3. "Just Keep Swimming" - Finding Nemo
No, I'm not talking about Dory's fun song that easily gets stuck in your head after watching the movie. I'm talking about a moment that comes near the end of the film when Nemo, Dory, and a group of other fish are trapped in a fishing net on their way to impending doom.
Finding Nemo is full of important lessons for both children and parents, most notably not being too controlling of your young ones. Marlin understandably is hesitant to let Nemo go off into the ocean on his own, but like all parents he has to learn that one day it's time to let go. As the fish panic in the net, Nemo comes up with the idea that everyone swimming down in unison will allow them to break free. Marlin has just gone through a lot to find his son and is afraid of losing him again, but trusts Nemo and allows him to do what he wants. This moment allowed Marlin's character arc to be complete. If he told Nemo no and demanded he swim out of the net, not only would he abandon Dory and a bunch of fish to certain death and a future as someone's meal, he would also have learned nothing during his journey. Taking the advice of Crush to heart, Marlin stops worrying and allows Nemo to act on his own. It obviously works and Marlin starts to live more loosely and enjoys the world around him.