Monsters University

[PatrickvD]

My prediction:

Planes
Turbo
Cloudy 2
The Croods
From Up on Poppy Hill

Winner: Planes

[Joshua Clinard]

I can't wait to see thiis film. Monster's Inc. is my favorite Pixar film, followed by The Incredibles, Wall-E and Ratatoulle. Of course all three Toy Story films have a special place in my heart too. But I think this prequel has a great premise. Much better than a sequel could have had. I'll reserve an Oscar prediction until after I see the film. They never pick the one I think is the best anyway. But I'm also looking forward to Despicable me.

[Sotiris]

Japanese trailer which features a lot of new footage (and some spoilers).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFUdLarKDGg

[PatrickvD]

I can always count on these Japanese trailers.

That made it look WAY better. And regarding spoilers, yes there were quite a few, but I actually have a TON of questions as well. This looks to tie in way better to the original film than I thought.

My excitement just shot up a mile. With everyone expecting another Cars 2, I wouldn't be surprised if this totally knocks it out of the park.

[Sotiris]

I can always count on these Japanese trailers. That made it look WAY better.

The Japanese trailers are almost always significantly better than their American counterparts. The American ones, especially for animated films, always focus on comedy or action while the Japanese on emotion and drama. Just take a look at the American and Japanese trailers for Tangled or Brave. The difference is astonishing.

[Joshua Clinard]

The japanese trailer was really good. It really adds a emotional impact to it. I especially like the scene by the lake, where it looks like they are doing some soul searching. I can imagine them having a heated argument just before this scene. I also like the tour of Monster's Inc. scare floor. It looks like Mike is in awe of it. It would be like the first time one of us goes to Disney World! I just wish I could understand Japanese!

[jazzflower92]

The japanese trailer was really good. It really adds a emotional impact to it. I especially like the scene by the lake, where it looks like they are doing some soul searching. I can imagine them having a heated argument just before this scene. I also like the tour of Monster's Inc. scare floor. It looks like Mike is in awe of it. It would be like the first time one of us goes to Disney World! I just wish I could understand Japanese!

Why do I have a feeling that in the movie Mike realizes he is not cut out to be a scarer in a deeply emotionally crushing way?

[FigmentJedi]

The japanese trailer was really good. It really adds a emotional impact to it. I especially like the scene by the lake, where it looks like they are doing some soul searching. I can imagine them having a heated argument just before this scene. I also like the tour of Monster's Inc. scare floor. It looks like Mike is in awe of it. It would be like the first time one of us goes to Disney World! I just wish I could understand Japanese!

Why do I have a feeling that in the movie Mike realizes he is not cut out to be a scarer in a deeply emotionally crushing way?

It makes the ending of the original even more poignant. Mike never had the right stuff to be a scarer, but when energy shifts towards using laughter, he's the company's top amuser.

[disneyprincess11]

Yeah, I have a feeling that this will win "Best Animated Feature", but only this time it actually deserves it. It looks really great. And little Mike is so cute!

[Sotiris]

TV spot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5kITZwwsf4

[kbehm29]

I enjoyed Monsters, Inc. but I just CANNOT get myself excited for this movie. I've tried. I really don't even enjoy the trailers. I will keep randomly checking this thread, but this may be the first Pixar movie I don't go see in theaters.

[pap64]

I enjoyed Monsters, Inc. but I just CANNOT get myself excited for this movie. I've tried. I really don't even enjoy the trailers. I will keep randomly checking this thread, but this may be the first Pixar movie I don't go see in theaters.

I'm the opposite: I LOVE Monsters Inc, and I can't wait to see this come June in theaters. HOWEVER, I am cautiously optimistic about it as even though I am excited for it, the memory of Cars 2 still lingers on (though I doubt things will get worse than that), and I still would have preferred a sequel that further continues the Mike, Boo and Sulley story.

But the recent trailers give me hope. The more I watch of it, the more I feel it will be much better than expected. When Cars 2 was teased, I felt something was off from the trailers and that the spy story would ruin it. When Brave was teased, as excited as I was, the trailers that came after it gave out the feeling that it wouldn't be THE best ever made, but still good. Monsters U, however, may turn out to be a movie that is way better than anyone expected it to be, much like Up looked to be too surreal and silly and turned out to be a winner (in my eyes at least).

