History Heartwarming / MonstersInc

* Before you learn [[BigBad Mr. Waternoose]] is involved in the whole thing, there is a brief moment between him and Sulley when Waternoose confides to Sulley his worries about keeping the company that has been in his family for three generations afloat and asks him to help an upcoming training session. Despite Waternoose being the head of a mega corporation, it's nice to see that he and a lower level worker like Sulley have a good connection.

* Before you learn [[BigBad Waternoose]] is behind the whole thing, there is a brief moment between him and Sulley when Waternoose confides to Sulley his worries about keeping the company that has been in his family for three generations afloat and asks him to help an upcoming training session. Despite Waternoose being the head of a mega corporation, it's nice to see that he and a lower level worker like Sulley have a good connection.

* A small one, but those two CDA agents who take a break from their job just so one of them can get an autograph from Sulley for his daughter.

** The bathroom scene where he plays "hide-and-seek" with her. This and the example above both show Sully forming a paternal bond with her.

* In a odd sort of way, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqaHBfBSSuc the play]] (from the bonus features on the DVD) that Mike and Sulley stage. As StylisticSuck-y and humorous as the play may be, it's still nice to see that the monsters can still have a good laugh at the ordeal even after everything that had just recently happened.

* In case any children still find the idea of monsters coming into their rooms at night scary (even after they've switched from collecting screams to laughs), Mike and Sulley eliminate any remaining animosity between kids and monsters by returning the toys Sid stole from them in Issue 3.

* On the Blu Ray, the filmmakers briefly discuss the effect that [[DistancedFromCurrentEvents 9/11 had on the film's production]], from having to reanimate one gag involving a mushroom explosion into a plasma dome to their own self-doubts about whether or not they were doing something worthwhile by making a lighthearted family film while the country was in peril, as well as the doubt that anyone would want to go to the movies sixty days after such devastation. Not only was the movie a huge hit, but viewers shell-shocked by the attack thanked them for releasing a movie about not being afraid of scary things [[TheWarOnTerror at a time where everyone in the country was so fearful]].

* On the Blu Ray, the filmmakers briefly discuss the effect that [[TooSoon 9/11 had on the film's production]], from having to reanimate one gag involving a mushroom explosion into a plasma dome to their own self-doubts about whether or not they were doing something worthwhile by making a lighthearted family film while the country was in peril, as well as the doubt that anyone would want to go to the movies sixty days after such devastation. Not only was the movie a huge hit, but viewers shell-shocked by the attack thanked them for releasing a movie about not being afraid of scary things [[TheWarOnTerror at a time where everyone in the country was so fearful]].

[[caption-width-right:350:[[spoiler:"Boo?" "Kitty!"]]]]
* [[spoiler:Sulley opens the rebuilt door. "Boo?" "Kitty!". His joyous expression says it all.]]
** Not only that, it was Mike, who started off as a bit of a selfish {{Jerkass}}, going through all the trouble [[spoiler:(and splinters) to rebuild the door in the first place]]. Now ''[[JerkWithAHeartOfGold that's]]'' [[PowerOfFriendship friendship]]. What makes it even sweeter is his apology to Sulley about the time it took, how completely unnecessary it is -- if Sulley's chart is any indication, it's only been a few months since they said goodbye to Boo.
-->'''Mike''': Sorry it took so long, pal. [[spoiler: It was a lot of wood to go through.]]

** [[spoiler:[[BigDamnHeroes When Sulley shows up to rescue Boo from the Scream Machine,]] Boo excitedly exclaims, "Kitty!" and after freeing her, Sulley apologizes for scaring her earlier, saying, "Sorry, Boo."]] Can you say, "Daaaaawwwww"?
*** Despite how badly Sulley frightened her, when she's [[spoiler:strapped into the scream extractor]], she immediately calls out for "Kitty."

* The conclusion of the film: [[spoiler:Seeing the monsters be reassigned from InUniverse NightmareFuel to entertaining kids and evoking laughter from them. Because the emotional energy they get doesn't ''have'' to be negative. The monsters get the electrical power they need, and the children they visit are made happy; everybody wins!]]
*** Not only that, [[spoiler: but studies have shown that laughing at night helps you sleep. No longer will those kids have night terrors. Instead they will be able to sleep a whole lot better now.]]

** Made even better after the prequel. [[spoiler: Oozma Kappa had to work hard to overcome their limitations during the "scream power" days. Now ''they'' can be the superstars. You can also imagine Dean Hardscrabble somewhere smiling to herself when she finds out which two monsters are behind the revolutionary new technique. They did surprise her again after all.]]

* Roz, of all people, gets one. [[spoiler: She has no reason to give Sulley a chance to say goodbye to Boo. Heck, it's surprising they even let her go back home despite all she's seen. But her usually gruff voice is almost gentle when she allows Sulley five minutes with the girl. One might even assume she's the one who gave Mike the pieces to rebuild the door.]]

