Cheeky Pixar Monsters Bring New Year Blessings

Even Pixar is feeling auspicious this Spring Festival. The 3D animation studio released Chinese New Year-themed posters for Monsters University, the upcoming prequel to Monsters, Inc. The posters feature beloved characters Sulley (the furry blue one) and Mike (the green ball-shaped one) posing alongside traditional New Year's blessings. As the film isn't slated to be released until June in the US and no release date has been set for China, some are wondering why Pixar would be warming up Chinese film audiences so early.

The studio celebrated their 27th anniversary on February 3. The posters are certainly part of their birthday fun, but more notable is the connection between monsters and Chinese New Year. Traditionally, the man-eating nian monster is chased away by firecrackers during Spring Festival. I am inclined to wonder if Pixar's decision to send their monsters to wish us good luck and prosperity might just be a clever little prank.

Along with the above posters, Pixar is doing a great job promoting Monsters University with an incredible website and this funny recruitment video. To keep up to date on the film, follow Pixar on weibo.