Illumination Entertainment
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| Type | Subsidiary of Universal Studios |
|---|---|
| Industry | CGI animation Stop-motion Motion pictures |
| Genre | Various |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founder(s) | Chris Meledandri |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Key people | Janet Healy Eddie Egan[1] |
| Products | Films |
| Owner(s) | Comcast (51%) General Electric (49%) |
| Parent | Universal Studios |
| Website | www.illuminationentertainment.com |
Illumination Entertainment is an American film production company, founded by Chris Meledandri in 2007. It has an exclusive financing and distribution partnership with Universal Studios and it is based in Santa Monica, California.[2] It is best known for its 2010 animated feature Despicable Me, and 2011 Easter themed feature Hop. Its third film, a feature film version of Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, starring Danny DeVito as the voice of the Lorax, releases on March 2, 2012.
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[edit] History
Meledandri left his post as President of 20th Century Fox Animation in early 2007 where he supervised or executive produced movies including Ice Age, Ice Age: The Meltdown, Robots, Alvin and The Chipmunks, The Simpsons Movie and Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who. After leaving he founded Illumination Entertainment. By 2008, a deal was announced positioning Illumination as NBC Universal’s family entertainment arm that would produce one to two films a year starting in 2010. It is co-owned by Universal who exclusively distributes the films, but Illumination retains creative control as an independent production company. During the summer 2011, Illumination acquired the animation department of the French animation and visual effects studio Mac Guff, which animated Despicable Me and Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, and formed Illumination Mac Guff.[3]
[edit] Process
Meledandri is determined to keep his company adhering to a low-cost model, recognizing that “strict cost controls and hit animated films are not mutually exclusive”.[4] In an industry where movie expenses often exceed $100 million, Illumination’s first two releases were completed with significantly lower budgets, considering Despicable Me’s $69 million budget and the $63 million budget of Hop.[4] One way the company sustains a lean financial model is by employing cost-conscious animation techniques that lower the expenses and render times of its computer graphics.[4] In addition, animators will often re-use certain components of a scene or eliminate details that are extraneous and costly to render.[5]
[edit] Current projects
The 3D CGI feature, Despicable Me, starring Steve Carell was released on July 9, 2010. The film earned $536 million and opening at #1 on its opening weekend. Illumination's second film was the live action/CGI hybrid Hop, starring Russell Brand and James Marsden.
Illumination is currently in production on the sequel to the worldwide hit Despicable Me, which will release in summer 2013.
Other films in pre-production include the animated feature adaptation of Ricky Gervais’ Flanimals books, a 3D stop-motion animated film based on The Addams Family cartoons by Charles Addams, which Tim Burton will direct, a CGI adaptation of the Uglydoll toy franchise, which creators David Horvath and Sun-Min-Kim will executive produce,[6] .
In May 2011, Illumination announced that it will be working with Universal Studios to create a 3D, Despicable Me ride that will open at the Universal Studios Orlando theme park in 2012.[7]
[edit] Filmography
[edit] Feature films
Released films
| # | Title | Release Date | Budget | Gross | RT | MC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Despicable Me | July 9, 2010 | $69,000,000 | $543,113,985 | 81% | 72 |
| 2 | Hop | April 1, 2011 | $63,000,000 | $183,953,723 | 26% | 41 |
Upcoming films
| Title | Release Date | Refs. |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Seuss' The Lorax | March 2, 2012 | [8] |
| Despicable Me 2 | July 3, 2013 | [9][10] |
Films in development
| Title | Refs. |
|---|---|
| Flanimals | [11] |
| The Addams Family | [12] |
| Curious George | [13] |
| Untitled Cryptozoology Project | [14] |
| Pluto | [15] |
| Uglydolls | [6] |
| Gospel for Teens | [16] |
| Dr. Seuss' biopic | [17] |
| Emily the Strange | [17] |
| Woody Woodpecker | [18] |
[edit] Short films
| # | Title | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Home Makeover, Orientation Day, and Banana | December 14, 2010 |
| 2 | Phil's Dance Party [19] | March 23, 2012 |
[edit] References
- ^ Fleming, Mike (2011-05-15). "Universal Marketing Head Eddie Egan Moving To Top Illumination Post". Deadline.com. http://www.deadline.com/2011/05/universal-marketing-head-eddie-egan-to-move-to-illumination-post/. Retrieved 2011-06-15.
