Illumination, a privately owned animation studio based in the US and operating as a division of Universal Pictures, also maintains its subsidiary Illumination Studios Paris. Founded on January 17, 2007, by Chris Meledandri, the company employs approximately 310 individuals. Functioning as an animation and post-production studio, Illumination is responsible for popular franchises including Despicable Me, The Secret Life of Pets, and Sing. The studio has also produced adaptations of Dr. Seuss' books such as The Lorax and How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and has ventured into adaptations of Nintendo video games, beginning with The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Chris Meledandri produces the studio's films, which Universal finances and distributes. Characters from the Despicable Me series, the Minions, are prominently associated with the studio.
On March 18, 2026, the spin-off film *Minions & Monsters* was announced for a July 1, 2026 release, arriving as the six previous installments of the *Despicable Me* franchise have accumulated nearly $5.5 billion worldwide. Previously, on September 14, 2025, Illumination Entertainment and Nintendo officially announced *The Super Mario Galaxy Movie*, set for release in cinemas in April 2026, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the original *Super Mario Bros* video game. This followed the September 11, 2025, news that Brian Tyler would return to score the animated sequel. Earlier, on August 14, 2025, MGA Entertainment launched an all-new line of L.O.L. Surprise! Loves Minions Tots dolls, featuring characters from Illumination’s *Minions*.
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