Singer-songwriter-producer Pharrell Williams will perform his Oscar-nominated song “Happy” at the Oscars, show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced today. The Oscars, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, will air on Sunday, March 2, live on ABC.
“Happy,” which Williams wrote and produced for DESPICABLE ME 2, is nominated for Original Song.
The three other nominated songs are “Ordinary Love” from “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom,” “Let It Go” from “Frozen” and “The Moon Song” from “Her.”
Pharrell Williams has won seven Grammy Awards®, two (in 2004 and 2014) for Producer of the Year. Named Billboard’s Producer of the Decade in 2010, his productions have sold over 100 million copies. Williams collaborated on two of 2013’s most ubiquitous anthems: Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” which he co-wrote and produced and Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky,” which he co-wrote and also sang. As a solo producer and as part of the prolific producing team The Neptunes, Williams has played a key role in creating a string of hits over more than two decades, including Jay-Z’s “I Just Wanna Love U (Give it 2 Me),” Nelly’s “Hot in Herre,” Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl,” Snoop Dogg’s “Drop it Like it’s Hot,” Britney Spears’ “I’m A Slave 4 U” and Justin Timberlake’s “Like I Love You.”
Walt Disney Animation’s ‘Frozen’ took top honors as Best Animated Feature at the 41st Annual Annie Awards held Saturday, February 1 at UCLA’s Royce Hall. The Best Animated Special Production was awarded to ‘Chipotle Scarecrow’ (Chipotle Creative Department, Moonbot Studios); Best Animated Short Subject ‘Get A Horse!’ (Walt Disney Animation Studios); Best Animated TV/Broadcast Commercial ‘Despicable Me 2’ (Cinemark-Illumination Entertainment/Universal); Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production for Preschool Children ‘Disney Sofia the First’ (Disney Television Animation); Best Animated TV/Broadcast Production for Children’s Audience ‘Adventure Time’(Cartoon Network Studios); Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production ‘Futurama’ (20th Century Fox Television); Best Animated Video Game ‘The Last of Us’ (Naughty Dog); and Best Student Film ‘Wedding Cake’(Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg – Viola Baier, Iris Frisch).
Often a predictor of the annual Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, the Annie Awards honor overall excellence as well as individual achievement in a total of 30 categories ranging from best feature, production design, character animation, and effects animation to storyboarding, writing, music, editing and voice acting.
The ceremony was live-streamed again this year at www.annieawards.org/watch-it-live where animation enthusiasts and those who were unable to attend the event, could watch the show. A complete list of winners can be viewed at www.annieawards.org.
“Our industry waits all year for this event and it never disappoints,” said ASIFA-Hollywood President, Frank Gladstone. “This was a terrific night with something for everyone. It was fun to take a look back at our history as well as celebrating and honoring what we have accomplished over the past year.”
Patrick Warburton, television, film and voice actor, lent his humor and talent as the ceremony’s Host. Joining him on stage were animation legend June Foray, voice actors Bill Farmer who portrayed animation great Winsor McCay, doing his animated ‘Gertie the Dinosaur’ vaudeville act, celebrating its 100th anniversary this month, Tom Kenny, Nancy Cartwright and actorsMariska Hargitay, Cloris Leachman, Josh Gad, Ariel Winter and director Rob Minkoff. Also providing presenter duties wereMarion Ross, Max Charles, Tony Bancroft, Bob Bergen, Jim Meskimen and Mackenzie Foy.
Honored with the Winsor McCay award were Katsuhiro Otomo, Steven Spielberg, who made his video acceptance, and Phil Tippett. The Winsor McCay stands as one of the highest honors given to an individual in the animation industry in recognition for career contributions to the art of animation. Alice Davis was honored with the June Foray award for her significant and benevolent contributions to the art and industry of animation; Dragonframe received the Ub Iwerks award for technical advancements that made a significant impact on the art or industry of animation; and the Special Achievement award was presented to the CTN Animation eXpo. The Certificate of Merit award was presented to the documentary “I Know That Voice.”
Contributed by Melissa Thompson and Michelle McCue
The sets. The hair and makeup. The cinematography. The story. The sound. All of the work of talented crafts people are pulled together under the very heart of any good movie – the score.
