Which studio created the Minions for the Despicable Me franchise?

Illumination created the Minions for the Despicable Me franchise.

Illumination, originally known as Illumination Entertainment, developed the animated films in partnership with Universal Pictures. The Minions first appeared as Gru’s small yellow assistants in Despicable Me, released in 2010, before becoming the focus of spin-off films and extensive merchandise.

The studio was founded by Chris Meledandri, who had previously worked in animation production. Illumination’s approach often combines stylized computer animation, broad physical comedy, and popular music. The Minions’ simple shapes and distinctive overalls made them particularly recognizable across international markets.

Illumination is sometimes confused with the distributor or with another animation studio. Universal Pictures distributes the films, while Illumination is the production company responsible for creating the franchise’s animated features. The Minions’ voices and language were developed for the films rather than representing a conventional real-world language.