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However, Pixar's ambition to depict a “real” world for the toys required them to carefully balance realism to maintain the story’s emotional core. They had to dial back some reflections and water effects—despite having the capability for hyper-real rendering—so the visual authenticity wouldn't overshadow the characters’ storytelling.

Finding Nemo: The Challenges of Visual Authenticity

Pixar’s Finding Nemo exemplifies their mastery in balancing realism and fantasy. Depicting an ocean ecosystem that is both visually stunning and believable posed a monumental challenge. To craft water surfaces, fish scales, and underwater lighting, Pixar researchers studied the physics of light and water movement intensely, pushing their animation technology to its limits.