MONSTERS INC

US, 2001, 92 minutes, Colour.
Voices of: John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Mary Gibbs, Steve Buscemi, James Coburn, Jennifer Tilley, Bob Peterson, John Ratzenberger, Frank Oz, Bonnie Hunt.
Directed by Pete Doctor and David Silverman.

A great idea. There is a world of monsters who need the energy from scared children's screams to keep their city going. In fact, the heroes of this world are those monsters who can terrify kids and break records in supplying the energy. The star is Sully, an overweight and really benign shaggy creature. His sidekick, Mikey, is a bit slow on the uptake but supports Sully, especially against the nasty (and cheating) now-you-see-him, now-you-don't slithery villain, Randall. Children are taboo. Even touching them or anything connected with them is treated as an infection. What if a little girl somehow or other slipped into the plant at Monsters Inc, caused mayhem but showed the monsters they had nothing to fear - and that there was actually more energy in children's laughter?

Well, of course, that is what happens in this very enjoyable animated feature from Pixar Studios who brought us the two Toy Story films and A Bug's Life. The computer animation is excellent, full of invention with the monsters and their appearances as well as the imitation (and parody) of work at the plant and the helter skelter adventures that Sully and Mikey get involved in. For children, there is the constant pleasure of the creatures, the action and the comic mishaps. For parents, there is the intelligent parody of our familiar world. Added to that are the wonderful voice characterisations by John Goodman as Sully and Billy Crystal as the one-eyed Mikey. Steve Buscemi is a sinister Randall and James Coburn the owner of the business. The assorted supporting characters, especially the woman at the desk demanding the paper-work - who makes some funny appearances during the final credits - add to the enjoyment. Randy Newman's 'If I didn't have you" won the Oscar for Best Song.

1.The popularity of Monsters Inc? Awards? A Pixar film – in the tradition of Toy Story, A Bug’s Life …?

2.The appeal to young audiences, to adult audiences? The visuals of the monsters, their behaviour? The parody of ordinary life and business? The child in peril? The musical score – and the award-winning song?

3.Comment on the impact of the visuals: the design for Sullivan, Mike, Randall Boggs, Henry J. Waternoose and the other creatures? The Abominable Snowman? Roz and her face and voice? Fungus? The variety and creativity of the creatures? The locations? The doors on the racks? Opening up into different worlds? The factory? The scare and scream tests?

4.The focus on Sulley? Big, John Goodman’s voice? Friends with Mike? Waking up in the morning, getting going, his tests and scaring the children? The conversations with Mike? The rivalry of Randall Boggs? His sneakiness? Henry J. Waternoose and his being the boss? Roz and administration? Celia? His interaction with the various characters? Popular? Finding Boo? Concerned about her? Thinking that she had disappeared and was crushed? Randall Boggs and his spying? Mike and his warnings? Sulley and his attachment to Boo, her attachment to him? Reporting to Mr Waternoose? Mr Waternoose’s portrayal? Exiling Sulley and Mike? Mike’s anger? The friendship of the Abominable Snowman? Going to the village – and being able to return? Confrontation with Fungus? Confrontation with Randall Boggs and Mr Waternoose? The perils of the chase and hanging on to the variety of moving doors? The final rescue? The happy ending? Reconciliation with Mike? Sulley keeping his reputation?

5.Mike, Billy Crystal’s voice, one eye? His wisecracks? Waking Sulley up, accompanying him to work? The screams? The competition and urging Sulley on? The clashes with Randall Boggs? The advertisements, pleased to see himself on television, on the cover of a magazine? Helping Sulley, the difficulties with Boo? Being exiled and his anger? The return, the final chase? The reconciliation?

6.The city, Monstropolis? The energy? The screams generating power? The difficulties for the engines, blackouts? The need for more and more energy? Henry J. Waternoose, his running the city, his having Boggs in tow? His wanting to get rid of superfluous workers? Calculations? Speeches, exiling Sulley and Mike?

7.Randall Boggs, appearing and disappearing, sneaky? Cheating? The rivalry with Sulley? The keeping of the score and announcing of the score? His gaining advantage – but returning to normal? The ingenuity of blocking him off with the crowds surrounding him to praise him? In league with Mr Waternoose? The final chase and his comeuppance?

8.The subordinate characters and their appearance and voices? Celia and the romance with Mike? Roz and her administration – and the irony that she was the Inspector for Surveillance and unmasking the villains? The Abominable Snowman and his self-pity but enjoying his exile? Fungus and his being subservient to Randall Boggs? The floor manager? Flint, Bile?

9.An entertaining story – and the parallels with ecological and energy issues?