Growing up in the scream factory
Real talk: time is officially moving too fast. Mary Gibbs, the legendary voice behind Boo in Monsters, Inc., just hit the big 3-0. To celebrate, she dropped a side-by-side throwback pic on Instagram that is honestly giving us major nostalgia whiplash.
In the post, which featured an edit from @pubity, we see a 2022 shot of Gibbs at a fan convention right next to her as a literal 5-year-old standing next to a Sully mascot at the 2001 premiere. It’s a total mood, and yes, it makes us feel ancient.
Behind the scenes magic
Gibbs landed the gig because her dad, Rob Gibbs, was a storyboard artist on the film. Because she was so young, she didn't record in the booth with the main cast; she actually met Billy Crystal and John Goodman for the first time at the premiere.
She shared a super wholesome core memory about that day: she was feeling majorly overwhelmed by the red carpet cameras, and Billy Crystal stepped in to comfort her. “He pulled me to the side and talked to me and got on my level a little bit,” she recalled. He even carried her down the carpet—we’re not crying, you are.
These days, Gibbs is still embracing the Monsters, Inc. fandom, hitting up conventions like Valleyscon & Cymru Horror Con to sign autographs. She also voiced young Riley in Inside Out back in 2015, but she’s clearly got a soft spot for Boo.
Why it matters
Seeing child stars grow up is a rite of passage for Gen Z. While we might associate these actors with our favorite childhood characters forever, it’s a reminder that everyone is constantly evolving, even if it feels like they’re frozen in time for us.
