Monsters,
Inc. is the fourth animated feature produced by Pixar Animation
Studios and released to theaters by Walt Disney Pictures and Buena
Vista Distribution in the United States on November 2, 2001, and in
the United Kingdom on February 8th, 2002.
The original story was
written by Robert L. Baird, Jill Culton, Peter Docter, Ralph
Eggleston, Dan Gerson, Jeff Pidgeon, Rhett Reese, Jonathan Roberts
and Andrew Stanton. It was directed by Peter Docter, Lee Unkrich and
David Silverman.
The story is set in
Monstropolis, a city inhabited by "monsters" who despite
their variety of forms, act much like human beings, down to using
human names. They live in deep fear of human children, whom they
believe will kill them simply by touching them. However, because the
energy expended by a frightened child's screams can be converted by
the monsters into electricity, "scarers" work to frighten
children and are regarded as the heroes of Monstropolis for being
brave enough to enter a child's room, using special doors that lead
to the bedrooms and closets of the humans. The main power company in
the city is called Monsters, Inc. Their Chief Executive Officer is a
spider-like monster called Henry J. Waternoose (voiced by James
Coburn). Lately he's been worried that children are getting harder to scare.
Untitled
AV
CLUB FEATURETTE DEPARTMENT
Untitled
Sneak peak trailer from Toy
Story/Toy Story 2 two pack DVD set.
The
top scarer at Monsters, Inc. is James P. Sullivan, aka
"Sulley" (voiced by John Goodman), a blue-furred giant who
is partnered with the green, one-eyed Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal).
The two of them are best friends. Sulley is a gentle creature, while
Mike is obsessive and dreams of getting a raise and marrying his
fiancee, the medusa-like Celia Mae (Jennifer Tilly.) Sulley's main
rival as a scarer is the chameleon-like Randall Boggs (Steve Buscemi)
who possesses the ability to become invisible.
While taking care of
paperwork for Mike, Sulley discovers a door that has been left on the
scare floor after working hours, contrary to strict company policy.
When Sulley investigates the door, a small human girl enters the
monster world.
There are numerous
references to other Pixar films to be found in Monsters, Inc.; one
example is that near the end of the film, Boo hands Sully a Jessie
doll from Toy Story 2, the Luxo ball, and a plush of Nemo from
Finding Nemo. Since Finding Nemo was the Pixar film that followed
Monsters, Inc., it was presumably a sneak peek to the upcoming movie.
Another is when Randall arrives in the trailer, it is the trailer
from Bug's Life, and the pizza delivery truck from Toy Story is seen
sitting next to it. Also, in the bloopers of the film, Rex from the
Toy Story films makes a cameo appearance.
The
top scarer at Monsters, Inc. is James P. Sullivan, aka
"Sulley" (voiced by John Goodman), a blue-furred giant who
is partnered with the green, one-eyed Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal).
The two of them are best friends. Sulley is a gentle creature, while
Mike is obsessive and dreams of getting a raise and marrying his
fiancee, the medusa-like Celia Mae (Jennifer Tilly.) Sulley's main
rival as a scarer is the chameleon-like Randall Boggs (Steve Buscemi)
who possesses the ability to become invisible.
