Monsters, Inc. turns 25 this week, and the 2001 Pixar film is the perfect excuse to revisit its monster-world production story. The film is set in Monstropolis, where the screams of human children are harnessed for energy, but behind the scenes there were near-misses, puns and records that still surprise fans.
It all began at a 1994 lunch
The idea for Monsters, Inc. was conceived in a lunch in 1994 attended by John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton and Joe Ranft near the completion of Toy Story. Docter began work on the film in 1996, while others focused on A Bug’s Life and Toy Story 2. Its code name was Hidden City, after Docter’s favorite restaurant in Point Richmond.
A Disney veteran gave it the title
Docter pitched the story to Disney with initial artwork on February 4 and returned with a refined version on May 30. At that meeting, longtime Disney animator Joe Grant – whose work stretched back to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – suggested the title Monsters, Inc., a play on the gangster film Murder, Inc. The film would also become the first Pixar feature not directed by Lasseter, helmed instead by Docter with co-directors Lee Unkrich and David Silverman.
Bill Murray almost voiced Sulley
Bill Murray was considered for the voice role of Sulley. He screen-tested and was interested, but Docter was unable to make contact with him to formally offer the part. John Goodman eventually landed the role and interpreted the character as the monster equivalent of a National Football League player.
“He’s like a seasoned lineman in the tenth year of his career. He is totally dedicated and a total pro.”
Billy Crystal said yes to Mike
Billy Crystal had regretted turning down the part of Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story years prior. When the role of Mike Wazowski came around, he immediately accepted, and it went on to become his favorite role.
Randy Newman’s first Oscar came from the end credits
Randy Newman composed the score for Monsters, Inc. as his fourth feature film collaboration with Pixar. The end credits song ‘If I Didn’t Have You’ was sung by John Goodman and Billy Crystal. After sixteen nominations, the song finally won Newman his first Academy Award for Best Original Song; during his acceptance speech he joked, “I don’t want your pity.” It also won a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media.
McDonald’s and Hasbro got in early
A teaser trailer arrived in October 2000 online and on home video releases of Toy Story 2, and was later attached to 102 Dalmatians. A further Monsters, Inc. trailer premiered in theaters in June 2001 with Atlantis: The Lost Empire. Several Happy Meal toys based on the film were released by McDonald’s, and Hasbro debuted its own Monsters, Inc. toys at the North American International Toy Fair.
The DVD sold 5 million copies in one day
Monsters, Inc. was released on VHS and DVD on September 17, 2002, with the animated shorts Mike’s New Car and For the Birds. That release set a new record for the highest single-day DVD sales, with 5 million copies sold on its first day. Spider-Man surpassed the record two months later, but the film kept the animated single-day record until Finding Nemo in 2003.
The opening weekend made animation history
On its first day of release, Monsters, Inc. earned $17.8 million, then generated $26.9 million the following day. Its $62.6 million opening weekend set the record for the biggest opening weekend of an animated film, surpassing Toy Story 2, and held that title for two years until Finding Nemo in May 2003. The film eventually made $289.9 million in North America and $287.5 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $577.4 million.
Those are eight details from the source that still make us smile. Which Monsters, Inc. fact did you not know? Tell us your favorite.
Facts from Wikipedia: Monsters, Inc., available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Film images from TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.