With the Academy Award nominations on Thursday, January 16, looming like the drumline at the head of a marching band, we thought we’d have a look back at some of the finer scores of 2013.
Listen and watch a handful of Hollywood’s leading composers discuss the art of scoring a film in The Hollywood Reporter’s round table discussion. With one hundred fourteen scores from 2013 vying for nominations in the Original Score category for the 86th Oscars, we suspect some of these names will be announced .
Honorable Mention: INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS from T Bone Burnett.
The soundtrack for INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS transported us to another time and place. The documentary feeling of the film stems from the Coens Brothers decision to shoot and record the music live with no playback and we joined right in the folk-song revival.
For more on the music, read a Q&A with T Bone Burnett HERE.
1. GRAVITY – Steven Price
For Alfonso Cuarón’s thriller, Price created a groundbreaking score, blurring the lines between electronic and organic sounds, incorporating a wide range of elements, from glass harmonicas to string and brass sections. The score captures the on-screen emotion and vacuum of space as another character in the film and left our hearts pounding.
American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mike Patton, best known as the lead singer of the alternative metal/experimental rock bands Mr. Bungle and Faith No More, has composed a brooding and emotionally charged original score. Patton’s music guides the viewer through this multi-generational drama, linking characters, time periods, and locations with a harmonic convergence of jazz, folk, rock, blues and classical.
Patton’s score features an eclectic selection of music including selections by Arvo Part and Ennio Morricone.
3. ALL IS LOST – Alex Ebert
In a film so devoid of dialogue, this great musical score assumed special importance. Director J.C. Chandor turned to acclaimed singer-songwriter Alex Ebert, leader of the band Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, to compose the film’s score—his first such project.
“It was sort of a shocker in some ways,” says Ebert. “It’s amazing that J.C. would have that kind of faith in someone who hadn’t scored a film.”
Ebert says Chandor initially asked him to deliver very subdued materials, drones and low notes that sustained over scenes. He also specifically requested that the instrumentation avoid piano. That was challenging for the composer, who had already written some pieces on piano, but he understood Chandor’s reasoning.
“The piano has this inherent emotion to it,” he says. “We didn’t want anything that was ’emotion in a can’ or ‘tension in a can.’ But eventually I started taking more chances, and after some back and forth with J.C., we landed in this middle spot that I think was perfect.”
“It’s about beauty,” he says. “It’s emotional and everything that comes along with life and death, and nothing less. I think that’s the primary subject of humanity—and it’s something that you might want to stay away from because it would be overdramatic. But this dude’s in the middle of the ocean on a raft. Let the music be emotional because it is emotional. We followed the movie’s lead.”
The very emotional score from Alexandre Desplat’s PHILOMENA broke our hearts. We laughed and cried from beginning to end with Philomena Lee’s heart-wrenching story.
5. OBLIVION – Anthony Gonzalez, M83, Joseph Trapanese
The score was one of the best of 2013 and an intregral part of OBLIVION’s sci-fi landscape.
Jackman displays versatility in capturing both the intense, desperation and terror in the story of Captain Richard Phillips’ hostage situation with Somali pirates as well as the humanity of the circumstances. Hitting the right musical balance of drama and intensity was a challenge in minimalism for Jackman, so as not to manipulate the audience.
7. NEBRASKA – Mark Orton
A member of the bluegrass folk collective Tin Hat, Orton’s vibe for Americana music was sought out by director Alexander Payne. Horns, acoustic strings and organ are some of the primary elemental instruments fueling the musical emotion to this story, capturing both the vast landscape and people of the flyover states. Orton, a graduate of the Sundance Filmmaker Institute, also scored the music to the 2014 Sundance premiere Drunktown’s Finest.
A celebrated musician and former member of the platinum-selling group Simply Red, Pereira sings to the hearts of children through his scores for Despicable Me 2. The sequel, which follows the further adventures of the notorious spy Gru, Pereira created specific themes for the new characters, specifically 1960s romantic comedy tones for his love interest Lucy and Latin-mariachi rhythms for the evil El Macho.
9. SAVING MR. BANKS – Thomas Newman
Newman has composed music for nearly 100 motion pictures and television series and has earned 11 Academy Award® nominations and six Grammy® Awards. His score goes hand-in-hand with the back story of Walt Disney and PJ Travers making of MARY POPPINS and left us looking for tissues by the film’s end.
