Monsters Inc. hits London

Another computer-animated film, another monster hit. After breaking box office records in the US, Monsters, Inc., the new film from the makers of Toy Story, received its British premiere at the Odeon Leicester Square.

The film took £45 million at the US box office when it opened last November, the highest in history for an animated film, and has since outstripped Toy Story 2, grossing £179 million.

The story of the monsters who live in every child's wardrobe - and get the tables turned on them when a scary little girl crosses over to their world - looks set to enjoy similar success here.

Among the stars at the screening with their children were Chris Tarrant, Harry Enfield, Linford Christie, TV presenter Lorraine Kelly and Paul Ross.

He said: "There's a really fascinating thing going on with animated films at the moment. They are getting slicker and more and more funny. They live and breathe."

Director Pete Docter said the film was based on his own childhood fears. "I was certain about two things as a child: my toys came awake when I went to sleep and there was a monster in my closet," he said. "And if I left the closet door open when I went to bed that would be a bad mistake."

Monsters, Inc. is on general release from 8 February.

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