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Are you interested in applying to Monsters University? Would you like to learn more about receiving a higher education in professional scaring techniques? Then head over to the newly-launched Monsters University website, for details on the country’s top scaring university.
Some of the clever folks at Pixar have created a website to promote next summer’s sequel to “Monster’s Inc.,” “Monsters University.” But the website isn’t about the movie, at least not directly. It’s a viral site designed to replicate university websites, and I’ve got to tell you, it looks like it could be real.
There’s so much more to it than its believable front page. Click on any of the links, and they take you places. The news and events section provides details about everything from the latest exhibit at the Monsters Museum of Modern Art, to the time and location for an upcoming Football Pep Rally.
It’s got everything. Fundraising for the school, detailed student policies, links to each of the academic programs with a list of professors and selected reading, a campus safety blotter, and even a campus map. There’s a campus store with apparel from hoodies to baseball caps, and as isn’t surprising, guests can actually purchase them (clicking on the “checkout” button redirects users to the Disney Store Online).
There’s even a login page for M.U. Net, Monsters University’s online database with information and sign-ups available for students. I doubt there’s a real M.U. Net, but if there is I haven’t yet discovered how to procure myself a username and password.
Just about the only thing that’s not on the Monsters University site, that I would expect from a normal college website, is more pictures. That isn’t surprising; they don’t want to give away everything about the movie. But thinking back to my alma mater’s website, it had very little on it that I can’t find on the MU website (the only other thing that’s coming to mind is a menu for the cafeteria).
This is just about one of the cleverest pieces of viral marketing that I’ve ever seen. It’s also the most fun I’ve ever had on a university website. Normally clicking through and reading about dorms and campus eateries wouldn’t be that interesting, but with this it’s fun to go through and see just how detailed the site is. There’s everything from photos and testimonials from seniors to a little bar at the bottom of the page that lists the date and temperature, with a rotating list of student activities.
The only good thing I can’t say about the website is that I’m not sure it succeeds in its primary purpose. I still don’t know if I’m any more interested in seeing “Monsters University” than I was before I started playing on the site. But the point of viral marketing is to get people talking about the film, and I’ve certainly done that.
If the level of thought and attention to detail that went into making the Monsters University site carries through to the film, then that bodes well for the movie. Perhaps the Monsters University website succeeded in its primary purpose after all.
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*(The above image by eMaringolo is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.)