The Scarers of Monsters Inc. — The Disney Classics

Despite their appearances and jobs, the Scarers of the Scare Floor at Monsters Incorporated are not the villains of the film. In the city of Monstropolis, it is up to this group of highly qualified monsters to keep the lights on and electricity running through homes. One of the most successful and well known Scarers, James P. Sullivan, fights with corporate enemy Randall Boggs for the title of Top Scarer, and wins successfully time and time again. None of the other Scarers seem threatened by this, but actually show excitement toward Sulley’s achievements. To give the other Scarers of Monsters Inc. a spotlight, let’s take a look at a few of them and some of the special dedications behind their names.

The Scarers of Monsters Inc. Image from: https://d23.com/this-day/monsters-inc-premieres/

Pete “claws” ward

Pete, otherwise known at work as “Claws”, is one of the Scarers that we get to see a couple of times throughout the film. Regardless of his tough exterior with his long claws and sharp teeth, Claws is actually very sensitive and is terrified of children. He’s seen running out of a room and being consoled by his assistant after a child almost touches him. He also cries at the end of the film when Mike and Sulley put on their production of “Put That Thing Back Where It Came From Or So Help Me”. Likely because of his emotions, Pete is ranked number twelve of thirteen on the Scarer’s Leaderboard.

It’s been theorized that Pete got his last name from famous American film producer Jay Ward, but that has never been confirmed. Jay Ward began his venture into animation in 1949, creating the very first cartoon series to go television ever. He began with the cartoon Crusader Rabbit, then went on to produce Peabody’s Improbable History, The Bullwinkle Show, Hoppity Hooper, George of the Jungle, and many more cartoons. It would be highly fitting to have this prominent Scarer’s name be dedicated to this incredible creative giant in the industry. Pixar’s very own beloved screenwriter and animator Joe Ranft provided the voice for Pete.

Pete “Claws” Ward from *Monsters Inc*. Image from: https://www.baamboozle.com/study/200455

joe “jj” ranft

Unlike many of the other Scarers on this list, Joe Ranft’s name is a direct dedication to the incredible late Joe Ranft of Pixar. Though they share a name, physically they are much different, as the Joe Ranft monster has three eyes, no mouth, and is just as big as Ted Pauley.

Joe Ranft was a key member of the original Pixar crew when Toy Story’s development began. Before that opportunity, Disney hired Joe and he worked on many big-name Disney animated movies, like Beauty and the Beast, Oliver & Company, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Lion King, Fantasia 2000, and more. He eventually transitioned over to Pixar when Pixar began it’s feat into computer animation, developing scenes for Toy Story like Sid’s Room and the Green Army Men characters. He co-wrote A Bug’s Life and was offered a voice role in that film as Heimlich. He also voiced Lenny the binoculars in Toy Story, Wheezy in Toy Story 2, and then Jacques, the french shrimp in Finding Nemo.

The last Pixar film that Ranft worked on was Cars, playing a huge part in the creation of Mater, as well as becoming co-director on the film. His voice can be heard in the role of Jerry Recycled Batteries, the truck McQueen mistakes Mack for. Tragically, Ranft would never be able to see the end product of Cars and its success, as he passed away in a terrible car accident when his friend in the driver’s seat lost control of the car and drove over a cliff into the ocean. Cars would be dedicated to Joe for his impact on the growth of Pixar. Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride was also dedicated to him, as he was a part of the production for that film as well. When Joe was still with us, he got to witness his name within Joe “JJ” Ranft make it permanently into the Pixar universe.

Nick “lanky” schmidt

Nick can be seen in both Monsters Inc. and its prequel Monsters University. He’s not hard to spot, as his long, lanky arms and legs make him a particularly conspicuous monster. His large eyes and sharp teeth that stick out from his mouth make him a good candidate for a scary monster, but he is still number ten of thirteen on the Scarer’s Leaderboard. His voice work was done by Bob Bergen, a voice actor best known for his roles as Porky Pig, Tweety Bird, and several additional roles in Disney films like Hercules, Mulan, Tarzan, and The Lion King.

Nick Schmidt was made in dedication to Andrew L. Schmidt, a director, writer and animator tied closely to Pixar. He was on the original animation team for Toy Story (1995), and continued to work on other critically acclaimed movies like Finding Nemo, Ratatouille, The Incredibles, Up, Toy Story 3, Up, and several shorts. He has since also worked on the Ratatouille themed ride in Disneyland Paris.

