Could Monsters At Work represent a brand new approach for Pixar on Disney+? From Toy Story in 1995 to Luca just a few short weeks ago, Pixar fully deserves its current position at the forefront of western animation. The Disney-owned studio's success can be attributed to state-of-the-art visuals, carefully woven plots, and imaginative lifelike characters, but perhaps the sharpest tool in Pixar's arsenal is simultaneously appealing to tots as young as Jack-Jack, as well as old and jaded types like Carl Fredricksen. For most animated movies, "broad appeal" simply means slipping in a few risque jokes that adults understand and kids don't, and while Pixar certainly does this, its films also speak to the worries and fears of a grown-up viewer and contain genuinely sophisticated storytelling.
Pixar's latest offering comes in the form of Monsters At Work, marking the studio's first proper foray into the world of television. Premiering on Disney+, the Monsters, Inc. spinoff takes place in the aftermath of the original movie and features returning stars Billy Crystal and John Goodman as Mike and Sulley, respectively. However, the main focus of Monsters At Work is a junior recruit called Tylor, who dreams of landing a gig alongside his new company's green and blue starlets.
While reducing Mike and Sulley to supporting roles could've been predicted, Monsters At Work's target audience comes as a huge surprise. Fans are accustomed to Pixar movies casting a wide net, but Monsters At Work clearly caters to a younger crowd. There's still a charm that adults will enjoy, but the humor veers deliberately toward the sillier side, while plot and character are notably streamlined compared to the vast majority of Pixar's cinematic releases. The tone strikes closer to a Nickelodeon cartoon than a Pixar film - not entirely dissimilar to a more attractive Spongebob Squarepants. Episodes are fun, breezy, bite-sized adventures, free from the complexity and nuance Pixar is renowned for.
Monsters At Work isn't an isolated case either. When Disney+ first launched, Pixar contributed a series of short Toy Story films under the title Forky Asks A Question which, as you might guess, isn't aimed at a mature audience. Pixar's upcoming Disney+ projects involve the dog from Up (in Dug Days), and the stars of Cars - arguably Pixar's most child-friendly movie series. Pixar has seemingly opted to retain the wide-ranging appeal of its big screen output, while softening things for a younger crowd on Disney+.
And this makes perfect sense. The animated TV format doesn't lend itself well to Pixar's usual emotive palette, meaning simpler stories are sure to fare better. Additionally, adult Disney+ subscribers are more likely to put their kids in front of an episodic Pixar series than watch it themselves. Pixar is adapting to its platform, and this is vital for the continued success of the studio. With the first movie releasing way back in 2001, Monsters, Inc.'s original audience are all grown up; Monsters At Work can hook a whole new generation onto the craziness of Mike and Sulley's world.
Inevitably, some will be disappointed that Monsters At Work doesn't offer the same substance and social commentary as its predecessor. To appease those fans, the onus is on Pixar to prove the all-ages magic still exists on the big screen. Soul did exactly that; Luca less so. The spotlight now rests on Turning Red and Lightyear to carry the torch of Pixar's traditional all-ages appeal.