Disney*Pixar’s MONSTERS, INC. on Blu-ray

November 10, 2009

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This November, get ready for monster laughs and monster fun as Disney•Pixar’s Academy Award® winning classic Monsters, Inc. roars to life as you’ve never seen or heard it before on Disney Blu-ray Hi-Def! For the first time ever, this blockbuster hit will be presented in the pristine manner the Pixar animation team always dreamed it would be – with scarily clear high definition picture and monstrously good sound that’ll have audiences screaming with delight. This all new Blu-ray also comes packed with exclusive new bonus features and a DisneyFile Digital Copy of the movie.

Now go behind-the-scenes of the this hilarious and visually groundbreaking film like never before with Blu-ray exclusive bonus features including a “Filmmakers Round Table,” in which the film’s creators discuss bringing Monsters to life; “Monsters, Inc. Ride and Go Seek: Building Monstropolis in Tokyo,” a sneak-peek at the new Monsters attraction at Tokyo Disneyland; and the all new interactive game “Roz’s 100 Door Challenge,” in which viewers can solve a series of puzzles, trivia questions and more in order to become the latest Monsters Inc. employees! Open your door to the magic of Monsters, Inc. on Blu- ray for a movie viewing experience so funny it’s scary!

Monsters, Inc. features revolutionary, eye-popping animation and inspired vocal performances by John Goodman, as the lumbering and lovable Sulley, and Billy Crystal, as the wisecracking Mike Wazowski, two monsters employed by Monsters, Inc., the biggest scream processing plant in Monstropolis. When a little girl named Boo wanders into their world, it’s the monsters who are scared silly. Thinking she is dangerous and toxic, Sulley and Mike do their best to return Boo to her bedroom, but there are some monstrous hurdles in their way. Also featuring the delightful voice talents of Bonnie Hunt, Frank Oz, John Ratzenberger and Jennifer Tilly, Monsters, Inc. is frightfully fun entertainment families will want to enjoy over and over in Blu-ray Hi-Def.

Monsters, Inc. is a must-see family film that will appeal to audiences of all ages. With sharp writing, strong voicework, inspired animation, and an ingenious concept, it’s sure to be a go-to favorite in your household. Disney’s Blu-ray edition is another high definition winner. With a gorgeous video transfer, mind-blowing DTS-HD Master Audio track, and a generous collection of special features, Monsters, Inc. joins a growing catalog of high-quality high definition Pixar releases. Don’t miss the opportunity to add this one to your collection.

Features Include:

Audio Commentary (Disc 1): Director Pete Docter, co-director Lee Unkrich, writer Andrew Stanton, and executive producer John Lasseter dig into Monsters, Inc., its genesis, characters, storyline, and cultural relevance. Along with the requisite technical details, they briskly plow through the film’s themes and finer narrative points, making their analysis particularly engrossing and their informative discussion a welcome addition to this release.

Director’s Introduction (Disc 1, HD, 2 minutes): Docter also appears before the disc reaches the main menu, giving viewers a quick overview of everything they’ll find in the Blu-ray release of Monsters, Inc.

Filmmakers Round Table (Disc 1, HD, 22 minutes): Filmed at the Hidden City Cafe, the fabled Pixar hotspot, Docter, Unkrich, producer Darla K. Anderson, and story supervisor Bob Peterson laugh their way through an amiable chat about their work at Pixar Studios, their contributions to Monsters, Inc., and the development and eventual release of the film. Both thoughtful and informative (and peppered with concept art, sketches, and early renders), this newly produced Blu-ray exclusive is well worth any fan’s time as it offers a personable introduction to the clever minds responsible for one of Pixar’s finest.

Ride and Go Seek: Building Monstropolis in Japan (Disc 1, HD, 12 minutes): A semi-promotional tour of the Monsters, Inc. attraction at the Disneyland Theme Park in Tokyo.

For the Birds (Disc 1, HD, 3 minutes): Still one of my favorite Pixar shorts, this amusing animated gem involves a group of mean-spirited birds getting their much-deserved comeuppance.

Mike’s New Car (Disc 1, HD, 4 minutes): Mike gives Sulley a tour of his brand new car in this fun short culled from the original DVD release of Monsters, Inc.

