The last in an ongoing series looking back at the feature films of Pixar Animation Studios
And so, we come to the end of the Pixar Perspective with prequel Monsters University. Set some years before the events of 2001/2002’s Monsters’ Inc., it follows more or less the same methods that other studios use for their prequels - how the protagonists came to be. We have Mike and Sulley (Billy Crystal and John Goodman) starting off as enemies and becoming the close friends we see in the original. However, unlike most prequels, it works. It may rely a bit too much on little cameos and lines to relate to Monsters, Inc., but it has a story which breaks usual convention. Most films tell their audience that they have the capacity to doing anything as long as they believe in themselves, but here it shows that that isn’t always the case. Mike believes that he can become a Scarer and is the hardest worker in class, but he isn’t suitable to be a scarer. But the skills that he’s learnt comes to great use as he teaches others how to be the greatest scarer - clear to see in Monsters, Inc.. It’s a great moral.
Mike and Sulley are still a lovable duo here, with Wazowski taking over as lead with great gravitas. He may come off as obnoxious during the early stages, but that doesn’t stop his great characterisation winning audience hearts. Sulley is also a good watch, with his slacker style and character growth allowing some great moments. The duologue between him and Mike by the lake in the third act is an incredibly emotional scene which wouldn’t work outside of this material. The only other returning character - at least within the story - is Randall (Steve Buscemi). Here, they give an incentive for his maniacal doings in Monsters, Inc. and he too is fun to watch. However, it does seems like they added him to rival fraternity Roar Omega Roar for the sakes of this incentive, which does detract from his appearance here.
Mike and Sulley’s fellow fraternity members of Oozma Kappa are played mainly for humour - especially in the first stages of their appearance - but they are a great band of brothers. You have mature student Don (Joel Murray), college wacko Art (Charlie Day), debative duo Terri and Terry (Sean Hayes and Dave Foley, who was previously Flik in A Bug’s Life), and incentive-less Squishy (Peter Sohn); each member given a chance to shine throughout the film with either hilarious or brilliant results. As for Dean Hardscrabble (Helen Mirren), she is a rather menacing teacher who sadly is removed more a majority of the film; appearing in a handful of lessons and Scare Game events. But she holds the floor when she does appear, and her stern design allows much to enjoy from her.
The animation is stunning, and clearly far away from Pixar’s origins with Toy Story. Outside of the monsters, the surroundings are incredibly lifelike, and shots of buildings and greenery brings wonder as to how the studio managed to make something look so real. Even the humans are an improvement. The girls may follow the same in terms of face structure, but that structure is miles ahead of that of Andy’s in Toy Story or Merida’s in Brave. The monsters do have a bit more originality to them, with new designs in comparison to the first film, but too follow the format of “give them a different colour”. However, they have deaged Wazowski and Sullivan successfully.
Monsters University is an improvement over Monsters, Inc., with even more likable characters, some great humour, a story which thrives in standing out from the crowd amidst its usual format, and the best animation by Pixar to date. It has an excellent third act filled with emotion following the action-packed second act and the set-up first, and a conclusion filled with tension and scares. It does waver with some characters, but it doesn’t stop being one of Pixar’s best films. 9/10
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