10. FROZEN – Christophe Beck
The second of Disney’s movies that showed young girls it was okay to be their very own heroes!
11. RUSH – Hans Zimmer
With their collaborations on blockbusters from The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons to more intimate projects such as Frost/Nixon, director Ron Howard and Hans Zimmer, a Grammy, Golden Globe and Academy Award® winner, once again joined forces for the sounds of RUSH.
Balancing the racers’ simple desires with their frenetic-yet-controlled behavior on the track was a challenge for Howard and Zimmer as they created the soundtrack to the film. The composer captured the spirit of the Formula 1 world.
12. EPIC – Danny Elfman
The rousing score for The Leaf-Men. Enough said.
13. PACIFIC RIM – Ramin Djawadi
Okay, so maybe it didn’t live up to everyone’s expectations, but hot damn if the score to PACIFIC RIM wasn’t one of the coolest of 2013. Made us want to suit up as Jaeger pilots and make a last stand in our ‘Gipsy Danger’.
14. WORLD WAR Z – Marco Beltrami
Animal skulls and teeth combined with percussion add to the tension of utter panic and anxiety in a world being overrun by a Zombie pandemic.
Giving you the sense of dread and desperation, Jóhann Jóhannsson’s score for PRISONERS left us with aches and chills over a parent’s worst nightmare.
We couldn’t end our list without a quick mention for composer Alan Silvestri’s music for THE CROODS. While the film score conveyed beautiful themes and resonated on a deeper level than words could ever say, we were fans of how Silvestri combined the Abbey Road Orchestra and the USC Trojan Marching Band… especially the percussion section!
Gotta love Gru’s Minions, those goggle-eyed scene-stealers from DESPICABLE ME, and the little yellow critters were back in the thousands, performing musical numbers no less in the gut-busting sequel DESPICABLE ME 2. Those guys are so popular they’re getting their own spin-off film, and were even a trendy Halloween costume this year. Also returning for DESPICABLE ME 2 were the same writers, directors, and French animation house responsible for the original, who stuck closely to its winning formula, even recycling some of its jokes such as the fart gun, Nefario’s comically slow scooter, and the twisted interaction between Gru and his three adopted girls. There was nothing particularly inventive in the new film’s plot but it had enough twists and turns to keep things interesting and was so relentlessly hilarious that it made for a great time if you were dragged to it by your kids. Now DESPICABLE ME 2 is available on Blu-ray
DESPICABLE ME 2 is presented in 1.85:1 1080p high definition widescreen and the film looks fantastic. As is the case with nearly all digital animated films, this is a flawless looking experience that shows spectacular coloring and pristine levels of detail and the transfer dazzles without fail. The bright colors nearly pop off the screen, the busy action scenes offer sparkling detail and depth is superb. While the animation itself isn’t as richly nuanced as something like EPIC, what’s here looks as good as it possibly can. The audio is equally superb throughout, as this exceptionally busy track offers one aurally thrilling audio adventure after another. The music comes through with strength and balances nicely with the sound design.
Unsurprisingly, the DESPICABLE ME 2, while it does not include a 3-D disc, is packed with extras:
• Three All-New Mini-Movies Starring the Minions—these each run about 6 minutes and are introduced by Steve Carell in character as Gru. –
– Puppy – some aliens turn a Minions’s pet ladybug dog-size sho he can take it for walks
– Panic in the Mailroom – a tribute to Lucille Ball’s conveyor belt humor
– Training Wheels – stars Gru’s daughter and her magic bike
All three of these are enjoyable, but not up to the manic level of the movie proper. They almost seem like deleted scenes
Other extras:
• The Making of the Mini-Movies—A fun-filled take on the making of the mini-movies through the eyes of the artists who made them.
• Deleted Scene
• The Minions—A visit to Illumination Entertainment in Paris and Los Angeles to hear what it’s really like to work with the Minions.
• Evil Minions—Bigger, badder and more purple than ever, the newest and fiercest addition to the Minion species can chew through metal and swallow a car. Find out more about the process that led to their creation and design.
