Illumination

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

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

• Animated feature films
• CGI animation studio
• Family entertainment
• Theatrical film production
• Franchise animation

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Monica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Theatrical box office: Illumination generates primary revenue through global theatrical releases distributed by Universal Pictures, with franchises grossing billions worldwide.
2. 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.
3. Streaming and home video rights: Digital and physical home media releases followed by streaming platform licensing (Peacock, Netflix) generating secondary revenue from theatrical releases.
4. 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

Core 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

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• George LucasminorOthers · 21 June 2026George 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)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 June 2026Minions & Monsters-themed activations at all 700 Xfinity retail stores nationwide with AR experiences, collectibles, and early screenings, tied to 'Imagine That' marketing campaign.
• Wendy'sminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 June 2026Limited-time Minions & Monsters themed menu featuring Banana Frosty Swirl and collectibles at U.S. restaurants, with immersive drive-thru experiences.
• La Roche-PosayminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 May 2026Global 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)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 May 2026Limited-edition French's Goomi's Green Mustard and Minion-themed packaging nationwide partnership tied to Minions & Monsters release.
• King's HawaiianminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 May 2026Partnership for 'Shake 'Em' Banana Bites' limited-time snack product with nationwide availability and NASCAR co-branded promotion.
• Moose ToysminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 April 2026New toy line inspired by Minions & Monsters including collectible figures, playsets, and role-play toys like the Minions Fart Blaster Pro.
• Glen Powell and Donald GloverminorOthers · 1 April 2026Actors 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 PacificminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 February 2026Renewed global toy partnership for Super Mario Galaxy Movie merchandise including action figures, playsets, plush, and mini-scale figures at major retailers.
• NintendocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Strategic 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 PicturescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2007Exclusive financing and global distribution partnership for all Illumination theatrical releases through Universal Pictures' worldwide network.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional 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

• Xx.com/illumination
• YouTubeyoutube.com/illumination
• Facebookfacebook.com/illuminationent
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/illumination
• Instagraminstagram.com/illumination

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Illumination