What I suspect none of us knew 'til now was that the town of Monstropolis, a place populated by very strange-looking creatures, is powered by the terrified screams of such children.

Monstropolis, however, has a power crisis because, hey, how can a mere monster frighten the blasé kids of today?

Even the chief monster, Sully (voiced by John Goodman) is finding it tough.

Sully is huge and hairy and, off-duty, wouldn't scare a fly.

His serpentine rival, Randall (Steve Buscemi), on the other hand, is a monster 24/7 and is involved in wicked skulduggery at Monsters Incorporated, where the frighteners are trained, to find a drastic solution to the power problem.

Things take a bad turn for Sully and his friend Mike (Billy Crystal) - a blob with one huge eye - when Sully accidentally allows a child, Boo (Mary Gibbs), into Monstropolis.

Children are toxic to monsters and Sully had better get Boo back home fast.

The animation is by Pixar, makers of Toy Story, and is astonishingly good.

Best of all, though, is that as much care has been taken with the story and characters as with the art work.

This is a much more simple yarn than, say, Shrek - or even Toy Story and its successor - but like them is beautifully designed to please parents as much as their offspring.

It's hugely enjoyable and makes you wonder if there are any limits at all to what animation can achieve.