• A Gru-Some Transformation—A sit-down with Steve Carell as he discusses the transformation of Gru from the ultimate
• El Hombre Malo: The Villainy Of El Macho—Every great story needs a good villain, and Despicable Me 2 brings on the diabolico in the form of El Macho! Learn about the creation of this character and the actor who brought him to life—Benjamin Bratt.
• Gru’s Girls—Miranda Cosgrove, Elsie Kate Fisher and Dana Gaier weigh in on working with Steve Carell and playing the daughters of a world-famous super-villain!
• Gadgets Galore—Lipstick tasers, magnet ships, foam dart dispensers and jelly guns—these are the nifty gadgets of Despicable Me 2. Illumination Entertainment pulls back the curtain on what it takes to build a world that would leave even James Bond envious.
• Feature Commentary With Directors Chris Renaud & Pierre Coffin
The holiday season just got even brighter with the news that Despicable Me 2, the $863 million worldwide box office phenomenon and the year’s #1 comedy, arrives on Blu-ray™ and Blu-ray 3D™ Combo Packs, DVD and Digital HD including UltraViolet™ on December 10, 2013, from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.
The film will also be available on Digital HD November 26, 2013, just in time for families to watch on the go as they gear up for holiday travel.
In addition to more than 45 minutes of hilarious and insightful bonus features, Blu-ray Combo Packs will include, from the makers of Despicable Me, three all-new mini-movies starring the film series’ breakout stars, the mischievous but lovable Minions. For a sneak peek of these mini-movies, and other great weekly offers from Despicable Me 2, call Gru at **DM2 (**362) from your mobile phone.*
“Despicable Me 2 is the top box-office comedy of the year and is poised for spectacular success on home entertainment this holiday season,” said Craig Kornblau, president of Universal Studios Home Entertainment. “This adored franchise, with its iconic lovable Minions, stands apart from all others and is sure to be at the top of everyone’s wish list this December.”
In this follow-up to the 2010 worldwide blockbuster, Steve Carell (“The Office,” The 40-Year-Old Virgin) returns to play Gru, the newly reformed master criminal now trying to live life as a normal dad to his three adopted daughters.
Carell leads a voice cast of comedic powerhouses that includes Kristin Wiig (Bridesmaids, Saturday Night Live), Benjamin Bratt (Miss Congeniality, Snitch), Miranda Cosgrove (“iCarly,” Despicable Me), Russell Brand (Get Him to the Greek, Hop), Steve Coogan (Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, Tropic Thunder), Ken Jeong (The Hangover, Turbo), Elsie Fisher (Despicable Me, Raising Hope), Dana Gaier (Despicable Me) and Moisés Arias (Ender’s Game, “Hannah Montana”). Despicable Me 2 is hailed as “Brilliant! One of the funniest, laugh-out-loud, most enjoyable movies ever” by MovieGuide®.
This Thanksgiving, Manhattan will share a memorable moment of Minion Madness with the world when a brand new Despicable Me 2 float joins the 87th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® in celebration of the home entertainment release.
Despicable Me 2 will roll out a deliciously decorated cupcake parlor inspired by the hilarious and heartwarming film and featuring Gru, the reformed master criminal turned devoted dad, and a gaggle of his unpredictable helpers, the Minions — including a surprise new character — to keep things lively and entertaining for the film’s millions of fans, both young and old. The 86th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade airs nationwide on NBC-TV, on Thursday, November 28, 2013 from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM in all time zones.
The Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and Blu-ray™ 3D Combo Pack include a Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital HD with UltraViolet™.
Blu-ray™ unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring 6x the picture resolution of DVD, exclusive extras and theater-quality surround sound.
DVD offers the flexibility and convenience of playing movies in more places, both at home and away.
DIGITAL HD with UltraViolet™lets you watch movies anywhere, on any device. Users can instantly stream or download movies to watch on iPad®, iPhone®, Android™, smart TVs, connected Blu-ray™ players, game consoles and more.
Bonus Features Exclusive to Blu-ray™ Combo Pack & Blu-ray 3D™ Combo Pack.
Three All-New Mini-Movies Starring the Minions—Introduced by Gru
Puppy
Panic in the Mailroom
Training Wheels
The Making of the Mini-Movies—A fun-filled take on the making of the mini-movies through the eyes of the artists who made them.
