Hornet Rating:

Starring the voice talents of Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Jennifer Tilly, James Coburn and Steve Buscemi

Directed by Pete Docter, David Silverman and Lee Unkrich

Produced by Darla K. Anderson and Kori Rae

Written by Jill Culton, Docter, Ralph Eggleston, Dan Gerson and Jeff Pidgeon

Available on Disney DVD and Home Video

92 mins.

Rated G

After the success of “Toy Story” and “A Bug?s Life,” the computer graphics wizards at Pixar Studios could have let up in their quest to rewrite the big book on animated cinema. They could have lived off their lucrative merchandise contract with Disney, or they could have followed Disney?s lead with straight-to-video sequels and meandering short films that were long on style and short on substance.

Instead, the Pixar magicians threw themselves behind what has to be the most fascinating animated movie ever made.

Pixar?s “Monsters Inc” shouldn?t be a surprise to fans of the studio?s earlier work, with its tight story and pitch-perfect characterizations of a fantastic world not totally unlike our own. The recent two-disc DVD release showcases the sharp writing and attention to detail that makes the film truly great.

Set in bustling downtown Monstropolis ? where a civilization of unusual creatures casually comes and goes past grocers, sushi bars and barbers ? the featured monsters are a couple of normal guys just trying to make a living at the town factory. The settings and subjects are vast, yet familiar and the painstaking realization of mood, movement and drama is likely to leave even the most jaded filmgoer agape with awe.

Billy Crystal and John Goodman lend their voices to Mike and Sulley, two of the more successful monsters at a sprawling scare factory called Monsters Incorporated. Sulley?s job as “scarer” enlists him to sneak into childrens? rooms and elicit their screams. Meanwhile, Mike works to collect the screams in large steel tanks, which are converted into life-giving energy for Monstropolis.

Competition is fierce among monsters for the top spot in scaring; many monsters regard Sulley?s success with a special reverence, while his reptilian nemesis Randall (“Ghost World?s” Steve Buscemi) schemes to overtake Sulley in the factory?s rankings. One night, Sulley spies Randall working overtime in an illegal bid to gather screams. When Sulley investigates, he is confronted by a curious young girl who makes an inspired escape into the monster world.

The little girl ? from whom monsters run from, in fear of contamination by the human world ? bonds with Sulley as he and Mike engage in a madcap struggle to get the girl home. Randall?s capacity for invisibility and a few factory conspiracies complicate issues, but through the deft touches of the film?s writers and directors, the monsters? adventure is resolved with a perfect 90-minute package that would make Walt Disney beam with pride.

As if “Monsters Inc.” weren?t enjoyable enough by its own merits, the filmmakers have assembled more than three entrancing hours of bonus materials on a second DVD. Among the features is a tour of Pixar?s Bay Area studio facility, two Pixar short films and “flythroughs” around some of the films animated sets.

The behind-the-scenes look at “Monsters Inc.?s” technological innovation is one of the second disc?s must-see features. Animators and directors walk the viewer through the rigorous trial and error that resulted in Sulley?s light, flexible fur. Also included is a jaw-dropping look at the structure behind the film?s best sequence: Mike?s and Sulley?s temporary banishment to the Himalayas. Artists describe creating millions of individual snowflakes that comprised the scene?s background and demonstrate the painstaking process of setting the characters to motion in a blizzard.

Much like “Star Wars,” “Monsters Inc.” does not seek to define or judge the world in which its characters live. Rather, the filmmakers have laid out a fantastic array of odd-looking faces and places that young viewers can laugh at and older viewers can somewhat identify with. The film is a masterful blend of wit and work, fact and fiction, and one of the more entertaining cinematic exercises in recent years. Moviegoers should thank their lucky stars that Pixar hasn?t been spoiled by success, and they shouldn?t miss the opportunity to see the studio?s great artists at work rewriting that big book.