Review: Disney+ debuts first Pixar TV show, 'Monsters at Work'

Disney is turning its popular franchises into TV shows for Disney+. After The Mandalorian and multiple Marvel shows, Disney+ has released the first Pixar TV show, Monsters at Work.

Based on Monsters Inc.
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command was technically the first TV show to be spun off from a Pixar franchise, but its 2D animation is not what anyone would normally associate with Pixar.

The first two episodes of Monsters at Work, based on the Monsters Inc. movie franchise, are now available in major Disney+ regions in 4K Dolby Vision HDR and 5.1 surround sound, with eight more episodes coming over the next eight weeks. However, some Disney+ regions will have to wait until August to stream it.

It marks the beginning of the Pixar TV adventure. The beloved animation studio's movies have grossed more than $14.5 billion at the global box office since 1995's Toy Story, and Disney is now turning some of the most popular franchises into TV shows. 



The next three Pixar TV series are Dug Days (coming later in 2021, featuring Dug from Up), an untitled Cars show (coming in 2022), and Pixar's first original show Win or Lose (coming in 2023).

Disney is already a powerhouse and its Disney+ streaming service surpassed 100 million subscribers after just 16 months, although it still trails Netflix's 200+ million subscribers. The company is planning to invest $8-9 billion dollars annually on new Disney+ content by 2024.

- "Over the next few years, Disney+ plans to release approximately 10 Star Wars series and 10 Marvel series, as well as 15 Disney live action, Disney Animation, and Pixar series, as well as 15 Disney live action, Disney Animation, and Pixar features—all in addition to the premium content set to premiere in theatres or on linear channels before coming to the streaming service," the company said in December 2020.