PETE DOCTER, DAVID SILVERMAN, LEE UNKRICH

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BBBBB.  

USA, 2001.  Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures.  Story by Pete Docter, Jill Culton,  Jeff Pidgeon, Ralph Eggleston, Screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Daniel Gerson, additional screenplay material by Robert L. Baird, Rhett Reese, Jonathan Roberts.  Produced by Darla K. Anderson.  Music by Randy Newman.  Production Design by Harley Jessup, Bob Pauley.  Film Editing by Robert Grahamjones, Jim Stewart.  

Another classic from Disney and Pixar, this is an endlessly hilarious tale of two bedroom monsters working at the factory of Monsters, Inc. John Goodman and Billy Crystal more than ably voice the characters, best friends who work hard nine to five scaring children out of their beds all over the world, to collect the tots’ screams which are then used as energy to power their city. Trouble comes when Goodman happens upon a child who has accidentally escaped through her bedroom door into the monster world, a big problem considering children are considered to be virulent by the bigwig monsters who run the city. Goodman keeps the kid around and grows attached to it, inciting only bigger trouble from resident bad guy Steve Buscemi. A climactic roller coaster ride caper scene is heartstopping, and the quality of animation will take your breath away, plus it’s really funny.

Academy Award:  Best Original Song (“If I Didn’t Have You”)
Nominations: Best Sound Editing; Best Original Score; Best Animated Feature