MONSTERS AT WORK
WHAT’S ON THE ITINERARY FOR DISNEY’S MONSTERS AT WORK…
Why the new Disney+ show is a laughing matter.
STRAIGHT DOWN TO BUSINESS
Monsters, Inc. (2001) ended with the discovery that the factory could harvest power from kids’ laughter rather than screams. Starting the day after the movie stops, Monsters At Work captures the transition. “What I love is that the story just continues,” enthuses Billy Crystal. “It doesn’t feel like a sequel.”
MIKE AND SULLEY ARE BACK…
And yes, so are the voices behind the fantastic frolleagues. “I love getting back into Mike,” Crystal says. “I don’t think he ever left [me]. It’s pretty much my favourite character that I’ve ever played. To get a chance to team up again in such a beautiful, funny, brand-new series was so exciting for me.” John Goodman is in full agreement: “It was a no-brainer. The script is so good and the animation is such high quality, which makes it a lot of fun.”
…AND THEY’RE IN CHARGE
As promised by Roz (Bob Peterson), Sulley and Mike now head up the new mirth-based operation. Although it’s debatable how prepared they are for the task ahead… “I used to say about Laurel and Hardy that they were two minds without a single thought,” smiles Crystal. The monster mates conjure a similar feeling. “Sulley is always the smarter one, but Mike thinks he’s in charge; he has responsibilities. At the end of some of the episodes, Mike runs comedy classes where he tries to teach the monsters how to be funny, so we had a great time inventing those and trying to be funny when Mike really isn’t.” There are other challenges for our heroes, which Crystal welcomes: “It’s great that they have to deal with a couple of new characters who just breathe a whole new life into the family of Monsters, Inc. and Monsters University.”
SAY HELLO TO MIFT…
Carrying out some vital scares-to-laughs retrofitting is the new Monsters, Inc.
Facilities Team, aka MIFT. The group includes Fritz (Henry Winkler), Tylor Tuskmon (Ben Feldman) and his BFF, Val Little (Mindy Kaling). Kaling, of course, has Pixar previous with Inside Out – but her character is the diametric opposite of Disgust. “Val is so enthusiastic and earnest and pure,” says Kaling. “And I normally play sociopaths, so that’s really nice! I love visually how cute she is. I think her colour palette is great: the pinks and the oranges. It matches her personality, which is really upbeat.”
…AND KEEP YOUR EYES ON TYLOR
Of the new intake, Tuskmon is the one to watch, an underdog ready to prove himself in the retooled company. Erstwhile Mad Men actor Feldman says he’s sure his natural awkwardness is what got him the role. “I do this stammer and I’m a little neurotic, so I got really lucky because that’s apparently what [executive producer] Bob Gannaway was looking for,” he chuckles. “I feel like I slipped through the cracks, but I couldn’t be more thrilled and more honoured to be a part of this.” Tara Bennett
MONSTERS AT WORK STARTS ON DISNEY+ ON 2 JULY.