Monsters, Inc.

We've come to expect nothing less than perfection from the Disney/Pixar team, and so far they've managed to live up to that lofty standard every time out.

In fact, each of the three animated comedies produced by the two studios (the "Toy Story" movies and "A Bug's Life") has far outpaced the works of their competitors — in fact, they even out-do most of the Mouse House's later-period, cel-animated efforts.

Still, we can't expect things to be that way every time, can we?

Happily, "Monsters, Inc." suggests that we can, at least for now. It's a giddy, clever, endearingly sweet and often riotously hilarious comedy that appears to be deceptively simple, both in terms of its aims and its story.

However, as is the case with Pixar's other movies, this one manages to deal with issues that are weightier than you'd expect from what is typically thought of as a superficial genre. (This time around, it's childhood fears, as well as shady corporate policies — and to some small degree, fears about job security.)

The story takes place in a world in which the monsters under the bed and in your closet are real. It turns out they're there to "capture" the screams of children, which are used as a power source in their world.

And the very best at terrifying children is James P. Sullivan (voiced by John Goodman), a blue-furred beast better-known as Sulley to his friends. And his best friend is his roommate and co-worker Mike Wazowski (voiced by Billy Crystal).

Despite Sulley's best efforts, their hometown, Monstropolis, is going through an energy crisis. So it's up to Sulley to work twice as hard, as well as meet a challenge from co-worker Randall Boggs (Steve Buscemi), an evil, chameleonlike creature who will do anything to better his "scare" totals.

That includes opening "doors," or passageways into the human world after normal work hours. Unfortunately, while investigating one of Randall's doors, Sulley accidentally lets a human girl into Monstropolis.

What's worse, the girl, whom he's nicknamed Boo (5-year-old newcomer Mary Gibbs), isn't afraid of him or Mikey. And returning the tiny tot to her world is starting to look impossible — especially since they're becoming attached to one another.

This is yet another showcase for Pixar's ever-improving animation technology — witness the scene in which you can see Sulley's fur "ripple." Also, though Boo is still not quite "human" enough to pass for live-action, the animators have come a long way in that regard.