Theme Park Scope

I would like to formally announce that I have found my next impulse purchase, and it is a bag with a giant, smiling, one-eyed face on it. I did not choose this. This bag chose me.

(I am, apparently, a person who can be emotionally manipulated by a green circle with horns, and I’m at peace with that.)

There are new Monsters, Inc. big face totes featuring Mike Wazowski and Sulley, and I got a good look at both of them. I’m going to walk you through the details, because there are a lot of little things worth noticing, and the pictures I’m sharing with this post show them up close.

Let’s start with Mike, because he’s front and center and he knows it. The Mike tote is bright, almost neon green, and shaped like his face, round on the bottom and gently pointed at the top. He’s got his giant white eye with that teal-green iris, a wide, toothy grin, and a little pair of tan horns that stick out from the top edges of the bag, made from soft fabric. That’s a really nice touch, because it makes the whole thing feel like Mike came out of the movie and decided to be a purse. The handles are the same lime green as the bag, which keeps the whole look bold and cohesive.

Then there’s Sulley. His tote is a deep navy blue with light blue handles, and the front shows his big, friendly, furry face in that classic blue, along with his wide-open grin and a big pair of curved horns. The shape follows his head too, with a slightly lumpy outline that is absolutely on brand for a gentle giant. Side by side on the rack, Mike and Sulley look like they’re about to head to work at the Scare Floor together, and I mean that as the highest compliment.

Now here’s my favorite part, and it’s easy to miss if you only look at the front. Flip each bag over, and the back has handwritten-style lettering. Mike’s says “Mike W.” with a little doodled version of his eye, drawn in black marker-style lettering, like he signed it himself. Sulley’s says “Your Pal, Sulley” in white script, like a note at the bottom of a letter. I can’t stop smiling at that. It’s such a small detail, but it makes each bag feel like a personal item the character left behind, and it fits the friendship at the heart of the movie so well.

If you’re someone who likes to match your bag to your day, these bags are loud in the best way. Mike is the bag you carry when you want everyone to know you’re having a good time, and Sulley is the one you carry when you want to be quietly adorable. (I’m a Mike person on days when I’m caffeinated and a Sulley person on days when I’m not. Please don’t ask what that says about me.)

And honestly, the timing feels perfect. Monsters, Inc. fans have had a lot to be excited about lately, from the Monstropolis news at Disney’s Hollywood Studios to all the new details we’ve been following on the Disney Believe’s Monsters, Inc. Oceaneer Club. Big face totes feel like the kind of merchandise that fits right into that wave. Whether you’re a longtime fan who remembers seeing the movie in theaters, or you came to the monsters later, there’s something very satisfying about carrying one around.

I love when Disney drops a new character big face tote. They’re bold, they’re a little goofy, and they have personality, which is exactly what I want from character merchandise. Plenty of bags look nice and then disappear into a closet. These look like they’d start conversations in line, and I’m a big believer in a bag that makes strangers say “oh my gosh, I love your bag.”

If I had to pick one, I’d probably go with Mike. The horns, the big eye, the grin. It’s chaotic and cheerful, and the “Mike W.” doodle on the back puts it over the top for me. But I fully respect a Sulley loyalist, because “Your Pal, Sulley” is one of the sweetest little details I’ve seen on a bag in a while.

Tell me where you land. Are you Team Mike or Team Sulley, and are you carrying yours to the parks or saving it for everyday errands? Drop it in the comments. And keep checking back with Theme Park Scope, because I’ll be sharing more Monsters, Inc. news and every new bit of merchandise as soon as I spot it.