Opened: November 2, 2001

Directed by: Pete Docter

Starring: John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Mary Gibbs, Steve Buscemi, James Coburn, Jennifer Tilly, Bob Peterson, John Ratzenberger, Frank Oz, Daniel Gerson, Steve Susskind, Bonnie Hunt, Jeff Pidgeon & Sam Black

Pixar’s fourth film, Monsters, Inc., shows that not all monsters are scary and has a lasting lesson that fear comes from the unknown and inability to learn.

One night, a young child later named Boo (Mary Gibbs) follows scarer Sulley (John Goodman) into the monster world. Sulley and his work partner Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) must figure out how to get Boo home.

Reflecting an inherent societal structure, it’s made clear that humans are frightening to monsters, but no one has taken time to learn about humans past what scares them. Mike and Sulley’s interactions with Boo prove that there’s more in common with humans and monsters than they’re told to believe.

The animation isn’t spotless but seeing as it came only six years after Toy Story, you can already see how computer animation had progressed.

Final say: Scary good. ★★★★★