Illumination
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersSanta Monica, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Illumination firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Illumination
- Legal name
- Illumination Entertainment
- Website
- https://illumination.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Illumination industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animated Film Production
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)
- akta.pro primary industry
- 3D/CGI Animation Production (MPADACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Animated Feature Film Production (MPADACAH), Character & Creature Animation (MPADACAE)
Keywords
Where Illumination is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Monica
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Illumination business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Theatrical box office: Illumination generates primary revenue through global theatrical releases distributed by Universal Pictures, with franchises grossing billions worldwide.
- Merchandise and licensing: Licensing of franchise IP including toys, food products, cosmetics, and consumer goods through partnerships with brands like JAKKS Pacific, Wendy's, La Roche-Posay, French's, and others.
- Streaming and home video rights: Digital and physical home media releases followed by streaming platform licensing (Peacock, Netflix) generating secondary revenue from theatrical releases.
- Brand partnerships and promotional collaborations: Marketing partnerships with consumer brands (Wendy's, Xfinity, La Roche-Posay, King's Hawaiian, Old Spice, Lush, General Mills, bubly) for co-branded product launches tied to film releases.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Illumination product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Illumination produces and owns theatrical CGI-animated feature films built around a portfolio of franchises, including Despicable Me, Minions, Super Mario Bros., Sing, The Secret Life of Pets, and Dr. Seuss adaptations. Films are financed and distributed globally through an exclusive partnership with Universal Pictures, with the Mario titles co-produced and co-financed with Nintendo. Revenue is generated via theatrical box office, home video/streaming rights, and franchise merchandise and brand licensing.
Product overview
Illumination is an animation film studio producing theatrical animated feature films. The company operates as a single-product company with multiple film franchises rather than a platform architecture. Its core portfolio includes the Despicable Me franchise (Despicable Me, Despicable Me 2, Despicable Me 3, Despicable Me 4), the Minions spinoff series (Minions, Minions: The Rise of Gru, Minions & Monsters), The Super Mario Bros. franchise (The Super Mario Bros. Movie, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie), The Secret Life of Pets franchise (The Secret Life of Pets, The Secret Life of Pets 2), Sing franchise (Sing, Sing 2), Dr. Seuss adaptations (Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, Dr. Seuss' The Grinch), Hop, and original content like Migration and Not Alone. The company has an exclusive financing and distribution partnership with Universal Pictures and co-produces with Nintendo for the Mario franchise.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Minions & Monsters Animated feature film and third installment in the Minions spinoff series, following Minions James and Henry in 1920s Hollywood as they become movie stars and face the rise of sound cinema. Targets global family audiences.
- The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Animated sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie, featuring Mario and Luigi in a space-themed adventure based on the Super Mario Galaxy video game franchise. Co-produced with Nintendo, distributed by Universal Pictures.
- Despicable Me 4 Animated feature film and fourth installment in the Despicable Me franchise, in which Gru and Lucy face new nemesis Maxime Le Mal and welcome Gru Jr. Released in 2024.
- Migration Original animated comedy about a Mallard family making a migration journey from New England to Jamaica via New York City, written by Mike White. Targets family audiences seeking original (non-sequel) animated content.
- The Super Mario Bros. Movie Animated feature based on Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. franchise, co-produced with Nintendo and distributed by Universal Pictures. Targets both family audiences and adult nostalgia/collector markets tied to the Mario gaming IP.
- Minions: The Rise of Gru Animated feature film and sequel to Minions, following young Gru in the 1970s as he seeks to become the world's greatest supervillain. Released in 2022.
- Sing 2 Animated musical comedy sequel featuring Buster Moon and performers attempting to persuade reclusive rock legend Clay Calloway to join their show in Redshore City. Released in 2021.
- The Secret Life of Pets 2 Animated sequel exploring what pets do when their owners are away; terrier Max copes with life changes while other pets embark on their own adventures. Released in 2019.
- Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Animated adaptation of Dr. Seuss' beloved holiday classic about a grinch who plots to steal Christmas from Whoville, starring Benedict Cumberbatch. Released in 2018.
- Despicable Me 3 Animated feature where Gru discovers he has a twin brother Dru and faces former child star villain Balthazar Bratt. Released in 2017.
- Sing
Quantifiable outcome
- Produced blockbuster films generating over $11 billion in global box office
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Illumination
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Illumination technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Illumination partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- George LucasminorGeorge Lucas provides voice cameo in Minions & Monsters, marking his first acting role since 2007. Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri discovered Lucas is a fan of the Minions franchise through personal connection.
- Xfinity (Comcast NBCUniversal)minorMinions & Monsters-themed activations at all 700 Xfinity retail stores nationwide with AR experiences, collectibles, and early screenings, tied to 'Imagine That' marketing campaign.
- Wendy'sminorLimited-time Minions & Monsters themed menu featuring Banana Frosty Swirl and collectibles at U.S. restaurants, with immersive drive-thru experiences.
