Monsters University introduced a lot of new monsters including the adorable Scott “Squishy” Squibbles. The fun loving 5 eyed monster almost steals the show in the Monsters, Inc. prequel released this past Friday. On my recent trip to Pixar headquarters in San Francisco, I had a chance to meet with the talent behind the movie Monsters University. The voice talent behind Squishy, Peter Sohn, was kind enough to spend a snack break with members of the media to answer some questions.
Sohn who has worked at Pixar for about 11 years said he was lucky to have the opportunity to play Squishy the chubby guy with the hat and a bunch of eyes.
This was Peter’s response when asked how he got the role of Squishy:
It’s funny. I’ve played Emile in Ratatouille. And it was like you’re chubby. And you eat funny food. And you’re kinda nerdy too. I’m like okay. So why don’t you play this guy? I’m in story. And so I’m pitching stuff. Usually you’re pitching stuff to do voices. But this was a straight on kinda casting call for the thing where they wanted me specifically. So it was just Dan (Dan Scanlon, Monsters University Director) saying come on down and do the scratch for it.
He went on to explain that scratch voices are just temporary voices used to feel out how the story’s going to work.
Snack time with Squishy…
Sohn also spoke about what it’s like to work at Pixar equating it to family, and said that it’s a real give and take environment. And when in such family, you want to do whatever you can for each other. Also, that the studio allows staff the freedom to try different things. Peter Sohn is a perfect example of this freedom to move around and grow at Pixar. He started at Pixar as a character designer on Finding Nemo in 2000. And then moved into story on that on production and onto animation. Currently, Peter Sohn is co-directing The Good Dinosaur with Bob Peterson that’s coming out in 2014.
Sohn described to us what he likes about the Squishy character:
I like that he’s so sincere and naive about things. There’s a scene where Mike and Sulley want to throw a party. And he’s like this is great. Grab some couch cushions ’cause we’re gonna build a fort. I totally connect with that type of guy just ’cause that’s how I grew up with my cousins. We didn’t have the Internet. You have that one piece of Lego and can just nerd out for a while. It was that naive sincerity that I really really liked about him.
I have to admit that I totally get why Peter Sohn was pegged as the voice of Squishy. In many ways he reminds me of the fun loving character, and I mean this in the nicest of ways. He came across as so genuine and the type of person who would give the shirt off his back. I am looking forward to what comes next from Peter Sohn!
Monsters University is in theaters now! Like Monsters University on Facebook!
All-expense paid press trip provided by Disney/Pixar. All opinions are 100% my own.
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- A Chat With Producer Kori Rae About Monsters University
- A Closer Look at Pixar’s The Blue Umbrella and Director Interview #MonstersUEvent
Angela, it looks like you had too much fun on this trip! I am enjoying reading about all your adventures. Reading all these posts makes me want to see the movie!
I thought out little lunch with Pete Sohn was awesome. He was so down to earth and funny! I wish we would have got to spend more time with him to ask him even more!
I’m looking forward to taking my lil guy to watch this soon!
I cannot wait to take my boys to see this movie!!
Squishy sounds so lovable. Can’t wait to see this.
I LOVED this character in the movie.
How fun, I am gonna have to watch this movie. I see it all over and it keeps calling my name out to watch!
Great celeb experience! Love those Disney junkets!
Squishy is adorable! One of my faves!
Kas
My boys would be right there with him building a fort!