In toon

The best: Ellen DeGeneres in "Finding Nemo"

Dory, a Blue Tang whose short-term memory is so scattered she could’ve starred in “Memento,” seems far from the ideal candidate to search the ocean for a lost young clownfish. But, as voiced by the quick-witted DeGeneres and animated with a giddy, oblivious vacancy in the eyes, she's one of the funniest comic creations in recent memory.

DeGeneres is so agile she ensures that every zinger (even Dory's frequent mangling of the name "Nemo") hits its target, that Dory's optimistic ditty "Just Keep Swimming" sticks in your head, and that Dory's plea for her friend Marlin not to abandon her ("I look at you, and...I'm home") breaks your heart.

The film won a best animated feature Oscar, though it's a shame that the Academy's lack of appreciation for animation kept DeGeneres out of the running for a supporting actress nomination.