Monsters at Work is an animated series based on Disney•Pixar's Monsters, Inc. franchise. It is a sequel (though the first season is an interquel as the season takes place after Waternoose's arrest, before Boo's door got repaired) to the film and was developed by Bobs Gannaway.
Following the arrest of Henry J. Waternoose III, Monsters, Inc., the power plant at its center, now harvests the laughter of children to fuel the city of Monstropolis, just in time for new Monsters University graduate Tylor Tuskmon to find that his scaring degree has been made obsolete. Becoming a talented mechanic on the Monsters, Inc. Facilities Team while working on honing his comedy skills, he eagerly dreams of working on the Laugh Floor alongside Mike and Sulley.
In the second season, after having achieved this goal, Tylor develops doubts over his abilities to be a jokester since his joke has become less effective in making children laugh and insecurities over the lesser prestige the new field holds compared to scaring. He receives a job offer from former Monsters University fraternity president of Roar Omega Roar, Johnny Worthington III who now works as the president and CEO of Fear Co, a rival energy company that still carries on the centuries long scaring tradition, forcing him into making a choice between his friends and the career path he originally dreamed of. Meanwhile, Mike and Sulley are trying to promote laughter as a new source of power for all the city of Monstropolis after its success in saving Monsters Inc. from closing down.
It is also the second TV series to have its animation outsourced while still done under Pixar's supervision, after Buzz Lightyear of Star Command.
This is the first TV series to be a Disney+ exclusive.
It is also the first TV series based on a Pixar property to be made after Disney's acquisition of Pixar in January 2006.
This is the first 3D animated series based on a 3D animated film. Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, Tangled: The Series, and Big Hero 6: The Series are all 2D animated series that were based on 3D animated films.
This is the first non-Disney Jr. series from Disney Television Animation to be animated in CGI.
According to Billy Crystal, the first season consists of ten episodes.
The first season serves as a gap sequel of the original Monsters, Inc. film, due to the fact that it picks up one day after Henry J. Waternoose III's arrest near the end of said film. However, it takes place before the epilogue, in which Mike rebuilt Boo's door and reunited with Sulley. The connection with the epilogue is seen in "It's Laughter They're After", which recreates the scene to further tie Season 1's events to the film. Despite this, Boo isn't brought back to the series because the creators wished to keep her relationship with Sulley following the events of the first film up to the interpretation of the viewers. It has nothing to do with not loving Boo and not wanting to see her again. It's just that the relationship is so precious, that they want to leave it at that. However, Boo is mentioned in "The Damaged Room", "It's Laughter They're After", and "Lights! Camera! Chaos!", despite not appearing in any of those episodes.
As shown at the end of "It's Laughter They're After", it shows the same scene from the film, where Sulley gets surprised by Boo's door being reconstructed.
Boo was actually reconsidered to appear in the series in Season 2, where she would have reunited with Sulley and Mike again and rejoined them on their adventures. However, the motion between Sulley and Mike would have started to change as she entered. Following the release of Season 2, it has been revealed that she never physically appeared in that season either, with her only appearances being mentions and in the picture she drew of herself and Sulley, which the latter has still kept since the events of the original film.
Randall did not appear in Season 1 or most of Season 2 (nor was he mentioned), due to him being banished in the human world in a southern swamp where he was mistaken by a trailer family for an alligator. This TV series also takes place after his banishment in the original film. But unlike Boo, who was mentioned a couple times, he hasn't once been mentioned throughout the series. Eventually, he made his grand return at the end of the Season 2 episode, "Descent into Fear", followed by a major role in the season finale, "Powerless".
Mr. Waternoose is arrested from the company, and is no longer the owner of the factory. Thus, he doesn't appear in the series in person. Instead, he is pictured.
The production team visited two power plants to get an idea of what it was like working there and to get a sense of how people responded.
"Bad Hair Day" and "Opening Doors" are the only episodes in which Sulley is absent. The former is also the only episode in which Mike is absent, if not counting his appearance in the Mike's Comedy Class segments.
