10 Best Animated Movies of Studio Illumination

Animated movies were often associated with pioneering studio Walt Disney. However, in the 2000s, new animation studios emerged, trying to shine but often failing to break Disney's dominance.

Illumination, founded by Chris Meledandri in 2007 after his departure from Blue Sky Studios of Ice Age franchise fame, is one such studio. Now, Illumination Studio operates an animated feature film company.

Their work process can be described as minimalistic, with production budgets ranging from $60 to $80 million and a core team of directors involved in all their films. Here are some of their best animated films that you must watch!

1. Despicable Me

Gru, the infamous supervillain, faces a new enemy, Vector, who gets in the way of his evil deeds. Together with the Minions, Gru plans his greatest heist yet: stealing the moon. However, Vector's advanced equipment always fails him. To steal Vector's weapons, Gru adopts three orphans to help him with his plan.

Illumination studio's debut animated film takes inspiration from Pixar and Looney Tunes, presenting an original story that stands on its own. Its uniqueness lies in being a family film centered on a villain. A good script makes for a charming and heartfelt story.

Despicable Me is surprisingly among the best animated movies ever. With Steve Carell, Jason Segel, and Russell Brand voicing the characters, the movie directed by Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin became a box office success.

2. Despicable Me 2

The retired criminal Gru joins the Anti-Villain League to track down a mysterious villain who stole mutagens from a secret lab. As Gru and Lucy collaborate, his adopted daughter mistakenly thinks she's in love.

Following the success of the first movie, Despicable Me 2 features even more stunning visuals. The antics of the Minions add to the excitement and chaos.

With a higher budget of $76 million, the film managed to gross $368 million in American theaters. In addition, the movie also received Oscar nominations for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for Pharrell Williams' "Happy".

3. Sing

Buster Moon, the owner of a koala theater, faced financial problems and was in danger of closing down. To save it, he organizes a singing contest with many participants. The movie depicts a fun talent search, delving into the motivations and challenges of the main participants.

This animated musical dazzles with vibrant colors and offers light and festive entertainment. With a star-studded cast, including Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, and Scarlett Johansson, the story is uplifting if a bit clichéd.

Featuring 85 hit songs from the 1940s to the 2010s, Sing became a successful franchise for studio Illumination, earning $270 million at the box office from a budget of $75 million.

4. The Secret Life of Pets

Max, Katie's favorite dog, faces a life-changing event when Katie brings home Duke, another dog. They are caught up in an adventure on the streets from the moment they encounter a group of stray cats who pull the collars around their necks.

Lost in the city, they begin an adventure, aided by other pets, to find their way home. Directed by Chris Renaud, this Illumination studio production became a successful franchise.

Thanks to its funny story, talented voice cast, and dynamic pace, making it perfect for family. Once again, studio Illumination scored a huge success at the box office, earning $368 million.

5. Sing 2

After a successful musical theater show in his hometown, Buster Moon aspires to take the show to the next level in Redshore City. He faces challenges and pressure as he tries to convince media mogul Jimmy Crystal to back him.

With the return of all the voice actors from the first movie, Sing 2 offers a larger-scale story with the same winning formula. The movie features well-crafted hits, some in new arrangements, and the addition of rock legend Clay Calloway, voiced by Bono, adds excitement to the show.

Earning an impressive $162 million, Sing 2 delves deeper into its characters, delivering a motivational message about conquering fear to achieve greater success in life.

6. Minions: The Rise of Gru

Twelve-year-old Gru aspires to become a supervillain, assisted by his loyal Minions who help him bully others. Eager to join the Vicious 6, Gru is rejected, leading him to steal the Zodiac Stone to prove himself.

The sequel Minions (2015) surpassed the first film with better humor and a more enjoyable experience, although the storyline received criticism for being too mundane. Nonetheless, the movie beautifully portrays the bond between Gru and the Minions from his childhood.

With a nostalgic 1970s feel, accompanied by a fantastic soundtrack, the movie managed to gross $369 million in North America from a budget of $80 million.

7. The Secret Life of Pets 2

Max and his friends face new challenges in their cozy apartment. Max takes care of his employer's son, Gidget deals with unruly pet cats, and Snowball adopts a superhero persona. In the midst of personal problems, they band together to save a white tiger cub from the circus.

The sequel struggles with narrative, splitting the focus into three loosely connected stories, only converging towards an action-packed finale.

Fans of the first movie will enjoy the energetic cuteness of the characters. Despite its narrative flaws, the movie managed to gross $158 million.

8. The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Mario and Luigi, running their plumbing business, are unexpectedly transported to separate fantasy worlds through a mysterious pipe. Mario teams up with Princess Peach to rescue Luigi from Bowser's clutches in the Dark Lands, with help from former rival-turned-friend Donkey Kong.

The animation from studio Illumination brings a nostalgic feel to video game fans and attracts new audiences with its contemporary references and dynamic rhythms. The colorful animation is a hit with kids, making it one of the highest grossing animated films ever, earning $550 million in North American theaters alone.

9. Minions

Since their very first days, Minions have served villainous figures throughout human history, from T-Rex to Napoleon, albeit often causing mishaps. Set in the 1960s, the movie follows the Minions as they become servants of Scarlet Overkill, who aims to steal Queen Elizabeth II's crown.

Minions is a spin-off and prequel to Despicable Me (2010), which featured the Minions' journey before meeting Gru. Directed by Pierre Coffin and his new partner Kyle Balda, they amplify the cuteness of the Minions through the main characters: Stuart, Kevin, and Bob.

Despite grossing $336 million on a budget of $74 million, the film did not perform as well as the previous two Despicable Me films. This is due to some inappropriate humor that still manages to evoke laughter.

10. The Grinch

The Grinch, a grumpy resident of Whoville, lives alone on a mountain and hates Christmas. He plans to steal Christmas from the merry residents with his pet dog, Max.

This animated film is the second adaptation of the Grinch story, the first being the live-action "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (2000). It is also the second adaptation of Dr. Seuss' work made by Illumination studios, following "The Lorax" (2012).

The film features colorful and innovative animation, appealing to young audiences. However, the script lacks depth and emotion. Despite this, "The Grinch" managed to gross $526 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing Christmas-themed movie ever.

These are the 10 best animated movies from Illumination. Minions, the studio's icons, always appear in the opening logo. With successful movies that have become franchises, the future of the studio looks promising, making us curious and excited for their next work. In the meantime, enjoy rewatching these movies for entertainment in your spare time. Happy watching!