Mike Wazowski (Monsters Inc., Monsters University)

"You played dodgeball? I loved dodgeball! Of course, I was the ball." (Monsters Inc.)

Mike Wazowzki (voiced by Billy Crystal) is the deuteragonist of Monsters Inc. and the protagonist of Monsters University. In the former, he acts as protagonist Sully's best friend and professional partner as the two of them try to return a human child to the human world. In the latter, he is the protagonist, trying to prove his scariness through his college education.

While he is a good character in Monsters Inc., this post will focus on his character in Monsters University. Many family movies focus on the message: "follow your dreams and you can do anything." Disney itself has pushed this message more than anyone, with films like Wreck-It Ralph and Ratatouille. While this is an important and oftentimes meaningful message, it is important to remember its more realistic counterpart. Mike dedicates his entire existence to acing his classes and becoming a great scarer, but when the film reaches its climax, its shown that, when put into a practical situation, Mike is not scary. No matter how much passion or desire Mike demonstrates, he simply does not have the natural talent or ability to achieve his dream. This is a sad reality that many people often overlook, but needs to be thought of as much as the fanciful and hopeful dreams of an individual.