney needed to condense the Finding Nemo storyline in an even shorter time, which makes everything feel very fast, and sometimes a bit rushed as well.
Will Kids enjoy it?
I am not really sure. Honestly, kids might get a bit bored here. As I said before, there is a lot going on in Festival of the Lion King to keep them entertained, and the animals in Feathered Friends in Flight carry the show. The same can’t be said about Finding Nemo. Sure, some of the songs are cool, but you are counting on the puppets and how cool they look to keep your kids entertained.