I think the message will be deeper than expected as well. It looks to be all about how even when a dream doesn't turn out exactly like you hoped it would it is still a dream made real, and that sometimes you may be the best at something, but a great friend may make you even greater as evidence by Mike and Sulley's friendship

[Mickeyfan1990]

Yearbook images!:

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/monsters- ... 68412.html

[Old Fish Tale]

Those are great! Thank you for posting!

[DisneyFan09]

the memory of Cars 2 still lingers on (though I doubt things will get worse than that)

Oh please, can't we just stop with the Cars 2 bashing? Haven't it recieved enough hatred already?

[DisneyAnimation88]

http://family-room.ew.com/2013/04/16/pi ... oice-cast/

Nathan Fillion, John Krasinski and Bonnie Hunt have been announced as part of the film's cast.

[PatrickvD]

http://family-room.ew.com/2013/04/16/pi ... oice-cast/

Nathan Fillion, John Krasinski and Bonnie Hunt have been announced as part of the film's cast.

Bonnie Hunt just seems to be in every Pixar film. Must be me.

I'm just psyched about Charlie Day. His voice is hilarious.

[Mickeyfan1990]

MU response from CinemaCon has been positive (was there ever any doubt?)!:

http://animatedviews.com/2013/monsters- ... cinemacon/

"On Wednesday, Disney treated CinemaCon attendees to an early cut of Monsters University – and the responses have been overwhelmingly positive!

Peter Sciretta of /Film tweets that the prequel is “a fun broad college comedy set in a cleverly designed world,” while also praising its “surprising turns” and “gutsy message.” Eric Eisenberg of Cinema Blend calls the movie “very impressive,” before adding, “There is also a great heart and wonderful message to the story that fully cements it as a true Pixar movie.” Silas Lesnick of ComingSoon.net tweets that Monsters University is “smart, funny and makes me want to rewatch Monsters, Inc. immediately.” Lastly, Perri Nemiroff of Shockya writes, “If you’re looking for an amusing, engaging, and heartwarming experience, Monsters University will deliver tenfold…”"

[magicalwands]

Don't know if this has been posted - but Randy Newman is back and scoring this prequel. I'm excited. I love the jazzy style he did for the first film!

[Lnds500]

35 Things to Know about MONSTERS UNIVERSITY and THE BLUE UMBRELLA from Our Set Visit to Pixar





[FONT=verdana]As we stepped onto the campus of Monsters University, we were greeted by the school’s cheerleading squad who were accompanied by the drum section of their marching band. Music and cheers filled the air as we walked to the center of campus where a huge tailgating party had been set up for the annual homecoming game against Fear Tech. In the quad, all manner of student organizations were out in force trying to sign us up for the Yearbook Club, the Greek Council and the Art Club (or maybe it was just a guy named Art…). As soon as we set foot inside the doors to the main hall, we knew we had arrived … at Pixar Animation Studios.

In what was too short a time at Pixar, our group was whisked on a whirlwind behind-the-scenes journey of their latest animated feature (and The Blue Umbrella, the short that will be preceding it in theaters). Monsters University, the studio’s first prequel, will re-introduce fans of Monsters, Inc. to the college versions of Mike Wazowski (voiced by Billy Crystal) and James P. Sullivan (voiced by John Goodman). Hit the jump for 35 things you need to know about it!