Season 2 brings back characters from the prequel film, Monsters University (most notably Johnny Worthington III, Chet Alexander, and Claire Wheeler). However, Professor Knight (who also originated from the prequel) appeared in the series premiere, "Welcome to Monsters, Incorporated". Aside from a reference to Terri and Terry Perry in the episode, "It's Coming From Inside the House!", none of the other members of Oozma Kappa have appeared. However, a pillow with their logo can be seen in the episode, "Lights! Camera! Chaos!"
The Disney Channel versions of the Season 2 episodes have shorter credits than the episodes from Season 1. The Disney+ prints of these episodes have longer credits, as well as offscreen dialogue from one or more of the show's characters (just like in the credits for that season).
On another note, the Season 2 credits have a different piece of music playing over them rather than having a custom rendition of the series intro (usually styled after each episode's plot).
This series was first aired within 20 years after the original Monsters, Inc. film.
Even though the Season 1 finale takes place during the epilogue of Monsters, Inc., Sulley was not wearing his tie in Season 2.
This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from the Pixar Wiki. The list of authors can be seen in the page revision history (view authors). As with Disney Wiki, the text of the Pixar Wiki is available under the CC-BY-SA license.
Monsters University:Karen Graves • Frank McCay • Art • Terri and Terry Perry • Scott Squibbles • Don Carlton • Johnny Worthington III • Chet Alexander • Javier Rios • Carrie Williams • Dean Hardscrabble • Professor Knight • Sheri Squibbles • Claire Wheeler • Brock Pearson • Archie the Scare Pig • Rosie Levin • Carla Benitez • Margaret Gesner • Slug Monster Student • Pep Squad Monsters At Work:Tylor Tuskmon • Millie Tuskmon • Bernard Tuskmon • Virginia Tuskmon • Mr. Crummyham • Val Little • Fritz • Cutter • Duncan P. Anderson • Roto • Roze • Banana Bread • Otis • Snore • Maria • Gary Gibbs • Argus Blinks • Inspection Eyes • Thalia Flint • David • Roger Rogers • Jack and Jill • Declan • Joy • Sunny Sunshine • Skyler • Lorelei Worthington • J.J. Worthington • Jack Worthington • Alistair Clawbottom •Carter Lee • Marilyn • Monstropolis Energy Regulatory Commission • Ben • Evan • Jebediah Krakenson • Fabian Tuskmon • Johnny Worthington II
Season One: "Welcome to Monsters, Incorporated" • "Meet Mift" • "The Damaged Room" • "The Big Wazowskis" • "The Cover Up" • "The Vending Machine" • "Adorable Returns" • "Little Monsters" • "Bad Hair Day" • "It's Laughter They're After"
Season Two: "A Monstrous Homecoming" • "The C.R.E.E.P. Show" • "Setting the Table" • "Opening Doors" • "It's Coming From Inside the House!" • "Field of Screams" • "Monsters in the Dark" • "Lights! Camera! Chaos!" • "Descent into Fear" • "Powerless"
Songs
If I Didn't Have You • Put That Thing Back Where It Came From or So Help Me • The Scare Floor • Monsters University • Comedy Can Be Dangerous • I'm Not Gonna Sing You a Song
Monsters (Original Treatment) • The Science Behind Pixar • Pixar in a Box • Oozma Kappa • Roar Omega Roar • Jaws Theta Chi • Slugma Slugma Kappa • Eta Hiss Hiss • Python Nu Kappa • Scare Games
One Day at Disney • Dolphin Reef • Elephant • Diving With Dolphins • In the Footsteps of Elephant • Penguins: Life on the Edge • Howard • Inside Pixar • Wolfgang • PRIDE: To Be Seen - A Soul of a Nation Presentation • Director by Night • Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage? • Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl
Shorts
Marvel Studios: Expanding the Universe • Lamp Life • Once Upon a Snowman • 22 vs. Earth • Ciao Alberto • Remembering • Zen - Grogu and Dust Bunnies
Marvel's Hero Project • The Imagineering Story • The World According to Jeff Goldblum • Pick of the Litter • Disney Insider • Prop Culture • Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian • It's a Dog's Life with Bill Farmer • Muppets Now • Earth to Ned • The Magic of Disney's Animal Kingdom • 616 • Into the Unknown: Making Frozen II • Marvel Studios: Legends • Behind the Attraction
Arendelle Castle Yule Log • Dory's Reef Cam • Black Is King • The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special • High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special • Muppets Haunted Mansion
