When it comes to sequels to animated movies, Pixar is way ahead of the curve. There aren’t many parallels between Monsters University and Incredibles 2, but both Pixar movies are sequels to two of the animated studio’s most original and well-received films in their history, and they both came more than a decade after their predecessors.
With both movies being two of the most anticipated animated sequels of all time, neither of them is particularly one of Pixar’s most emotional movies, but they both delivered in extremely different ways, with one arguably triumphing over the other.
Monsters University: Fun New Characters
Pixar has a great track record, but not all of its movies are perfect. Monsters University is one of the worst Pixar movies of the 2010s mostly because it didn’t live up to expectations that were set by the amazing first movie.
However, even though the movie is considered one of the studio's “worst,” it’s still better than most animated pictures, and that’s mostly thanks to all of the new monster characters. One of the best characters is Art (Charlie Day,) and he is just as iconic as any of the original monsters.
Incredibles 2: More Jack-Jack
The climax of The Incredibles revealed that Jack-Jack actually has more powers than anybody else in the family, and this came after the whole family thought he was born without superpowers.
The sequel unsurprisingly capitalized on this, and it was one of the best things about the movie. Between an epic battle with a raccoon and getting fitted for a super-suit that keeps all of his powers at bay, Jack-Jack is the MVP of Incredibles 2 and he’s even partially responsible for saving the day at the very end.
Monsters University: Expands On The World
The original idea for a follow-up to Monsters Inc. was for it to be a sequel in which Sully and Mike get stuck in the human world, but this is just one of the Pixar sequels that got canceled.
It’s for the best that the studio went the other way and decided to go with a prequel based in the monster world, as the movie expands on the background of the universe, tenfold. Not only do audiences get to see more monsters, but the whole economy of the monsters and the way they live is so intriguing too.
Incredibles 2: Action Packed
As Incredibles 2 picks up right where its predecessor left off, in the middle of a fight sequence with the Underminer, the movie doesn’t slow down once. It jumps from action scene to action scene at a pace unmatched by even Mission: Impossible or Fast & Furious.
From the train being taken over by the Screenslaver, to the final sequence on the boat, it’s no wonder that Mr. Incredible is perpetually tired.
Monsters University: One Of The Funniest Pixar Movies
Though it comes at the cost of a captivating and heartfelt narrative, Monsters University is, without a doubt, one of the funniest, if not the funniest, Pixar movies ever.
There are so many sequences that are both edge-of-the-seat exciting and hilarious, such as the capture-the-flag scene in the library and the race in the underground tunnels. It’s unfortunate that MU isn’t as heartwarming as its predecessor, but not all movies have to make audiences cry.
Incredibles 2: Doesn’t Miss Any Opportunity
As with the Jack-Jack scenes, the whole movie is so satisfying for fans of the original, as the movie is full of callbacks and builds on the relationships that were founded in the first film. This is something that Incredibles 2 does so much better than Monsters University.
As Monsters Inc. ended on that emotionally exhausting cliffhanger, all fans wanted to see was Sully reunite with Boo, but MU does almost the exact opposite, and fans may never get to see her again. However, she may have been spotted in Toy Story 4, which is just one of the Easter eggs in the movie.
Monsters University: The Origins Of The Best Characters
Though audiences don’t get to see Boo again, there is, at least, the origin story of Mike and Sully and how they became friends, not to mention a feud with Randall that goes back further than fans thought.
Between Sully’s frat-like attitude, Randall’s sleazy secrets, and even revisiting the poor, misunderstood receptionist, Roz (who deserves a whole spin-off of her own after what is seen of her in MU), there are so many fun and surprising origin stories.
Incredibles 2: Full Of Social Commentaries
Monsters University is full of hilarious slapstick comedy and inventive character designs, but it’s all surface level and if viewers try to dig a little deeper, they might come up empty-handed.
However, Incredibles 2 tackles one major societal issue after the next, and it’s full of social commentary that many fans miss. From men in power wanting to keep it that way to corporations that can’t be trusted, the movie is much deeper than it’s given credit for.
Monsters University: The University Setting
The best thing about college movies is all of the pranks that the students play on each other in the dorm rooms, but for the most part, those movies don’t hold up all that much and they’re certainly not suitable for children.
However, with Monsters University, it brings all those tropes back in a classic way, and it reminds adults of the best parts (and the worst parts) of college. On top of that, most of the children who loved Monsters Inc. would have just started college when this movie was released, instantly augmenting the movie’s impact.
Incredibles 2: Great Female Lead
Helen is the biggest reason why Incredibles 2 is the highest-grossing Pixar movie of all time, making more than $1.2 billion. Focusing on Helen is one of the things the sequel got right, as she was mostly overshadowed by Mr. Incredible in the first movie.
Helen is a brilliant hero, especially when she has her bike, and it’s hilarious to see the other side of things, as Bob has to look after the children at home while she’s off saving the world.