Illumination
- Open roles
- 0
- Founded
- 2007
- Employees
- 51-200
- Offices
- 1
About Illumination
Illumination is an American animation and entertainment production company founded in 2007 by Chris Meledandri. Based in Santa Monica, California, it develops character-driven animated features for family audiences, combining original stories with adaptations of established intellectual property. Its work spans creative development, writing, storyboarding, character design, visual development, voice casting and production supervision.
The company began as Illumination Entertainment and adopted the public name Illumination in 2017. Its relationship with Universal Pictures provides exclusive financing and worldwide distribution, connecting its creative development operation with international theatrical and home-media markets. Its films combine comedic storytelling, distinctive characters and franchise development, with projects ranging from original animal adventures to adaptations of books and video games.
Film production and creative development
Illumination's Santa Monica operation serves as its creative and executive development hub. Writing, character design, editorial, storyboarding and voice production are directed there, while intensive computer-animation production is carried out through its dedicated French production subsidiary, Illumination Studios Paris. This transatlantic arrangement connects development and creative supervision in California with digital production in France.
The production relationship began with Mac Guff Ligne on Despicable Me, released in 2010. In July 2011, Universal Pictures and Illumination acquired Mac Guff's feature-animation division, establishing the production business initially known as Illumination Mac Guff. That subsidiary adopted the name Illumination Studios Paris in 2021.
Characters and franchises
The studio's filmography includes the Despicable Me and Minions franchises, The Secret Life of Pets, Sing, and adaptations of Dr. Seuss' The Lorax and The Grinch. Its productions also include the live-action and CGI hybrid Hop, the original animated feature Migration, and Despicable Me 4.
In collaboration with Nintendo, Illumination produced The Super Mario Bros. Movie, released in 2023. Across its slate, the company develops characters and fictional worlds that support sequels and broader intellectual-property brand extensions.
More about Illumination
Founder background
Before founding the company, Chris Meledandri served as president of 20th Century Fox Animation and Blue Sky Studios, where he oversaw productions including Ice Age and Robots.
Operating approach
The report describes a business model built around a lean creative-development team and rigorous production cost control, with Meledandri and creative leadership directing the development process.
Industry recognition
Despicable Me 2 (2013) received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature. This recognition applies to the film.
Notable credits
15 creditsOffices
Where Illumination is based
- Santa Monica, California, United States
Santa Monica offices
HeadquartersAbout this office
**Santa Monica Headquarters** Status: active Headquarters Address: 2230 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90404, United States Phone: +1 310-593-8800 Office webpage: https://www.illumination.com/homepage/studio/ Global headquarters housing creative development, production leadership and executive offices. --- **Office** Status: inactive / historical Address: 2105 Colorado Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404, United States Historical campus address identified in the report; no closure year is supplied.
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