People are only just realizing what '23/19' from Monsters, Inc. means, and it's blowing their minds. Find out more here...

Film & TV

Monsters Inc Fans Left Mind-Blown After Realizing What ’23-19′ Actually Means

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12:30 19 May 2025

Updated: 08:02 20 May 2025


People are only just realizing what ’23-19′ from Monsters, Inc. actually means, and it’s blowing their minds.

A seemingly minor detail from Pixar’s beloved film Monsters, Inc. has recently shocked fans on social media, with many expressing disbelief that they never noticed it before.

The scene in question features the use of the code ’23-19,’ which prompts an emergency response from the Child Detection Agency (CDA) after a monster returns from the human world with a sock stuck to his back.

Although many viewers have accepted the code as simply a quirky part of the film’s fictional world, a woman has gone viral after posting a TikTok that revealed what the numbers may actually signify.

George Sanderson in Monsters, Inc.
People are only just realizing what ’23/19′ from Monsters, Inc. means, and it’s blowing their minds. Credit: Pixar

The TikToker’s revelation has sparked a wave of reactions online, as fans of the film have been left astonished by the potential hidden meaning behind the code.

Many admitted that they had never thought to connect the numbers to letters of the alphabet.

One commenter jokingly said: “I’m also today years old.”

Another added: “That just blew my mind,” while a third simply commented: “You learn something new every day.”

The scene in question features the character George Sanderson being dramatically tackled and shaved by the CDA after his contamination with a ‘foreign object’ – a harmless white sock.

The phrase ‘We have a 23-19!’ is shouted by one of his fellow monsters, sparking a chaotic and humorous sequence.

Monsters Inc, '23-19'
The code ’23-19′ has numerous potential hidden meanings, as pointed out by fans. Credit: Pixar

In the TikToker’s clip, she excitedly shared: “Oh my god. I was today years old when I realized that when I used to watch Monsters, Inc., I used to be like, ‘What the hell is a 23-19?’”

She continued: “The 23rd letter in the alphabet is W, and the 19th letter is S. Standing for white socks. Yep.”

Interestingly, some fans offered additional theories about the code’s broader meaning.

One person commented that: “’23-19′ is in all Pixar movies because it’s the studio number that the producers start off in.”

Another chimed in, claiming: “It’s also the code for copyright infringement law and hidden in lots of movies that have broken it.”

Regardless of which interpretation is correct, the newfound meaning behind ’23-19′ adds another layer of appreciation for the clever details Pixar often includes in its films.

@iamfyiya Anyone else watch monsters inc😂 #2319monstersinc #2319 #monstersincmeme #tiktokireland #irishtiktok #todayyearsold #disney #pixar #disneygirl ♬ original sound – FYIYA | Irish Content Creator

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