- ^ Michael Fleming (2008-03-05). "Meledandri, Universal team on deals - Entertainment News, Exclusives, Media". Variety. http://variety.com/article/VR1117981911. Retrieved 2010-03-26.
- ^ Fleming, Mike (November 14, 2011). "Universal Pictures Buys Paris Animation Unit For Chris Meledandri’s Illumination". Deadline. http://www.deadline.com/2011/11/universal-pictures-buys-paris-animation-unit-for-chris-meledandris-illumination/. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
- ^ a b c Barnes, Brooks (2011-04-03). "For Illumination Entertainment, Animation Meets Economic Reality". Nytimes.com. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/04/business/media/04illumination.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=stephenbburke/. Retrieved 2011-06-15.
- ^ Schuker, Lauren (2010-07-15). "Movie Budget Lesson #1: Skip the Fur". The Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704746804575367312582277380.html/. Retrieved 2011-06-15.
- ^ a b Fleming, Mike (2011-05-26). "Chris Meledandri's Illumination To Turn Uglydoll Into Animated Film". Deadline.com. http://www.deadline.com/2011/05/chris-meledandris-illumination-to-turn-uglydoll-into-animated-film/. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
- ^ Vary, Adam B. (2011-05-19). "Universal Parks announces new 'Despicable Me' ride, and a major face-lift for 'Spider-Man'". EW.com. http://popwatch.ew.com/2011/05/19/universal-orlando-despicable-me-spider-man/. Retrieved 2011-06-15.
- ^ Michael Fleming (2009-07-28). "U, Illumination to light up 'Lorax'". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118006616.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&nid=2564. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
- ^ Mike Fleming (2010-07-13). "Chris Meledandri's Illumination Game Plan Includes 'Despicable Me' Sequel, 'Minion' Spinoffs, Dr. Seuss, The Addams Family". Deadline. http://www.deadline.com/2010/07/chris-meledandris-illumination-game-plan-includes-despicable-me-sequel-minion-spinoffs-dr-seuss-the-addams-family/. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
- ^ "Universal Dates Savages, Despicable Me 2 and Oblivion". ComingSoon.net. 2011-06-16. http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=78719. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- ^ Michael Fleming (2009-04-28). "Gervais' 'Flanimals' heads to bigscreen". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118002966.html?categoryid=13&cs=1. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
- ^ Mike Fleming (2010-03-18). "Tim Burton's Next 3D Animated Film? Da Da Da Da, Snap Snap: 'The Addams Family'". Deadline. http://www.deadline.com/2010/03/tim-burton-next-3d-animated-film-da-da-da-snap-snap-the-addams-family/. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- ^ Steven Zeitchik (2010-07-30). "With 'Curious George,' Illumination looks to make more animation mischief". Los Angeles Times. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2010/07/curious-george-illumination-movie-book-universal.html. Retrieved 2010-07-31.
- ^ Mike Fleming (2009-12-04). "Illumination Bets on Black for Ani Pitch". Variety. http://weblogs.variety.com/bfdealmemo/2009/12/illumination-bets-on-black-for-ani-pitch.html. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
- ^ Mike Fleming (2010-10-20). "Illumination Entertainment And Universal Eye Japanese Manga 'Pluto' For New Pic". Deadline. http://www.deadline.com/2010/10/illumination-entertainment-and-universal-eye-japanese-manga-pluto-for-new-pic-project/. Retrieved 2010-10-21.
- ^ Fleming, Mike (August 16, 2011). "Universal, Illumination, And Escape Artists To Film Harlem Teen Gospel Story". Deadline. http://www.deadline.com/2011/08/universal-illumination-and-escape-artists-tap-into-harlem-teen-gospel-program-for-feature/. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
- ^ a b Kit, Borys (October 6, 2011). "Johnny Depp to Become Dr. Seuss for Illumination and Universal (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/risky-business/johnny-depp-dr-seuss-universal-illumination-245072. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
- ^ Kit, Borys (November 16, 2011). "Woody Woodpecker Movie in Development at Universal, Illumination (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/woody-woodpecker-movie-universal-illumination-262540. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
- ^ Katz, Josh (January 9, 2012). "Hop Blu-ray". Blu-ray. http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=8007. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
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