Finding Elmo

Finding Elmo is a 2003 American computer-animated adventure film produced by Ragdoll Productions, Cinar, BBC and Hit Entertainment and released by PPI Entertainment, Walt Disney Pictures, Big Idea, The Baby Einstein Company, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution and PBS Kids. Directed and co-written by Andrew Davenport with co-direction by Anne Wood, the screenplay was written by Caleb Jacobs, Freddy Hays, Freddy MacGhee, Sebastian Cline, FloridaStateFan2017 and Alec Behan from a story by Bryleigh Dana. The film stars the voices of Caroll Spinney, Jacqueline Pillon, Kevin Clash, Ben Small and Jada Pinkett Smith. It tells the story of an overprotective bird named Big Bird who, along with a boy with green shirt and blue jeans named Matt searches for his missing friend Elmo. Along the way, Big Bird learns to take risks and comes to terms with Elmo taking care of himself.

Released on May 30, 2003, Finding Elmo won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, the first Ragdoll film to do so. It received largely positive reviews from critics, who praised the magnificent visual elements, touching story and punchy, memorable characters that were funny to both young moviegoers and their parents. The film was also nominated in three more categories, including Best Original Screenplay. Additionally, it became the highest-grossing animated film at the time of its release, and was the second-highest-grossing film of 2003, earning a total of $871 million worldwide by the end of its initial theatrical run.

Finding Elmo is the best-selling DVD title of all time, with over 40 million copies sold as of 2006, and was the highest-grossing G-rated film of all time before Ragdoll's own Cartoon Hero Story 3 overtook it. The film was re-released in 3D in 2012. In 2008, the American Film Institute named it as the 10th greatest animated film ever made as part of their 10 Top 10 lists. In a 2016 poll of international critics conducted by BBC, Finding Elmo was voted one of the 100 greatest motion pictures since 2000. A spin-off sequel, Finding Matt, was released in June 2016.

## Plot

Elmo is a red muppet who lives with his friend Big Bird in an nest in Sesame Street. Elmo, despite being hampered by a lame right hand, is eager to explore life around the town. Big Bird, Bucky, Quillo and Spike, however, is overprotective of him, having lost his friend Prairie Dawn and all their other baby muppets in a bear attack, leaving Elmo as his only son. On Elmo's first day of school, Big Bird unintentionally embarrasses him, and while Big Bird is distracted with the teacher, Gordon, Elmo defiantly sneaks away from Grey Cloud Elementary toward a speed truck, where he is captured by Vincenzo "Vinny" Santorini. Big Bird tries to chase the truck and meets Matt, a regal boy with green shirt and blue jeans who offers from the cybersquad long-term memory loss, and Gloria, the hippo from Madagascar, who offer his help. During an encounter with three cyberchase villains and the Stone Generals who have born to be free from eating other heroes, Big Bird notices Vinny's mask that fell from the truck that took Elmo. Big Bird, Matt and Gloria fight over the mask, giving Matt a nose bleed, which sends one of the cyberchase villains and stone generals into a fighting strike, and Big Bird standardly escape, but are knocked unconscious when the cyberchase villains and stone generals accidentally set off a set of firework mines.

Meanwhile, Elmo is placed in an Log Chute in a Nickelodeon Universe in Bloomington, Minnesota, where he meets the M.O.A. Gang, including gold lion named Alex, Sinbad’s girlfriend named Marina, yellow raccoon named Wince, pufferfish named Mr. Sykes, green frog named Dewitt, brown bird-like pterandon named Petrie, and girl with pink shirt named Kristen, led by Thomas, a blue tank engine. That night, Elmo learns he is to be given to James' young niece, Patty, whose rough treatment has killed most of her previous fish. Thomas devises a risky escape plan: Elmo, who can fit inside the log chute's filter ride, will jam the filter with a coin, forcing James and his assitant, Randall Boggs, to put the heroes into plastic bags while he cleans the cage, giving them the opportunity to roll out the window and into the bloomington. Elmo attempts the log chute, but fails and is almost killed, leaving Thomas steamed-away.