Deleted Scene
The Minions—A visit to Illumination Entertainment in Paris and Los Angeles to hear what it’s really like to work with the Minions.
Evil Minions—Bigger, badder and more purple than ever, the newest and fiercest addition to the Minion species can chew through metal and swallow a car. Find out more about the process that led to their creation and design.
A Gru-Some Transformation—A sit-down with Steve Carell as he discusses the transformation of Gru from the ultimate super-villain to super-dad and international spy.
El Hombre Malo: The Villainy Of El Macho—Every great story needs a good villain, and Despicable Me 2 brings on the diabolico in the form of El Macho! Learn about the creation of this character and the actor who brought him to life—Benjamin Bratt.
Bonus Features on Blu-ray™ & DVD
Gru’s Girls—Miranda Cosgrove, Elsie Kate Fisher and Dana Gaier weigh in on working with Steve Carell and playing the daughters of a world-famous super-villain!
Gadgets Galore—Lipstick tasers, magnet ships, foam dart dispensers and jelly guns—these are the nifty gadgets of Despicable Me 2. Illumination Entertainment pulls back the curtain on what it takes to build a world that would leave even James Bond envious.
Feature Commentary With Directors Chris Renaud & Pierre Coffin
What’s 165 feet long, 45 feet in diameter and can hold 10,000 Minions?
It’s the Despicablimp, one of only 15 airships flying in the world today and this Movie Geek got to ride in it when it was in St. Louis this morning to promote Universal Studio’s hilarious DESPICABLE ME 2, which opened July 3rd and is still in theaters (read my review HERE).
The Despicablimp can accommodate 8 passengers and one pilot.
A Minion was on hand to greet me before I boarded, but Gru was nowhere to be found.
Pilot Alan Judd took us 1000 feet in the air at 33 knots from the Alton Regional Airport though the skies of downtown Alton, over the Clark Bridge and the Missippippi River.
After about 45 minutes in the air, and no sign of Gru, Dr, Nafario, or El Macho, we made a perfect landing.
As the Despicablimp hovered in the sunny skies above Hollywood on Saturday afternoon, the Minions waddled about on the yellow carpet during the premiere of DESPICABLE ME 2.
Cast members Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt, Miranda Cosgrove,Steve Coogan, Ken Jeong, Elsie Fisher, Dana Gaier, Moises Arias, and Nasim Pedrad greeted fans who waited to catch a glimpse of the stars before heading into the Gibson Amphitheatre to watch the film.
Also on the yellow carpet were DESPICABLE ME 2 directors Chris Renaud & Pierre Coffin along with producers Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy.
Up until yesterday, many of the Minions had gone missing, but a few did manage to show up for Saturday’s big show. However, Universal Pictures is still looking for help to find the rest before the film opens on July 3rd.
Gru’s loyal yellow, gibberish-speaking Minions love causing mischief and mayhem almost as much as they love bananas. They are easily distracted and can be unpredictable, curious and subversively sweet. They are extremely competitive with each other. This can lead to sudden slap fights, but if someone from the outside tries to harm them or Gru’s family, they become fiercely protective. Now, someone or something has been making them vanish…
By searching for the Minions across the NBCUniversal family of websites – lasting until June 30 – fans may win any number of despicable prizes. Every day, a new missing Minion will be revealed at www.missingminions.com, along with the NBCUniversal partner website where he may be found. Audiences are asked to visit the specific partner site and search for the missing Minion. To rescue him and enter the drawing for the grand prize, all they must do is click!
For each Minion found, registered users will receive an entry into a grand-prize sweepstakes for a trip for four to Universal Orlando Resort. Daily instant-win prizes of Fandango Movie Cash – good for tickets to see DESPICABLE ME 2 in theaters – are also available for lucky fans with keen eyes.
More than 21 NBCUniversal sites are participating in the promotion. Visit www.missingminions.com to find out more and start the search for a missing Minion today.