Here’s (almost) everything you need to know about Monsters University and The Blue Umbrella:

• This film will be Dan Scanlon’sfeature directorial debut.
• The prequel will center on Mike’s story, though his relationship with Sulley will be a prominent feature.
• Mike is a hard-working know-it-all while Sulley is a confident, yet lazy, natural-born Scarer.
• Other characters from Monsters, Inc.will make an appearance, including Randall in a re-imagined version of the monster fans love to hate.
• The filmmakers are aware that the original movie mentioned Mike and Sulley knowing each other since the fourth grade; they attempted to tell a new story that involved that factoid, but ultimately felt that the spirit of their long friendship would be captured with a tale of them meeting at college.
• The gap between Monsters University and Monsters, Inc. is about 10-15 years.
• Where fur and clothing were the big technical challenges in Monsters, Inc., backpacks – surprisingly – proved to be the biggest difficulty inMonsters University.
• Since many iconic college movies take place in the 80s, there are some 80s motifs (hair and clothing styles) that the animators worked in.
• The team thought about making Sulley shy, but chose to go with a young, brash and confident natural Scarer since that’s what his character design informs upon him. John Goodman was up to the task.
• One of the fantastic new characters, Dean Hardscrabble, was original envisioned as a male. She was changed to a female since the filmmakers hadn’t seen any female Scarers in the first film. Helen Mirren brings gravitas to the role.
• There is no hard and fast rule, but Pixar bases their runtimes around the 90-minute format.

• There were some class majors that were pitched but didn’t make the final cut, such as a major for simply destroying buildings in a Godzilla-like fashion.
• The new characters of Oozma Kappa are collectively known as the Misfits and are certainly an odd bunch. They include Don Carlson, Scott “Squishy” Squibbles, conjoined twins Terri and Terry, and lastly, Art.
• Dean Hardscrabble isn’t your usual adversary, but rather an authority which Mike and Sulley have to fight back against.
• Completely re-designed just six weeks prior to their deadline, Dean Hardscrabble is based in part on a Chinese centipede in the genus Scolopendra.
• Scanlon plans to include a lot of behind-the-scenes technical featurettes as extras on the eventual Blu-ray.
• Scanlon’s favorite new characters is Don, who reminds him of “every mid-Western dad [he’s] ever met.”
  
  
  
  • The animators came up with a pool of almost 300 background characters.
  • Pay special attention to the way light is used in each scene, as it foretells either an achievement or an obstacle placed in the path of the protagonists.
  • Monsters University could have featured more furry characters, but because that was a technological limitation on the first film, the team wanted to stay faithful to the look of the original movie.
  • Pay attention to scale in Monsters University, since the world is built for monsters of all shapes and sizes. Everything from the spacing of the steps to the size of doors and coffee cups is created with the monsters’ variety in mind.
  • We will get to see a little bit of the human world, but the filmmakers were tight-lipped about just how much.
  • Pixar is employing a new method of scene lighting dubbed Global Illumination. Their rendering farm server banks were doubled to handle the load and were used for the first time in this manner on Monsters University.
  
  
  
  
  • The animators had the whole crew bring in their senior portraits so they could compare their younger versions to their current selves … and have a laugh.
  • Mike and Sulley were both thinned out and smoothed a bit to make them appear young. Both of their colorations are slightly different. Mike now sports a retainer.
  • Noah Johnson voices the youngest version of Mike. The producers searched for a while in New York before finding a kid who could match the energy of Billy Crystal’s performance.
  • Peter Sohn was working at Pixar prior to doing voices for their animated characters; he started doing scratch dialogue on the side and eventually worked his way into starring roles.
  • Sohn is co-directing The Good Dinosaur with Bob Peterson; it’s due out in 2014.
  • Sohn also directed the short Partly Cloudy, which played before Up.
  
  
  
  
  • Saschka Unseld directed The Blue Umbrella, the short film that will play in front of Monsters University.
  • While The Blue Umbrella looks like a mash-up of live-action shots augmented with animation, there is absolutely no live action. Those images are photo-realistic animations.
  • Unseld originally used his phone to film sections of the city where he saw faces in the brickwork or various fixtures. His initial intent was to make a music video for a Sarah Jaffe song with the city itself singing like a glee chorus. This idea evolved into The Blue Umbrella.
  • Unseld loves cities in the rain and wanted to bring that front and center in his short film.
  • If he had been making the film in a European art house style, it would not have had a happy ending.
  • Unseld cites cinematographer Jack Cardiff’s work in Black Narcissus and Wong Kar Wai’s film Chungking Express as some of his inspirations.