Illumination Entertainment, founded on January 17, 2007, by Academy Award® nominee Chris Meledandri, is a leading American animation studio recognized for producing highly successful event-animated films. It operates as a division of Universal Pictures, itself part of Comcast’s NBCUniversal, with Universal financing and distributing Illumination’s films while Meledandri oversees production[1][2][3]. The studio is best known for creating the *Despicable Me* franchise, which includes the iconic Minions characters who serve as the studio’s mascots. This franchise has become the most successful animated series in cinematic history, featuring multiple billion-dollar box office hits such as *Despicable Me 2*, *Despicable Me 3*, and *Minions* (2015), the latter being the third-highest-grossing animated film ever and Universal’s most profitable film[1][3]. Illumination’s other notable works include *The Secret Life of Pets*, *Sing*, and adaptations of Dr. Seuss’ *The Lorax* and *How the Grinch Stole Christmas*, all of which have contributed to the studio’s global cultural impact and financial success[1][2]. Illumination has produced 15 feature films to date, averaging $711 million in box office revenue each, with eight of these ranking among the 50 highest-grossing animated films worldwide. Their 2023 release, *The Super Mario Bros. Movie*, set the record for the highest-grossing opening for an animated film and ranks among the top ten animated films of all time[1][2]. The studio is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, with its animation facility, Illumination Studios Paris, located in Paris, France[2]. With a global box office gross surpassing $9 billion, Illumination’s success is driven by its focus on memorable characters, culturally relevant storytelling, and strategic partnerships with Universal Pictures. Upcoming projects include *