Now that the ever-entrepreneurial Gru has left behind a life of super crime to raise Margo (MIRANDA COSGROVE of television’s iCarly), Edith (DANA GAIER of Bullied) and Agnes (ELSIE FISHER of television’s Masha and the Bear), Gru, Dr. Nefario (RUSSELL BRAND of Get Him to the Greek, Hop) and the Minions have some free time on their hands. But as he starts to adjust to his role as a suburban family man, an ultra-secret organization dedicated to fighting evil around the globe comes knocking.
Now, it’s up to Gru and his new partner, Lucy Wilde (KRISTEN WIIG of Bridesmaids, TV’s Saturday Night Live), to discover who is responsible for a spectacular crime and bring him to justice. After all, it takes the world’s greatest ex-villain to catch the one vying to take his place…
Joining the returning cast for DESPICABLE ME 2 are KEN JEONG (The Hangover trilogy, television’s Community) as Floyd Eagle-san, proprietor of the local hair replacement club for men and key suspect in the most despicable crime to hit the globe since Gru departed the game; STEVE COOGAN (Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, Tropic Thunder) as Silas Ramsbottom, Lucy’s boss in the Anti-Villain League and a superspy whose surname offers an endless source of amusement to the Minions; MOISES ARIAS (Hannah Montana, The Secret World of Arrietty) as Antonio, the oh-so-suave object of Margo’s girlhood affection (and Gru’s supreme annoyance); and BENJAMIN BRATT (Miss Congeniality, Snitch) as Eduardo Perez, Antonio’s father, owner of Salsa & Salsa restaurant, and the man who may or may not be the most macho super-villain who ever villained, El Macho.
DESPICABLE ME 2 marks a reunion for the inaugural film’s two directors – Oscar® nominee CHRIS RENAUD (Annie Award-winning short No Time for Nuts, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax) & PIERRE COFFIN (upcoming Minions) – who brought the first adventure to vibrant and unexpected life.
Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment’s worldwide blockbuster Despicable Me entertained audiences around the globe in 2010, grossing more than $540 million and becoming the 10th-biggest animated motion picture in U.S. history. In summer 2013, get ready for more Minion madness in DESPICABLE ME 2.
Chris Meledandri and his acclaimed filmmaking team create an all-new comedy adventure featuring the return of (former?) super-villain Gru (Steve Carell), his adorable girls, the unpredictably hilarious Minions…and a host of new and outrageously funny characters.
DESPICABLE ME 2 will be in theaters July 3.
Universal Pictures and WAMG invite you to enter to win a Family Four Pack of Passes (2 admit-two passes) to the advance screening of DESPICABLE ME 2 on June 27that 7:00 PM in St. Louis.
Answer the following question:
Check out the poster for DESPICABLE ME 2 below. How many Minions are there?
OFFICIAL RULES:
1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.
2. SEND YOUR NAME AND ANSWERS TO: michelle@wearemoviegeeks.com
3. YOU MUST SUBMIT THE CORRECT ANSWER TO OUR TRIVIA QUESTION ABOVE TO WIN.
4. WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
The film is rated PG for rude humor and mild action.
Calling all Movie Geek Dads! As we head into the weekend, collect your minions for some great BBQ, a movie, a baseball game and have a Despicable Father’s Day!
Now that the ever-entrepreneurial Gru has left behind a life of super crime to raise Margo (MIRANDA COSGROVE of television’s iCarly), Edith (DANA GAIER of Bullied) and Agnes (ELSIE FISHER of television’s Masha and the Bear), Gru, Dr. Nefario (RUSSELL BRAND of Get Him to the Greek, Hop) and the Minions have some free time on their hands. But as he starts to adjust to his role as a suburban family man, an ultra-secret organization dedicated to fighting evil around the globe comes knocking.
Now, it’s up to Gru and his new partner, Lucy Wilde (KRISTEN WIIG of Bridesmaids, TV’s Saturday Night Live), to discover who is responsible for a spectacular crime and bring him to justice. After all, it takes the world’s greatest ex-villain to catch the one vying to take his place…
Joining the returning cast for Despicable Me 2 are KEN JEONG (The Hangover trilogy, television’s Community) as Floyd Eagle-san, proprietor of the local hair replacement club for men and key suspect in the most despicable crime to hit the globe since Gru departed the game; STEVE COOGAN (Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, Tropic Thunder) as Silas Ramsbottom, Lucy’s boss in the Anti-Villain League and a superspy whose surname offers an endless source of amusement to the Minions; MOISES ARIAS (Hannah Montana, The Secret World of Arrietty) as Antonio, the oh-so-suave object of Margo’s girlhood affection (and Gru’s supreme annoyance); and BENJAMIN BRATT (Miss Congeniality, Snitch) as Eduardo Perez, Antonio’s father, owner of Salsa & Salsa restaurant, and the man who may or may not be the most macho super-villain who ever villained, El Macho.
