Monsters, Inc. Fans Upset About Pixar’s Controversial Origin Change

“Pixar fans remain unhappy with a significant retcon in Monsters University that altered a key detail from Monsters, Inc.

Even years after Monsters University’s release, fans of Monsters, Inc. continue to express their displeasure regarding a substantial origin alteration. Monsters, Inc. focuses on the adventures of the top scarer duo, Mike and Sully. However, its prequel, Monsters University, tells the story of how the two initially crossed paths, portraying their college-era rivalry in contrast to the original Pixar film’s establishment. Monsters University indeed provides an engaging backstory for the scarers, but it doesn’t strictly adhere to the previously established lore. In Monsters, Inc., it’s revealed that Sully (John Goodman) and Mike (Billy Crystal) became friends during grade school and remained inseparable throughout their lives. In Monsters University, the story unfolds with a different narrative where they meet during college, and they’re not close friends from the start. This significant retcon of Mike and Sully’s origin has long irked fans, prompting many to voice their frustrations on platforms like Reddit. Some have proposed that the retcon could have been avoided by having Mike and Sully attend the same fourth-grade class in a flashback, separate later, and then reunite in college, maintaining continuity and not altering the original story.

Pixar’s Explanation for Monsters, Inc. and Monsters University Continuity Error

Despite the retcon’s importance and the impact on Mike and Sully’s relationship, Pixar has defended its decision to completely alter their backstory. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Monsters University’s director and co-writer, Dan Scanlon, acknowledged the continuity problem but explained that they chose to move forward in order to preserve the story they wanted to tell. While they initially attempted to have the two monsters meet in fourth grade, Monsters, Inc.’s director, Pete Docter, emphasized the need to stay true to the underlying themes of Monsters, Inc. rather than dwelling on minor details.

While changing the history of the top scarers might have facilitated the production of the prequel, it detracted from the depth and longevity of their relationship. The emotional heart of Monsters, Inc. is rooted in their bond, and it becomes more poignant when they have known each other long enough that their conflicts feel infrequent and significant. If they were already rivals in the prequel, then their later disputes are just another minor disagreement in a long history of disagreements, which diminishes their emotional impact.

Pixar’s storytelling often relies on character development and relationships to keep audiences engaged, even when the characters are monsters. The retcon altered the essence of their relationship, making it feel inconsequential. Although the line that was changed was just a minor comment, it could have easily been overlooked. In prequels, creators should maintain consistency with established details, as long as they contribute to an engaging narrative. If a detail is not crucial to the story, there’s no need to force a minor and easily forgettable element that hinders the storytelling process.

Nonetheless, creators of future Pixar movies and TV shows should heed the fan backlash against Monsters University’s retcon in Monsters, Inc. and take extra care to avoid similar inconsistencies.”

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