- La Roche-PosayminorGlobal marketing partnership for Minions & Monsters, launching co-branded campaign 'READY, CLEAR, ACTION!' with Effaclar acne treatment range featuring custom-animated Minions content.
- French's (McCormick & Company)minorLimited-edition French's Goomi's Green Mustard and Minion-themed packaging nationwide partnership tied to Minions & Monsters release.
- King's HawaiianminorPartnership for 'Shake 'Em' Banana Bites' limited-time snack product with nationwide availability and NASCAR co-branded promotion.
- Moose ToysminorNew toy line inspired by Minions & Monsters including collectible figures, playsets, and role-play toys like the Minions Fart Blaster Pro.
- Glen Powell and Donald GloverminorActors Glen Powell and Donald Glover personally contacted Illumination to pitch themselves for voice roles, with Powell voicing Fox McCloud and Glover voicing Yoshi in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
- JAKKS PacificminorRenewed global toy partnership for Super Mario Galaxy Movie merchandise including action figures, playsets, plush, and mini-scale figures at major retailers.
- NintendocoreStrategic collaboration producing Super Mario animated films with Shigeru Miyamoto as producer. Both companies co-finance and co-produce Mario films including The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026).
- Universal PicturescoreExclusive financing and global distribution partnership for all Illumination theatrical releases through Universal Pictures' worldwide network.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Illumination competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Aardman Animations: UK-based stop-motion animation studio (Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run). Comparable as a feature animation studio serving family audiences, though primarily UK/regional and focused on stop-motion rather than CGI tentpoles.
- Studio Ghibli: Japan's leading hand-drawn feature animation studio (Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro). Comparable as a globally respected feature animation studio competing for family/animation audiences, primarily in Japan/Asia distribution.
Direct peers
- DreamWorks Animation: Long-established CGI animation studio producing theatrical family animated features (Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon). Directly comparable as a peer producing tentpole CGI animated films distributed by a major studio partner.
- Walt Disney Animation Studios: Disney's flagship CGI/animation studio producing theatrical animated features (Frozen, Moana, Encanto). Directly competes with Illumination for global family audiences and franchise-defining animated IP.
- Warner Bros. Animation: Warner Bros.' animation division producing theatrical animated features (The Lego Movie franchise, DC animated). Comparable as a major-studio-backed animation producer competing for family theatrical dollars.
- Pixar Animation Studios: Disney-owned CGI animation studio producing theatrical family-animated features (Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Inside Out). Directly comparable to Illumination as a CGI feature-film animation studio competing for the same global family box office and franchise economics.
- Paramount Animation: Paramount's theatrical animation label producing CGI animated features (e.g., Transformers One, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). Comparable as a sibling studio within a major theatrical distributor ecosystem targeting family animated features.
- Sony Pictures Animation: Sony-owned animation studio producing theatrical CGI animated features (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Hotel Transylvania). Comparable as a competitor in CGI animated features with similar franchise-driven output and theatrical distribution model.
Broad incumbents
- Universal Animation Studios: Universal's in-house animation production unit that increasingly develops animated features. Comparable as a broader incumbent sibling within Universal's animation portfolio that competes with Illumination for internal resources, marketing spend, and theatrical slots under the same distribution umbrella.
Emerging players
- Laika: Oregon-based stop-motion animation studio (Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings). Comparable as an independent feature animation studio competing for prestige and family audiences, though differentiated by stop-motion vs. CGI.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Illumination social profiles
Digital presenceIllumination financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Illumination leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Illumination subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Illumination funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Illumination M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Illumination
What does Illumination do?
Illumination produces and owns theatrical CGI-animated feature films built around a portfolio of franchises, including Despicable Me, Minions, Super Mario Bros., Sing, The Secret Life of Pets, and Dr. Seuss adaptations. Films are financed and distributed globally through an exclusive partnership with Universal Pictures, with the Mario titles co-produced and co-financed with Nintendo. Revenue is generated via theatrical box office, home video/streaming rights, and franchise merchandise and brand licensing.
Is Illumination a public or private company?
Illumination is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Illumination founded?
Illumination was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Illumination based?
Illumination is headquartered in Santa Monica, United States, in the North America region.
How does Illumination make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Theatrical box office is the primary driver. The others are merchandise and licensing, streaming and home video rights and brand partnerships and promotional collaborations.
Who are Illumination's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Aardman Animations and Studio Ghibli. Direct peers are DreamWorks Animation, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Warner Bros. Animation, Pixar Animation Studios, Paramount Animation and Sony Pictures Animation. Universal Animation Studios is listed as a broad incumbent. Laika is listed as an emerging player.
Does Illumination have an API?
No public API is recorded for Illumination.
What industry is Illumination in?
Illumination's product category is Animated Film Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADACAB, 3D/CGI Animation Production, with a secondary code of MPADACAH, Animated Feature Film Production. Its NAICS code is 51212 and its SIC code is 7812.