Being a long time film buff, I can spot softening up, or Disneyfying...yet I saw none of this on Monsters Inc...after pouring over virtually every extra and interview on the 2 disc set.
Monsters Inc stands as my pick for best film of last year...even above Ocean's Eleven, Amelie, Memento, etc...for the simple fact it had been quite awhile since I have been literally blown away in all aspects of a film.
Sadly, the next batch of Pixar films looks rather, less than stellar. Fish? Cars? *sigh* could Monsters Inc be the last great Pixar film for some time to come? Hmmm
Btw, it is funny NBXmas is now "reowned" by Disney due to its huge cult success post 1993 release.