Nick “Lanky” Schmidt from Monsters Inc. Image from: https://disney-planet.fr/nick-lanky-schmidt-personnage-dans-monstres-cie/

harley p. gerson

Our big orange friend Harley is seen a couple of times throughout the first movie in the background, most notably on the Scare Floor and in Harryhausen’s restaurant. Without arms, Harley is all legs and teeth, but even this isn’t enough for him to land at the top of the leaderboard. Harley stands in last place on the Scarer’s Leaderboard.

Harley’s last name Gerson is a call to Daniel Gerson, the co-writer of both Monsters Inc. and Monsters University. Daniel lived a life of the arts, participating in musical theatre and eventually getting his English degree which accomodated his later career in film writing. He worked collaboratively, first with Andrew Stanton on Monsters Inc., and Monsters University where he met Robert L. Baird. Robert and Daniel went on to write Big Hero 6 together. Daniel’s involvement in the Monsters franchise didn’t end with just his writing, but he was also the voice actor of both Needleman and Smitty. Gerson passed away on February 6th, 2016 due to his battle with brain cancer.

theodore “ted” pauley

In the tenth position of the leaderboard, Ted Pauley and his many eyes take that place. With his big build, dark purple exterior and spikes on his shoulders, Pauley is an intimidating monster, until one of his eyeballs falls off and rolls away, that is. Although he is one of the background characters, he is a significant character in this film, because his eyeballs acted as the Easter Egg in Toy Story 2 that a new movie was coming soon.

Ted’s name is a nod to the great Bob Pauley, a production designer at Pixar. Bob had been with the company since the beginnings of the making of Toy Story, and served as the lead designer for Buzz Lightyear. He also had a hand in the making of A Bug’s Life, and of course with Monsters Inc. as well. He returned to Pixar in 2006 for the making of Cars, and continued on for Toy Story 3, Toy Story OF TERROR!, Inside Out, Cars 3, and Toy Story 4.

Theodore Pauley from Monsters Inc. Image from: https://disney-planet.fr/ted-pauley-personnage-dans-monstres-cie/

josh “noodles” rivera

Josh Rivera’s nickname “Noodles” is an excellent depiction of his physical traits. His long straight body accompanied by six waving tentacles puts him up in the fifth position of the leaderboard. Rivera doesn’t have a speaking role in the film, but does have a brief moment of tongue wiggling which is done by Pixar director Lee Unkrich. He is also shown at the end of the film during the Laugh Floor scenes, using his tentacles to juggle balls.

Josh Rivera’s name was made in dedication to Jonas Rivera, a dedicated producer at Pixar studios. Much like Bob Pauley, Jonas began in 1994 during the development of Toy Story as a production assistant and worked his way up through every single movie after until he became the producer of Up in 2009. He not only worked in production but in other departments as well, such as the art department and marketing department. He has been awarded and commended for his production work specifically on Up and Inside Out.

Josh “Noodles” Rivera from Monsters Inc. Image from: https://twitter.com/colonelghostman

harry “bud” luckey

Harry “Bud” Luckey is a bit of a less conventional looking monster, as he is the only one with long pom-pom-esque fur as his head. His colours are similar to Sulley’s having the purple fur and blue tentacles. He doesn’t appear to have any eyes or a mouth, but his slithery nature would be enough to scare children. He is ranked in fourth place on the Scarers leaderboard.

Ralph Guggenheim, one of the producers for Toy Story, once said that on the search for the perfect name for the child in the film, they went through the names of the Pixar employee’s children to get ideas. That’s when they finally decided to give tribute to Pixar’s 5th employee ever, Bud Luckey. Bud joined Pixar in 1990, his first project being the character design for Woody in Toy Story. He continued on to work on A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2, Finding Nemo, Ratatouille, and more. In later years he even provided his voice for characters in movies like The Incredibles and Toy Story 3. Andy Davis is named after his son, Andy Luckey. As a continued tribute to Bud and all of his dedication and creativity he brought to the studio, Harry “Bud” Luckey was also named after him.

bob “dentures” peterson

Even monsters have to have dental hygiene, right? This blue monster with spikes down his back gets large dentures put into his mouth each day for work in preparation to attain some screams from some children. This practice does not change when Monsters Incorporated is converted into a place to make children laugh, as he decides to put in vibrating dentures instead which causes him to bounce up and down. Dentures is number six on the leaderboard.

Bob Peterson is also the name of a remarkable animator, writer and voice actor. Bob first began with Pixar as an animator on Toy Story, then a story artist and supervisor for A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2, and Monsters Inc. He moved more into the role of lead writer and co-director for Up. He has also provided the voice for many beloved characters over the years, including Roz, Mr. Ray and the Pelican in Finding Nemo, Dug and Alpha in Up, and Chick Hicks and Dr. Damage in Cars 3.