Top 10 Monsters, Inc Easter Eggs You Missed

Top 10 “Monsters, Inc.” Franchise Easter Eggs

Did you spot these? Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top Ten “Monsters, Inc.” Franchise Easter Eggs.



For this list, we’ll be looking at interesting Easter eggs littered throughout both “Monsters, Inc.” and its prequel, “Monsters University.”



#10: Nemo


It’s tradition for Pixar to include Easter eggs of their upcoming releases in their movies. For “Monsters, Inc.,” the Easter eggs concerned “Finding Nemo,” which would hit theatres two years later. And it’s not just one appearance - characters from the film appear several times throughout “Monsters, Inc.” Marlin shows up on the wallpaper behind the octopus chef in Harryhausen’s, a dangling Nemo toy can be seen in the trailer door, and Boo prsents Sulley with a Nemo (and Jessie) doll when he visits her room at the end of the movie. Most of these require a keen eye to spot, but they’re definitely there for all Pixar aficionados to find.







#9: Andy’s Wallpaper


“Toy Story” is one of the greatest animated movies of all time, and it’s understandable that Pixar would want to give a brief nod to their original masterpiece. In the scene where the monsters are preparing to scare the children, Randall’s assistant Jeff Fungus pulls down various wallpapers so that Randall can practice his camouflage. One of these wallpapers is the classic blue and white sky-themed wallpaper of Andy’s bedroom from “Toy Story.” It’s only on screen for a second, but the classic Pixar color scheme is hard to miss.





#8: A113


First off, let’s preface this entry with a little animated film history. A113 is a classroom at the California Institute of the Arts. The room primarily functions as the classroom for graphic design and character animation classes, and many alums include a reference to A113 in their animated films. The “Monsters Inc.” franchise is no exception. A version of the Easter egg can be seen in the door warehouse scene of “Monsters, Inc.,” where the number A113 appears on a random pillar. Hard to spot, but it’s there. However, a more direct nod appears in “Monsters University,” as A113 is the room number of Scaring 101.





#7: Harryhausen’s


In “Monsters, Inc.” Mike manages to get reservations at Harryhausen’s, which is supposed to be Monstropolis’ most happenin’ sushi joint. While we’ve already established that a “Finding Nemo” Easter egg can be found here, the name itself is a reference to the late stop motion animator Ray Harryhausen. Harryhausen is an animator who worked on “Mighty Joe Young,” “Clash of the Titans,” and “Jason and the Argonauts,” among many other films. Harryhausen was granted the Academy Awards’ prestigious Gordon E. Sawyer Award and was later inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame before passing away in 2013 at the age of 92.



#6: Hidden City Cafe


Like A113, the Hidden City Café is steeped in animation history. The Hidden City Cafe was a real restaurant in California that was situated close to Pixar’s headquarters. This was reportedly “Monsters, Inc.” director Pete Docter’s favorite place to eat. It is also a hugely important location for Pixar. It is here that many Pixar creatives, including John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, and our man Pete Docter, had lunch during a particularly creative brainstorming session. It was during this session that the ideas and rough outlines for “A Bug’s Life,” “Finding Nemo,” “WALL-E,” and “Monsters, Inc.” first came to fruition.





#5: The Trailer from “A Bug’s Life”


“Wait a second. Haven’t we seen that trailer before?” That was the question every “Monsters, Inc.” viewer asked back in 2001, and the answer was yes. At the climax of the movie, Mike and Sulley banish the slimy Randall to some random hick trailer in the middle of the country where he is mercilessly beaten with a shovel. Viewers were quick to notice that this was the exact same trailer from “A Bug’s Life.” Everything is there, from the two front windows to the rickety awning to the dangling purple bug zapper above the door.





#4: Steve Buscemi & “Armageddon”


One scene in “Monsters, Inc.” shows the monsters walking onto the scare floor in slow motion. This is a clear reference to “The Right Stuff,” but it could also serve as a reference to “Armageddon,” which contained a similar scene. You know who was in “Armageddon?” Steve Buscemi, the actor who voices Randall. What is also important to note is the location of the respective characters. In each scene, Buscemi’s character is situated just to the left of the main character, who is obviously front and center. A reach, maybe, but an interesting connection nevertheless.



#3: Pixar’s Famous Chinese Food Box


Pixar is known for littering their movies with insider Easter eggs, like connections to future releases and A113. Another example is the famous Chinese food carton. This is a folded paper container with a wire handle and pagoda logo. This box has appeared in “A Bug’s Life,” “Toy Story 2,” “Ratatouille,” “Inside Out,” “Incredibles 2,” and, yes, “Monsters, Inc.” While the pagoda drawing is different from the one typically found in Pixar films, it otherwise fits the description and served as the third appearance of the box following “A Bug’s Life” and “Toy Story 2.”





#2: Luxo Ball


While A113 and the Chinese carton are hidden Pixar staples, their famous Luxo ball is always front and center. The Luxo ball is a yellow ball with a blue stripe and red star. You’ve seen it, trust us. While it prominently appeared in “Toy Story,” it has made a cameo in nearly all Pixar films, including both “Monsters” movies. In the first, we clearly see it on Boo’s floor before she hands it to Sulley. It makes a second appearance in “Monsters University” as graffiti on the Scares Games wall. Next time you’re watching a Pixar film, keep an eye out for the Luxo ball. Chances are it’s there somewhere!







Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.



“Winds of Change”





“The Good Dinosaur”







#1: Pizza Planet Truck


Turns out that Pizza Planet isn’t unique to the “Toy Story” universe. As we’ve clearly established, Pixar loves to populate their movies with inside Easter eggs, and the Pizza Planet truck is no exception. The truck has appeared in countless Pixar movies, including both “Monsters” films. In “Monsters, Inc.” the truck can be seen parked beside the “A Bug’s Life” trailer. According to John Lasseter, this trailer could be where the delivery man lives. A monster-ized version also appears parked beside the Jaws Theta Chi frat house in “Monsters University.” Anyone else in the mood for pizza now?