Big Bird, Matt and Gloria wake up softly, but the mask falls into a dark tunnel. Running after it, Big Bird is chased by a dinosaur named Rudy, and the creature named Chaos 4, while Matt reads the address and recites it repeatedly to commit it to memory. Matt, Gloria and Big Bird receive directions from a circus bugs, but Big Bird follows their instructions to take what he believes is a safer route, leading them into a exhibit of fossas where they end up hiding from all the fossa claws. Big Bird, Matt and Gloria wake up to find themselves on the West Minnesota Current with a group of friendly construction machines including Scoop and his son, Scrambler, and Scrambler's best friend, Axew. Big Bird tells them about his quest, impressing them, and the story is relayed across the town, all the way to the Mall of America, where a boy with blue shirt named Miguel tells the M.O.A. Gang. Inspired by his father's bravery, Elmo makes another attempt to jam the filter and succeeds, and soon the log chute’s contents are covered in green algae.

Big Bird, Matt and Gloria exit the West Minnesota Current and are engulfed by a blue whale. Matt communicates with the whale, who carries them to Bloomington and expels them through its blowhole. There, they meet Miguel, who helps the railing wheel escape from a group of Troublesome Trucks and takes them to the Mall of America. Meanwhile, James and Randall Boggs has installed a new high-tech filter, foiling the M.O.A. Gang's escape. Patty arrives, and James and Randall Boggs prepares to give Elmo to her. Elmo plays dead to save himself as Miguel causes a disturbance, terrifying Patty and throwing Mall of America into chaos. After James and Randall Boggs throws Miguel out, Thomas helps Elmo escape through a rocket ride that leads to the main street.

Thinking that Elmo is dead, Big Bird thanks and bids farewell to Matt and Gloria and begins his journey home. Big Bird’s departure causes Matt and Gloria to lose their memory. He meets Elmo as he reaches the street, but doesn't remember him. However, Matt and Gloria’s memory returns when he reads the word "Bloomington" on a drainpipe. He reunites Elmo with Big Bird but is caught by with Sinbad trawler with a school of Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas Characters. With Big Bird’s savings, Elmo enters the net and he and Big Bird order the character to climb down in order to break the truck's net to escape. After returning home to the street, Big Bird, Matt and Gloria watch Gordon take Elmo and his friends on a field trip. At Mall of America, the filter has broken, and the gang, having been put in bags, roll out of the window and into the Minnesota. Still stuck in the bags, they ponder what happens next.

