Three creators and the yellow sidekicks who stole the whole film
They weren't in the script. They were only meant to ease the tension. They ended up as the most recognisable characters in 21st-century animation.
Meant to be background
When Illumination was working on its very first film, Despicable Me (in France, Moi, moche et méchant), there were no Minions in the script. There was Gru — a villain who wants to steal the Moon. The filmmakers soon spotted a problem: it is hard to warm to a hero who is simply bad. He needed someone who would love him unconditionally — and who would make the audience laugh whenever things got too serious.
And so an army of small yellow helpers was born. They were supposed to be comic relief. They turned out to be the heart of the entire series.
Three from Paris
Three people came up with the Minions. Eric Guillon — the French character designer who gave them their look. Pierre Coffin — the French animator and director who gave them their voice. And Chris Renaud — the American director who co-directed the first film with Coffin. The whole series has been animated at Illumination's Paris studio, so these little yellow creatures have very European roots.
All three stayed with the Minions for years, working on film after film.
Capsule, goggles, dungarees
Before they became yellow capsules, all sorts of shapes were tried out. In the end simplicity won: one shape, one colour, denim dungarees and welder's goggles. Minions have one eye or two, different heights and different haircuts — so although they are an army, each one is somebody.
A design so simple a child can draw it — and so distinctive that anyone will recognise it.
A language that doesn't exist
The Minions speak their own way. Their language is a mix of words from many tongues — French, Spanish, Italian, English and more — glued together into something that sounds like babble yet can be understood from the intonation. Banana means banana everywhere in the world. From the very beginning, almost all the Minions have been voiced by Pierre Coffin — the same man who co-created them and directs the films.
From supporting cast to centre stage
After two films about Gru, the Minions got one of their own: 2015's Minions grossed more than a billion dollars and became one of the highest-grossing animated films in history. Then came Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022), Despicable Me 4 (2024) and Minions & Monsters, directed by Coffin, which reached cinemas on 1 July 2026. In total the series has taken more than 5.6 billion dollars at the box office.
Add to that the memes that changed your aunt's Facebook feed forever, and the figures that now stand on the shelves of grown-up collectors.
Who's who
Bob and his teddy bear Tim, as a 52Toys figure, are waiting for you here — because some friendships are inseparable.
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