Disney Announces Monsters Inc. Spin-Off ‘Monsters at Work’

Disney has announced a new show for their streaming service channel. Monsters at Work will be a sequel to 2001’s popular animated feature, Monsters, Inc., returning viewers to the world of Monstropolis, which is now powered by children’s laughter instead of juvenile shrieks of terror. The show, Monsters at Work, will debut in 2020.

D23 announced:

“Billy Crystal and John Goodman will reprise their beloved characters, Mike and Sulley, when the series premieres on the streaming service in 2020.

The series for families picks up six months after the events of Monsters, Inc. The Monsters, Inc. power plant now harvests the laughter of children to fuel Monstropolis — after all, laughter does generate 10 times more energy than screams do. We’ll follow a new monster, Tylor Tuskmon (voiced by Superstore’s Ben Feldman), an enthusiastic and talented mechanic on the Monsters, Inc. Facilities Team (MIFT) who dreams of following in the footsteps of his idols—Mike and Sulley—and making his way up to the factory Laugh Floor as a Jokester.

Crystal and Goodman won’t be the only familiar voices we’ll hear. Keep an ear out for John Ratzenberger, who will be voicing Yeti and a new character, Bernard; Jennifer Tilly, reprising the role of Celia Mae; and Bob Peterson, who in Monsters At Work will voice Roze, twin sister to his original Monsters, Inc. character, Roz.

Monsters At Work also stars Kelly Marie Tran (Star Wars: The Last Jedi) as Val Little, Tylor’s lifelong BFF; Henry Winkler (Barry, Happy Days) as scatterbrained boss Fritz; Lucas Neff (Raising Hope) as an opportunistic plumber named Duncan; Alanna Ubach (Coco) as Cutter, a monster who always plays by the rules; Stephan Stanton (Star Wars Resistance) as Smitty and Needleman, the bumbling custodial team; and Aisha Tyler (Archer) will lend her voice to the role of Millie Tuskmon, Tylor’s mom.”

No word yet on whether Canadian fan favorite Nathan Fillion (Firefly) will take a few days off from The Rookie to reprise his role as Johnny, the Big Monster on Campus from Monsters University nor if Mary Gibbs (Inside Out)will be back as Boo, but with Disney, anything is possible.

The executive producer will be Bobs Gannaway, who has written scripts for House of Mouse, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and Tales of the Darkside. Actor/producer Ferrell Barron (The Tigger Movie) will be a producer. Directors will include Kat Good (Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero and Big Hero Six: the Series) and Ron Gibbs (Monsters, Inc. and Pocahontas).

Monsters, Inc. has inspired a prequel movie, a Walt Disney World attraction, the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, and now a TV show. Does Monstropolis have enough material to maintain a weekly TV show? Since this is set only six months after Monsters, Inc. ended, it’s possible not everyone is comfortable with the switch from scaring to laughing. Are you looking forward to seeing what Disney does with Monsters at Work?

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Susan Macdonald

Susan Macdonald is the author of the children’s book “R is for Renaissance Faire”, as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in “Alternative Truths”, “Swords and Sorceress #30”, Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, “Cat Tails” “Under Western Stars”, and “Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid”. Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio’s web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions,  Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.