Summary

• Mike's line in Monsters, Inc. about knowing Sulley since fourth grade conflicts with their meeting in Monsters University.
• Despite the timeline discrepancy, Monsters University showcases the initial friction between Mike and Sulley, making their friendship more rewarding.
• The worldbuilding in the Monsters, Inc. universe is impressive, but the connection between the first movie and its prequel doesn't quite add up.

There's a line of dialogue in Monsters, Inc. that doesn't add up with another major part of the franchise canon, wreaking havoc with the Monsters, Inc. timeline. The line only seems like a throwaway reference when its spoken, but it has a major impact on how much sense the following movie makes. As with all Pixar movies, the worldbuilding within the Monsters, Inc. universe is very impressive for a family-fun adventure, but the franchise's second entry doesn't quite marry up with the first.

Monsters, Inc. was released in 2001, with Monsters University coming 12 years later in 2013. Despite coming such a long time after the original film, Monsters University is actually set before the events of Monsters, Inc. Witnessing Mike and Sulley's time together at college is very enlightening and explains the dynamic they've arrived at by the time of the events in the 2001 movie. However, Monsters University unfolds in an usual way when one of Mike Wazowski's lines from the first film is taken into account.

Mike's Monsters Inc. "Fourth Grade" Line Makes Monsters University Impossible

Mike's quip doesn't make sense after Monsters University's release

The early stages of 2001's Monsters, Inc., show the playful banter between Mike and Sulley. When Sulley pokes fun at Mike, the green monster replies with, "You've been jealous of my good looks since the fourth grade, pal." This quickly establishes how long the pair have known each other. If Monsters, Inc. is viewed as a standalone movie, then this line presents no issues. The problem arises when it's considered that Monsters University shows Mike and Sulley meeting for the first time at college. Seeing as both movies take place within the same continuity, both stories can't be true.

Mike and Sulley begin the prequel with no knowledge of the other, so their friendship beginning in the fourth grade doesn't make any sense.

It's a small oversight, but one that has big repercussions on how much sense the Monsters universe makes. If Mike's retort is to be taken at face value, then the events of Monsters University can't unfold the way they did in the movie. Mike and Sulley begin the prequel with no knowledge of the other, so their friendship beginning in the fourth grade doesn't make any sense.

Monsters University's Story Is Better For Mike And Sulley's Relationship

The prequel's version of events is much more fulfilling

Although the changes to Mike and Sulley's first meeting in Monsters University create dissonance with the events of the first movie, the story in the sequel is much better than the one implied by Mike in Monsters, Inc. The "friends since childhood" dynamic is a little cliché and arguably quite hollow. Showing the friction initially felt between Mike and Sulley in Monsters University makes the friendship they form by the time of Monsters, Inc. far more rewarding.

Monsters, Inc. and Monsters University can both be streamed on Disney+