Flagstaff kids among cast 'Finding Nemo' in Navajo

Published March 20, 2016

March 16, 2016. Mariano Esquivel, 6, in Flagstaff, Ariz. He recently got a start as a voice actor for the Navajo language version of "Finding Nemo." (The Associated Press)

A few Flagstaff children are among the voice cast bringing "Finding Nemo" to a Navajo-speaking audience.

For only the second time, a major motion picture has been dubbed in the Navajo language.

This version of "Finding Nemo" opened Friday in select theaters on the Navajo Nation.

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Disney and Pixar officials say they chose the animated fish tale because there are only animal characters and few songs.

The movie follows the journey of Marlin, a clown fish, as he searches for his son, Nemo.

The children's parents tell the Arizona Daily Sun they believe the translation will help keep the Navajo language alive.

Catherine Esquivel's 6-year-old son Mariano Esquivel voiced a baby turtle in the movie.

"I don't know that he understands now how huge this is for the Navajo people, to have Disney play a part in retaining our language," she said. "When he's older he will think, 'Wow, this was a great time in my life.'"

"Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope" became the first Hollywood feature translated in Navajo in 2013.

That movie is also owned by Disney.

"I love the fact that Navajo has such a place in our history, with the Code Talkers in World War II," said senior vice president of Disney character voices Rick Dempsey. "If we want to work to preserve a language, this is a great one."

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