An example of would be that, even though you have not placed every piece of a puzzle in its correct location, you recognize the puzzle's overall scene.

An example of top-down would be that, even though you have not placed every piece of a puzzle in its correct location, you recognize the puzzle's overall scene.

Explanation:

Top-down is a way to organize information. Top-down is, in essence, implies in dividing the processes of something like the manufacture of a product or the creation of an idea to thereby use this fragmentation (or compartmentalization) to make the understanding of each part that makes up a whole much easier to do.  Each part of this subdivision, from the largest to the smallest (or from the highest to the lowest as the name suggests) is thoroughly studied and detailed in the most complete way possible to obtain a broad understanding of the subject under analysis.

the main idea of monster inc is good and evil

if im wrong correct me but have a blessed day!