The season of record-setting DVD sales has officially begun. Pixar and Walt Disney have announced that on its first day, the home video release of MONSTERS, INC. sold 5 million units on DVD and video in North America, topping the previous record of first day sales held by Disney's THE LION KING at 4.5 million units. The 2-disc DVD, which accounted for the majority of the sales (60-65%), features a digital transfer; audio commentary by director Pete Docter, co-director Lee Unkrich, executive producer John Lasseter and screenwriter Andrew Stanton; the new animated short "Mike's New Car;" animated "outtakes" including a musical performance by the MONSTERS, INC. characters; an exclusive look at the Disney/Pixar's next animated feature film, FINDING NEMO; and more. With 5 million copies sold on day one, MONSTERS, INC is poised to have record-setting first week sales and is likely to be one of the best-selling DVDs and videos of the year. In fall 2001, DreamWorks claimed first-week VHS and DVD sales of 9 million units for SHREK, which was subsequently topped by Warner's May 2002 HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE, which claimed first week home video sales of 10 million. However, MONSTERS, INC may face some stiff competition in the coming months when summer blockbusters SPIDER-MAN (November 1), STAR WARS: EPISODE II (November 12) and LILO AND STITCH (December 3) are released.
Karl Cohen meets the key players behind MONSTERS INC. and explains why there is that certain Pixar magic...it is technology, amazing story and animation teams, amazing directors and tradition and something else...
