Monsters Inc Television Series: Coming to Disney+

Disney CEO Bob Iger announced in a 2017 earnings call that a Monsters, Inc. themed television series was in development for Disney’s new streaming service, later to be known as Disney+. This announcement, alongside news of a Star Wars live-action series, a High School Musical series, and a Marvel series, signaled Disney’s significant investment in original content for its streaming platform. While an exact release date wasn’t initially revealed, the Disney-branded streaming service launched in late 2019.

The Monsters, Inc. series, part of the larger Pixar Monsters franchise, promised to bring beloved characters like Mike Wazowski and James P. “Sulley” Sullivan to the small screen. The initial announcement left many questions unanswered, including the show’s timeline (whether it would be a prequel, sequel, or spin-off of the original film and Monsters University) and whether original voice actors Billy Crystal and John Goodman would reprise their roles.

Monsters Inc. screenshot featuring Mike and Sulley.

Iger emphasized that the Disney streaming service would be priced significantly lower than Netflix at launch, reflecting its smaller initial content library. He also stated that the price would increase as more content was added. Unlike the ESPN+ streaming service, also announced during the call, the Disney streaming service would be ad-free. Iger highlighted the service’s family-friendly focus, mentioning customizable parental controls for age restrictions and content filtering. The direct-to-consumer streaming service was declared Disney’s top priority.

The eventual series, titled Monsters at Work, premiered on Disney+ in July 2021. It takes place six months after the events of Monsters, Inc., following Tylor Tuskmon, an eager young monster who graduated top of his class at Monsters University, only to discover that scaring children is no longer the company’s focus. Instead, Monsters, Inc. now harvests laughter as a more powerful energy source. Tylor must navigate this changing workplace and adjust his aspirations while working alongside Mike and Sulley. While Crystal and Goodman returned to voice Mike and Sulley, respectively, Monsters at Work introduced a new cast of characters and storylines, expanding the world of the beloved Pixar franchise. The series offers a fresh perspective on the Monsters, Inc. universe while maintaining the heart and humor of the original films.