## Cast

* Narrator - Cookie Monster and Grover (Sesame Street)
* Marlin - Big Bird (Sesame Street)
* Nemo - Elmo (Sesame Street)
* Dory - Matt (Cyberchase)
* Gill - Thomas (Thomas and Friends)
* Peach - Marina (Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas)
* Bloat - Mr. Sykes (Shark Tale)
* Gurgle - Dewitt (Will and Dewitt)
* Deb and Flo - Kristen (Barney and Friends) and Tricia (Will and Dewitt)
* Jacques - Wince (Will and Dewitt)
* Bubbles - Alex (Madagascar)
* School of the Moonfish - P.T. Flea and the Circus Bugs (A Bug’s Life) (Voice Actor Reference)
* Jellyfish - Fossas (Madagascar), Dagda and Boggans (Epic)
* Crush - Scoop (Bob the Builder)
* Squirt - Scrambler (Bob the Builder)
* Bruce - Hacker (Cyberchase)
* Anchor and Chum - Buzz and Delete (Cyberchase)
* Blenny the Worried Fish - Sid (Ice Age) (with Willa the Cat (Clifford the Big Red Dog) as an extra)
* Anglerfish - Rudy (Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs)
* The Whale - Monstro the Whale (Pinocchio) (with Baby Noah Characters (Baby Einstein) and Bumphead Babies (The Land Before Time IX: Journey to Big Water) as extras)
* Nigel - Miguel (Maya and Miguel)
* Gerald the Pelican - Paco (Maya and Miguel)
* Seagulls - Troublesome Trucks (Thomas and Friends)
* Mr. Ray - Gordon (Thomas and Friends)
* Tad - Kex (Dinotopia)
* Pearl - Cera (The Land Before Time)
* Sheldon - Will (Will and Dewitt)
* Dr. Phillip Sherman - James (Pokemon)
* Barbara - Suki (Avatar: The Last Airbender)
* Darla - Patty Farrel (Dairy of a Wimpy Kid)
* Coral - Prairie Dawn (Sesame Street)
* Barracuda - Mordu (Brave) (with Mandrake (Epic) as extra)
* Bill - Sig (Puyo Puyo)
* Ted - Bandit (Bluey) (with Bingo and Chilli as extras)
* Bob - Will’s Dad (Will and Dewitt) (with Will's Mom, Lucita Sky (Hero Elementary), Jessica Ruiz (The Electric Company), Fred and Kate as extras)
* Various Sea Creature Kids - Various Bluey and Barney and Friends Characters
* Various Fishes from the Neighborhood at the Beginning - Various Characters (Will and Dewitt)
* Various Neighbor Fishes - Bugs (A Bug's Life)
* Nemo (Egg) - Baby Elmo (Sesame Beginnings)
* Various Parrotfish and Purple Tang Babies - PBS Kids Mascots (PBS Kids)
* Dead Fish Skeleton - Human Skeleton
* Clownfish Eggs - Baby Muppets (Jim Henson)
* Mother Fish - Mother Diatryma (Ice Age Series)
* Guppies - Baby Diatrymas (Ice Age Series)
* Two Fish Taking Crab's Shell - Timon and Pumbaa (The Lion King)
* Shell Less Crab - Stu (Ice Age Series)
* Mr. Johanson - Vitaly (Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted)
* Sponge Bed Babies - Captain Amelia and Dr. Doppler's Children (Treasure Planet) and Miss Rosa's Students (PBS Kids)
* Other Sponge Bed Parents - Cappy (Robots), Min (Barney and Friends), Captain Amelia (Treasure Planet), Ess (Puyo Puyo) and Vanessa (Bee Movie)
* Sponge Bed Purple Tangs - Spring Sprite (Fantasia 2000) and Miss Rosa and Hooper (PBS Kids)
* Purple Tang That Falls Off Sponge Bed - Kevin (Mao Mao) (with Dr. Doppler's Son (Treasure Planet) as an extra)
* Other Fish Students - Various Children (Will and Dewitt)
* Fishes that Nemo sees passing by - Various Open Season Characters
* Fish Student that sees Nemo 'swimming out the sea' - Angie (Shark Tale)
* One Divers (Hunters) that took nemo - Vinny (Atlantis: The Lost Empire)
* One Divers (Hunters) that took a picture - Graham Leach (Cedarmont Kids)
* Two Pelicans After the Shark Scene - Freddy and Cesar Castillo (Maya and Miguel)
* Crossing Guard Fish - Bertie (Thomas and Friends)
* Patient #1 - Gad (Miss BG)
* Mr. Tucker - Dr. Marbles (Cyberchase)
* Chuckles (Darla’s previous fish) - Oscar (Shark Tale)
* Squishy - Noo-Noo (Teletubbies)
* Sea Turtles - Various Machines (Bob the Builder)
* Sea Turtle Babies - Young Machines (Bob the Builder)
* Sea Turtle That Passes on Marlin's Story - Benny (Bob the Builder)
* Three Fishes Listening to Turtle - Bob, Wendy and Spud (Bob the Builder)
* Minnow - Elliot (Open Season)
* Big Trout - Boog (Open Season)
* Lobsters - Arthur, Buster, Francine and Brain (Arthur)
* Swordfishes - Rodney Copperbottom and Fender Pinwheeler (Robots)
* Dolphins - Max and Duke (The Secret Life of Pets)
* Bird Group #1 - Clifford, Emily Elizabeth, T-Bone, Cleo and Mac (Clifford the Big Red Dog)
* Birds on Lighthouse - Mr. and Mrs. Start (Ice Age Series)
* Bird Group #2 - Ruff Ruffman, Blossom and Chet (FETCH! With Ruff Ruffman)
* Pelican #1 - Andy (Maya and Miguel)
* Patient #2 - Alex (Miss BG)
* Krill Swimming Away - Fishes (Pinocchio)
* Davey Reynolds - Billy (Miss BG)
* Aquascum - Motherboard (Cyberchase)
* Pelican #2 - Theo (Maya and Miguel)
* Other Pelicans - Various Other Maya and Miguel and ZOOM Characters
* Mom in Waiting Room - Jamie Grable (Cedarmont Kids) (with Mirlo (Fushgiboshi no Futagohime) as an extra)
* Boy in Waiting Room - Anthony Mullins (Cedarmont Kids)
* Crabs - Various Digimon Characters (Digimon)
* Bernie and Baz - Donald and Douglas (Thomas and Friends)
* Various Sea Creatures - Various PBS Kids GO! Characters
* Fish Group Gets Caught in a Net - Various Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas Characters
* Fishermen - Mime and Russel (Happy Tree Friends)
* Mike Wazowski (Cameo) - BJ (Barney and Friends)
* Bucky, Quillo and Spike (Over the Hedge) as themselves (a.k.a. Marlin's friend)
* Zoe (Sesame Street), Bluey (Bluey) and Lily (Frogger) as themselves (a.k.a. Pearl's friends)
* Luplup (Kinderwood), Berry (Frogger) and Frogger as himself (a.k.a. Tad's friend)
* Gloria (Madagascar) as herself (a.k.a. Dory's friend)
* Ord (Dragon Tales) as himself (a.k.a. Mr. Ray's friend)
* Pachirisu (Pokémon) and Blue (Frogger) as herself (a.k.a Sheldon's friend)
* Petrie (The Land Before Time) as himself (a.k.a. Gurgle's friend)
* Stone Generals (TMNT), CGI Crayons (Baby Einstein) and Flippy/Fliqpy (Happy Tree Friends) as themselves (a.k.a Bruce's assistants)
* Randall (Monsters, Inc.) and Jessie (Pokemon) as themselves (a.k.a Dr. Phillip Sherman's assistant)
* Chaos 4 (Sonic Series) as itself (a.k.a Anglerfish's assistant)
* Axew (Pokémon) as themselves (a.k.a. Squirt's friend)
* Kim Possible (Kim Possible) as herself (a.k.a Deb’s friend)
* Wooster Q. Weasel (Animalia) as himself (a.k.a Darla’s assistant)

