Pixar is marvelous. Not that I play favourites with animation studios, but I'm going to have to say that Pixar and DreamWorks consistently turn out enjoyable work (what an odd combination, what?) My favourite thing about Pixar is the fact that they always manage to make their movies absolutely adorably cute without being obnoxious about it. And the best example of this phenomenon is their 2001 masterpiece, Monsters Inc.
When I first saw the synopsis a couple of years ago, I immediately assumed that it was an Aaahh! Real Monsters knock off and was just the tiniest bit resentful. But, for some strange reason, I decided to go see it in the theater when it first came out, just my mother and I. My family only sees two or three movies a year (up from the one that we saw when I was younger), and even more rarely does my mother stay awake through the whole movie. This one wins.
This was also the first movie that I pre-ordered, directly from the Disney Store, no less. And I got those lovely lithographs. Thank you, Disney Store. Make me a normal looking Boo figurine/doll and you will officially rock.
The plot of Monsters Inc. is marvelous, the setting ingenious (though still a bit reminiscent of ARM). A world of monsters, scaring for economic reasons, in turn terrified of their "toxic" victims. The animation is amazing. Not only is it colourful, eye-catching, and intriguing (I love the designs of the characters), but the innovation... I saw The Tech of Shrek back when it first came out and thought that PDI's viscosity program was nifty stuff. But Pixar's Fix-T program, which created the millions of hairs needed for each shot of Sulley and Boo's oversized shirt, has the advantage of a full half year of technology. Plus the movie's absolutely adorable rather than just kind of cool.
My favourite thing about the movie, though, is the characters. I saw it a couple of weeks before Christmas, and the first thing on my wish list was "a big Sulley." I got one just big enough that he can wrap his arms around my neck (if this was another character I was talking about, that might be kinda scary...) Which is surprisingly comforting when I'm feeling not-so-good. While in the theater, I was overcome with a desire to have a large, hairy, blue "Kitty" voiced by John Goodman of my own. I also would eventually get a small Mike and Celia, and I still want a Boo, but I can only seem to find slightly...odd looking ones. If anyone knows of a normal-ish one, would you mind telling me? Thanks.
Monsters Inc. was written by several people, including Robert L. Baird, Jill Culton, Peter Docter, Ralph Eggleston, Dan Gerson, Jeff Pidgeon, Rhett Reese, Jonathan Roberts, and Andrew Stanton, was directed by Peter Docter, David Silverman, and Lee Unkrich, and produced by Darla K. Anderson, John Lasseter, Kori Rae, and Andrew Stanton. The score was composed by Randy Newman.
Created June 21, 2003
