Film

Monsters University

A prequel that rewinds to when Mike and Sulley were rivals at a magical college, learning to scare. It's genuinely funny for adults, tender about friendship, and animated with Pixar's usual precision. For anyone who loved the original or enjoys comedies about unlikely bonds—but especially for people who enjoy *why* characters matter before they become iconic.

TMDb rating3.5

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you enjoy rivalry-driven campus comedy, where the jokes come from characters who want the same thing and resent each other, told with a sharp eye for school life.

Skip it if you want a tight, plot-forward adventure; this is looser, more about character friction and campus texture than scares or set pieces.

What it asks of you: Just under two hours of chatty, episodic scenes, paced gently and lit by a steady stream of small laughs rather than one big rush.

If you liked this

Toy Story 32010

Pixar at peak form: a story about cherished things facing obsolescence, told with humour that lands for kids and adults alike. It deepens what came before without diminishing it.

But If you haven't seen the first two films, you'll miss the weight of the relationships. The emotional climax might devastate you in a way that feels unearned.

Toy Story 3 poster

Finding Nemo2003

A father's desperation to find his son, wrapped in stunning animation and genuine comedy. It moves fast, surprises you, and never condescends to its audience—young or old.

But Some may find the early tragedy upsetting. The pacing is relentless; there's no room to breathe if that's what you need.

Finding Nemo poster

Inside Out2015

A film about emotions that captures what it actually *feels* like to be human. Hilarious, gorgeously designed, and constructed like a perfect machine. It works on every level at once.

But The emotional architecture is complex; you need to pay attention. If you're expecting a simple kids' movie, the conceptual weight might feel heavy.

Inside Out poster

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The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Craig of the Creek2018

Both are stories about becoming part of a group that accepts you. Mike and Squishy's friendship mirrors the organic, unforced way kids in Craig of the Creek simply *belong* to something larger.

A show about a group of kids with genuine affection for each other, solving small mysteries in their world. Funny, kind, and animated with warmth. It treats childhood friendship as serious and real.

But Nothing happens in the way you'd expect from most TV. It's slice-of-life and small-scale; if you need high stakes or spectacle, you'll find it slow.

Craig of the Creek poster
More like this (8)

Coco2017

A love letter to Mexican culture, death, memory, and family. Visually dazzling, musically rich, and structured around genuine stakes. It *sings*, literally and figuratively.

But The third act relies on emotional revelation rather than action; if you need constant plot momentum, it may feel slow. Also, it will make you cry.

Coco poster

The Lego Movie2014

A film about conformity and creativity disguised as anarchic comedy. It's stuffed with jokes, visual gags, and a surprisingly moving core about self-worth and acceptance.

But The relentless pace and meta-humour exhausts some viewers. If you prefer quiet character work, the noise may feel hollow.

The Lego Movie poster

How to Train Your Dragon2010

A boy and a dragon learning to trust each other. It nails the arc of an unlikely friendship with genuine emotion, spectacular action, and a willingness to let its hero be unconventional.

But The supporting characters are thin. If you're looking for ensemble depth, you won't find it in the early films, though sequels improve this.

How to Train Your Dragon poster

Wreck-It Ralph2012

A video-game villain discovers he's more than his code, set in a love-letter to gaming culture. Fast, warm, and structured around genuine questions about identity and belonging.

But The arcade world-building is dense; you'll miss references if you're not versed in gaming history. The emotional stakes rely on understanding loneliness in isolation.

Wreck-It Ralph poster

Shrek2001

An ogre and a donkey defy a fairy-tale kingdom. Genuinely subversive for family animation: crude, clever, and willing to make fun of Disney itself while telling a sincere love story.

But The humour is broad and sometimes scatological; if you prefer subtlety, it will feel loud. The sequels decline sharply, so don't follow them.

Shrek poster

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted2012

Manic, colourful, and unexpectedly inventive about a found family on the run. It knows what it is and commits fully to the chaos. Pure joy disguised as a kids' film.

But There's virtually no plot beneath the spectacle. If you need character development or narrative coherence, the relentless fun will feel exhausting and empty.

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted poster

Severance2022

Both examine institutions that shape identity—a university, a corporation—and what happens when a person discovers they're more than the role assigned to them. The tone is opposite, but the question is identical.

A psychological thriller about workers whose memories are surgically divided between job and life. Unsettling, brilliantly acted, meticulously constructed. One of the smartest shows made in years.

But It's bleak and morally murky with no easy answers. The slow burn will frustrate anyone wanting resolution. Some find the office setting tedious.

Severance poster

Wolfwalkers2020

Like Monsters University, it's fundamentally about overcoming initial resistance to become true friends with someone from an 'enemy' world. But Wolfwalkers does it with folklore and tragedy, meeting the opposite register—deeper and darker.

A girl and a wolfwalker form a bond across a cultural divide in 17th-century Ireland. Animated in a hand-drawn style that feels alive. A story about prejudice and chosen family, gorgeously told.

But The animation style is deliberately rough and sketchy; if you prefer polished CG, it will look unfinished. The pacing is deliberately contemplative, not action-driven.

Wolfwalkers poster

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