Roz’s 100 Door Challenge (Disc 2, HD): An exclusive, interactive employee placement exam that finds the perfect role for applicants at the Monsters, Inc. facility. However, it’s more of a trivia game than a personality quiz, so the setup is a bit misleading.

Story Featurettes (Disc 2, SD, 22 minutes): A quartet of pre-production featurettes. “Story is King” showcases the Pixar Story Department, “Monsters Are Real” gives the cast and crew a brief opportunity to discuss the monsters and their world, “Original Treatment” focuses on an early pitch for the film (one that features a version of the tale that pales in comparison to the final film), and “Back to Work” sees Peterson pitching a scene to the production team.

Pixar Fun Factory Tour (Disc 2, SD, 4 minutes): John Lasseter hosts a tour of the “new” (now eight-year-old) Pixar Studios offices. It’s a bit bizarre and borders on random, but kids will probably get a kick out of it.

Banished Concepts (Disc 2, HD, 10 minutes): A collection of five abandoned scenes that open with an introduction by co-directer Lee Unkrich. Some of the deletions feature finalized animation, but most are comprised of animated storyboards and early pre-viz inserts.

Storyboard to Film Comparison (Disc 2, HD, 16 minutes): Watch a single scene’s original storyreel, its finalized rendering, or in a split-screen comparison of the two.

Designing Monstropolis (Disc 2, SD, 5 minutes): Another initially awkward featurette with co-director David Silverman (on a scooter, no less) that nevertheless manages to effectively explore the efforts and ideas that produced Mike and Sulley’s city.

Set Dressing (Disc 2, SD, 3 minutes): A dry look at the virtual props and cameras used to bring several Monsters, Inc. locales to animated life.

Location Flyaround (Disc 2, SD, 7 minutes): This series of extended environment pans and 360 degree interior spins show off some of the film’s streets, rooms, and locations. The quick tours would have been great had they been presented in high definition, but the animators’ finer textures and more minute details are lost in the featurette’s standard definition haze.

Monster File (Disc 2, SD, 7 minutes): A two-part EPK that introduces the film’s monsters, delivers interviews with the voice actors, and looks at the animators’ character designs.

Animation (Disc 2, SD, 26 minutes): Six segments are included. “Animation Process” explains how Pixar produces its films, “Early Tests” finds Mike and Sulley models being run through their paces, “Opening Title Animation” touches on award-winning illustrator Geefwee Boedoe’s title sequence, “Hard Parts” reveals the challenges the filmmakers faced, “Shots Department” shows how the animators spot-checked tricky hair and fabric shots, and “Production Demonstration” allows viewers to watch a scene develop through four stages of animation: storyreel, layout, animation, and final color.

Music & Sound (Disc 2, SD, 7 minutes): A pair of featurettes that examine the film’s sound design and Billy Crystal and John Goodman’s rendition of “If I Didn’t Have You.”

Release (Disc 2, SD, 17 minutes): This section includes footage from the film’s premiere, two theatrical trailers, four TV spots, an overview of the changes made to accommodate international releases, a multi-language clip reel, a merchandising featurette, and the outtakes that appeared during the theatrical release’s credit sequence (thankfully presented in high definition). Of note, the HD outtakes are actually about five-and-a-half minutes long, not seven as it states in the features menu.

Monsters Only Section (Disc 2, SD, 12 minutes): A few additional featurettes from the standard DVD round out the main package. “New Monster Adventures” offers a collection of TV vignettes, two non-interactive animated activities produced for a Japanese television show, and a “If I Didn’t Have You” music video; “Behind the Screams” is an interview with Mike and Sully about their work for the company; and “Orientation” serves up a trio of animated videos — “Your First Day,” “History of the Monster World” (drawn and narrated by animation legend Bud Luckey), and “Welcome to Monsters, Inc.” — created for new Monsters, Inc. employees.

Wrap-Up (Disc 2, SD, 1 minutes): A farewell from the filmmakers.

Art Gallery (Disc 2, HD): Nearly 900 pieces of concept art — including character designs, color tests, early renders, and more — make this a thoroughly extensive art gallery.