## Locations

* The Great Barrier Reef - Kalahari Resorts
* Marlin's Sea Anemone - Sesame Street
* The Egg Cave - Indoor Cabana at Kalahari Resorts
* The School Reef - Great Wolf Lodge
* Mr. Johanson's Yard - Vitaly’s Yard
* Sponge Beds - Cub Paw Pool
* The Boat - Vinny's Submarine
* The Sharks' Hideout - The Grim Wreaker
* The Sunken Ship - Crayola Experience
* The Anglerfish's Cave - Union Depot at Saint Paul, Minnesota
* The Dentist Tank - Log Chute Entrance
* The Dentist Room - Nickelodeon Universe
* The Waiting Room - Pepsi Orange Streak and Log Chute
* The Dentist Tank Tubes - Log Chute Ride
* Dentist Office - Mall of America
* Sydney Opera House - Disney Coronado Springs (with Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa as an extra)
* Sydney Harbor - Bloomington, Minnesota

## Logos

* Walt Disney Pictures - PPI Entertainment (2000-2006) and Big Idea Logo (Jonah! Version)
* Pixar Animation Studios - PBS Kids Movies and Ragdoll Logo

## Scenes

* Finding Elmo Part 1 - New Parents/Mordu
* Finding Elmo Part 2 - A Terrible Fate/Baby Elmo/Opening Titles
* Finding Elmo Part 3 - First Day of School
* Finding Elmo Part 4 - Field Trip
* Finding Elmo Part 5 - The Drop Off/Argument
* Finding Elmo Part 6 - Elmo Gets Captured!
* Finding Elmo Part 7 - Big Bird Meets Matt, Kim Possible and Gloria
* Finding Elmo Part 8 - Big Bird, Matt, Kim Possible and Gloria Meet Hacker, Buzz, Delete and the Stone Generals
* Finding Elmo Part 9 - Heroes Are Friends, Not Food/Hacker Goes Mental
* Finding Elmo Part 10 - The M.O.A. Gang/Thomas
* Finding Elmo Part 11 - The Union Depot (Saint Paul, Minnesota)
* Finding Elmo Part 12 - Rudy and Chaos 4 Attack
* Finding Elmo Part 13 - Elmo's Initiation
* Finding Elmo Part 14 - Circus Bug Impressions
* Finding Elmo Part 15 - Foosas
* Finding Elmo Part 16 - The Filter
* Finding Elmo Part 17 - Construction Machines
* Finding Elmo Part 18 - The Good News
* Finding Elmo Part 19 - Off Ramp
* Finding Elmo Part 20 - Matt, Kim Possible and Gloria Speak Monstro and the Bumphead Babies
* Finding Elmo Part 21 - Algae
* Finding Elmo Part 22 - Inside Monstro and the Bumphead Babies/Reaching Bloomington, Minnesota
* Finding Elmo Part 23 - The Cage is Clean and The Motherboard
* Finding Elmo Part 24 - Troublesome Trucks
* Finding Elmo Part 25 - Patty Farrell!
* Finding Elmo Part 26 - Goodbye Matt, and Gloria
* Finding Elmo Part 27 - Elmo, Matt, and Gloria
* Finding Elmo Part 28 - Hunting Net
* Finding Elmo Part 29 - Reunion
* Finding Elmo Part 30 - Back in the Woodbury, Minnesota
* Finding Elmo Part 31 - M.O.A. Escape
* Finding Elmo Part 32 - End Credits