** And in the prequel, it was demonstrated that [[spoiler: Mike knew more about scaring that Sulley did even though the former wasn't scary at all.]] And at the end, [[spoiler: it was Mike's brilliance that led them to escape from the Human World.]] Sulley even pointed out to him that [[spoiler: Mike is the one who is the brains of the operation.]] This ultimately means that in the interview, Sulley wasn't just complimenting Mike, he actually meant it.

* A furious Celia demands an explanation from Mike while he, Sulley and Boo are desperately trying to escape from [[spoiler: Randall]]. She doesn't believe Mike's garbled explanation at first, but the second she realises that they're all in real danger? She makes an announcement over the PA system that Randall has beaten the highest scare record; meaning that he's instantly mobbed by monsters wishing to congratulate him. This gives Sulley and Mike just enough time to get away. Celia just smiles after them, telling Mike to 'go get them, Googily-bear'.

** Not only that, it was Mike, who started off as a selfish {{Jerkass}}, going through all the trouble [[spoiler:(and splinters) to rebuild the door in the first place]]. Now ''[[JerkWithAHeartOfGold that's]]'' [[PowerOfFriendship friendship]]. What makes it even sweeter is his apology to Sulley about the time necessary.

---> You and I are a team, nothing is more important than our friendship.

--> You and I are a team, nothing is more important than our friendship.

* When Sulley declares that "none of it matters anymore", Mike is visibly crushed. You can see Sulley regrets the words almost immediately, but he doesn't take them back. Mike then names several things he feels ''should'' matter to Sulley. "What about everything we ever worked for? What about Celia? And what about ''me''?" That last one is when Sulley turns around and apologises - because Mike ''does'' matter to him.

** Made even better after the prequel. [[spoiler: Oozma Kappa had to work hard to overcome their limitations during the "scream power" days. Now ''they'' can be the superstars.]]

* In case any children still find the idea of monsters coming out of their closets scary (even after they've switched from collecting screams to laughs), Mike and Sulley eliminate any remaining animosity between kids and monsters by returning the toys Sid stole from them in Issue 3.

** Not only that, it was Mike, who started off as a selfish {{Jerkass}}, going through all the trouble [[spoiler:(and splinters) to rebuild the door in the first place]]. Now [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold that's]] [[PowerOfFriendship friendship]]. What makes it even sweeter is his apology to Sulley about the time necessary.

* On the Blu Ray, the filmmakers briefly discuss the effect that [[TooSoon 9/11 had on the film's production]], from having to reanimate one gag involving a mushroom explosion into a plasma dome to their own self-doubts about whether or not they were doing something worthwhile by making a lighthearted family film while the country was in peril, as well as the doubt that anyone would want to go to the movies sixty days after such devastation. Not only was the movie a huge hit, but viewers shell-shocked by the attack thanked them for releasing a movie about not being afraid of scary things [[TheWarOnTerror at a time where everyone in the country was so fearful]].

** Well, [[FridgeBrilliance they]] ''[[FridgeBrilliance did]]'' [[FridgeBrilliance just make the transition to harnessing laughter instead of screams]].

* On the Blu Ray, the filmmakers briefly discuss the effect that 9/11 had on the film's production, from having to reanimate one gag involving a mushroom explosion into a plasma dome to their own self-doubts about whether or not they were doing something worthwhile by making a lighthearted family film while the country was in peril, as well as the doubt that anyone would want to go see a movie sixty days after such devastation. Not only was the movie a huge hit, but viewers shell-shocked by the attack thanked them for releasing a movie about not being afraid of scary things [[TheWarOnTerror at a time where everyone in the country was so fearful]].

* META: On the Blu Ray, the filmmakers briefly discuss the effect that the September 11th attacks had on the film's production, from having to reanimate one gag involving a mushroom explosion into a plasma dome to their own self-doubts about whether or not they were doing something worthwhile by making a lighthearted family film while the country was in peril, as well as the doubt that anyone would want to go see a movie sixty days after such devastation. Not only was the movie a huge hit, but viewers shell-shocked by the attack thanked them for releasing a movie about not being afraid of scary things at a time where everyone in the country was so fearful.

* In a odd sort of way, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqaHBfBSSuc the play]] (from the bonus features on the DVD) that Mike and Sulley stage. As StylisticSuck-y and humorous as the play may be, it's still nice to see that the monsters can still have a good laugh at the ordeal even after everything that had just recently happened.

* "... Boo?" [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92UI5bpG8oc You know the scene.]]

*** That's not to say they won't make one eventually. They're making a WesternAnimation/ToyStory 4 after all.

** And after that, Mike still somehow makes the same daring venture Sulley does back into Monstropolis just to reconcile, adding that it wasn't like he doesn't care about Boo. Yeah it's juxtaposed by Randall attacking Sulley but it was a cute gesture (and Mike does ultimately save Sulley).

* Blink and you'll miss it: when Sulley is trying to console Boo after accidentally scaring her, Mike can be heard in the background trying to convince Waternoose that she's not dangerous, at one point referring to her as 'that sweet little girl.' A far cry from how he [[ItIsDehumanizing used to talk about her.]]