Despicable Me 2 marks a reunion for the inaugural film’s two directors – Oscar® nominee CHRIS RENAUD (Annie Award-winning short No Time for Nuts, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax) & PIERRE COFFIN (upcoming Minions) – who brought the f irst adventure to vibrant and unexpected life.
The film is produced by Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri (Despicable Me, Hop, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, Ice Age franchise), in his third collaboration with fellow producer JANET HEALY (Despicable Me, Hop, Shark Tale).
Leading the talented behind-the-scenes team is an accomplished crew, led by editor GREGORY PERLER (Despicable Me, Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit), as well as production designers YARROW CHENEY (Despicable Me, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax) and ERIC GUILLON (Despicable Me, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax). They are supported by the creator of the original songs and themes for Despicable Me 2, Grammy Award-winning artist and blockbuster music producer PHARRELL WILLIAMS. He is joined by HEITOR PEREIRA (Despicable Me, Beverly Hills Chihuahua), who returns to the series to compose the score.
In theaters July 3, 2013, the 3-D CGI film is written by CINCO PAUL & KEN DAURIO (Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, Despicable Me, Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who!).
Super-villain Gru ( Steve Carell ), his adorable girls, and the hilarious Minions star in these new clips from DESPICABLE ME 2.
Universal Pictures announced today that it has launched a search for missing Minions in support of Universal and Illumination Entertainment’s upcoming 3D-CG comedy adventure, DESPICABLE ME 2.
Gru’s loyal yellow, gibberish-speaking Minions love causing mischief and mayhem almost as much as they love bananas. They are easily distracted and can be unpredictable, curious and subversively sweet. They are extremely competitive with each other. This can lead to sudden slap fights, but if someone from the outside tries to harm them or Gru’s family, they become fiercely protective. Now, someone or something has been making them vanish…
By searching for the Minions across the NBCUniversal family of websites—beginning today and lasting until June 30—fans may win any number of despicable prizes. Every day, a new missing Minion will be revealed at www.missingminions.com, along with the NBCUniversal partner website where he may be found. Audiences are asked to visit the specific partner site and search for the missing Minion. To rescue him and enter the drawing for the grand prize, all they must do is click!
For each Minion found, registered users will receive an entry into a grand-prize sweepstakes for a trip for four to Universal Orlando Resort. Daily instant-win prizes of Fandango Movie Cash—good for tickets to see Despicable Me 2 in theaters—are also available for lucky fans with keen eyes.
More than 21 NBCUniversal sites are participating in the three-week promotion. Visit www.missingminions.com to find out more and start the search for a missing Minion today
Have you seen a gigantic Minion in the skies? Travelling approximately 20,000 miles, crisscrossing the country three times over the course of its six-month journey and having made multiple stops across the continental U.S., the Despicablimp is making it’s way west to the DESPICABLE ME 2 World Premiere in Hollywood, CA on June 22.
At last report they were leaving Pecos, Texas and on the way to Deming, New Mexico.
The Despicablimp may be tracked in real-time via GPS at the Despicablimp Command Center (www.despicablimp.com).
Fans can tweet sightings of the blimp or post photos to Instagram or Flickr using #despicablimp (twitter: https://twitter.com/despicablimp) to see it featured on the site, and participate in weekly prize giveaways.
Chris Meledandri and his acclaimed filmmaking team create an all-new comedy adventure with DESPICABLE ME 2.
With a host of new and outrageously funny characters, the sequel stars the voices of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Al Pacino, Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, Elsie Fisher, Nasim Pedrad, Moises Arias, Russell Brand, Ken Jeong, and Steve Coogan.
From original DESPICABLE ME directors Chris Renaud & Pierre Coffin, the 3D-CG comedy adventure will be in theaters July 3, 2013.
