The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    INTERVIEWTati Gabrielle, actress of Korean, African-American descent, feels proud of her heritage

  • 3

    China expresses 'strong dissatisfaction' over US shooting down balloon

  • 5

    Decoding success factors of NewJeans: How is it different?

  • 7

    VIDEOFilipina K-pop idol and K-drama actress react to stereotypes about the Philippines

  • 9

    'Hype Boy' by NewJeans reaches 200 mil. Spotify streams

  • 11

    9 fishermen, including 2 Vietnamese, missing in boat incident

  • 13

    Reclusive fashion icon Martin Margiela makes comeback as artist with eerie wonderland of human bodies

  • 15

    VideoHow Koreans' favorite convenience store foods are made in factories

  • 17

    BTS fails to win Grammy for 3rd consecutive year

  • 19

    Conflict reignites over relocation of POSCO Holdings to Pohang

  • 2

    2-year work experience prerequisite lifted for foreign shipyard welders

  • 4

    Families of Itaewon victims on collision course with Seoul City

  • 6

    US shoots down suspected Chinese spy balloon with a single missile

  • 8

    President Yoon at odds with politician who helped him win election

  • 10

    Powerful quake rocks Turkey and Syria, kills more than 1,500

  • 12

    LG publishes Korea's first group-level net zero report

  • 14

    More than 2,000 foreign workers to be hired at Korean shipyards this month

  • 16

    Search under way for 9 missing after fishing boat capsizes

  • 18

    US literary agent reflects on personal journey to discover Korea in new book

  • 20

    FSC approves security token transactions in Korea

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Tue, February 7, 2023 | 10:55
'Despicable Me' founder shares secret of success
Posted : 2015-05-19 17:03
Updated : 2015-05-19 17:59
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Chris Meledandri, CEO of Illumination Entertainment, poses with 'Minions' characters from the 'Despicable Me' movies at a theater in Myeong-dong, downtown Seoul, Monday. / Yonhap
Chris Meledandri, CEO of Illumination Entertainment, poses with "Minions" characters from the "Despicable Me" movies at a theater in Myeong-dong, downtown Seoul, Monday. / Yonhap

By Baek Byung-yeul


Korean animation fans may be unfamiliar with the name Chris Meledandri until they are told he produced the worldwide smash hit "Despicable Me."

Working in the animation business over the past two decades, Meledandri has produced some of the most popular 3D animation movies, such as the "Ice Age" franchise, as an executive of 20th Century Fox Animation. In 2007, he established his own studio, Illumination Entertainment, which has emerged as a major player in the business thanks to the blockbuster "Despicable Me" franchise, which has garnered more than $1.5 billion.

Meledandri recently visited Korea for the first time in a bid to promote Illumination's upcoming film "Minions," a spinoff of Despicable Me.

Meledandri revealed that his secret of his success lies in "finding the very best talent in the world and the most competitive, appealing characters."

"When we made Ice Age, what we realized was that audiences, first and foremost, were responding to characters and the story. We put our emphasis on characters and story. That's where we invest most of our resources," Meledandri said at a theater in Myeong-dong, downtown Seoul, Monday.

"As we observed audiences watching Ice Age, not a single audience member complained that they thought the film wasn't as visually impressive as one of our competitors' films. So we carry that philosophy," he added.

Meledandri recently signed with a local animation studio, mofac & alfred, which produced the five-minute 3D animated feature "Johnny Express."

Directed by Woo Kyung-min, the short animated feature revolves around a space delivery guy named Johnny, a lazy person who sits idle on his spaceship as the ship's automatic system does all the delivering for him.

The film has gone viral since it was first uploaded on YouTube in May of last year. As of Monday, the video has been watched more than 770,000 times.

Meledandri said his company plans to make Johnny Express into a full-length animated feature working alongside the local studio.

"When my associate producer Brett Hoffman showed me Johnny Express, I was immediately delighted by the film.

"I found the character Johnny to be very appealing, charming character, and for us every decision about the movie begins with the character. The film also has a comedic tone that is very much in sync with the kind of slapstick comedy that we are attracted to," he said, adding, "We are now in the phase of developing a story and are about to start the screenwriting process."

Meledandri also introduced Illumination's new feature "The Secret Life of Pets."

Focusing on different kinds of pets, the animated feature is set in New York City and shows what pets do after their owners leave the house.

"What do our pets do all day after we leave the house and after kids go school? That very simple idea was the inspiration of the movie," Meledandri explained. It is scheduled for release in the summer of 2016.

Emailbaekby@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
Top 10 Stories
1[VIDEO] Filipina K-pop idol and K-drama actress react to stereotypes about the Philippines VIDEOFilipina K-pop idol and K-drama actress react to stereotypes about the Philippines
2[Video] How Koreans' favorite convenience store foods are made in factories VideoHow Koreans' favorite convenience store foods are made in factories
3US literary agent reflects on personal journey to discover Korea in new book US literary agent reflects on personal journey to discover Korea in new book
4[INTERVIEW] Saudi Arabia seeks greater cooperation with Korea in NEOM INTERVIEWSaudi Arabia seeks greater cooperation with Korea in NEOM
5Debate heats up over chemical castration of more sex offenders Debate heats up over chemical castration of more sex offenders
6Why Galaxy Book3 draws more attention than S23 smartphones Why Galaxy Book3 draws more attention than S23 smartphones
7[ANALYSIS] New order prevails in global battery industry ANALYSISNew order prevails in global battery industry
8Opposition party's attempt to enact Korean version of IRA triggers concerns Opposition party's attempt to enact Korean version of IRA triggers concerns
9Dongwon aims to to acquire McDonald's Korea Dongwon aims to to acquire McDonald's Korea
10Book recounts poverty-stricken Korean coal miners' contribution to their country Book recounts poverty-stricken Korean coal miners' contribution to their country
Top 5 Entertainment News
1[INTERVIEW] Tati Gabrielle, actress of Korean, African-American descent, feels proud of her heritage INTERVIEWTati Gabrielle, actress of Korean, African-American descent, feels proud of her heritage
2Decoding success factors of NewJeans: How is it different? Decoding success factors of NewJeans: How is it different?
3Reclusive fashion icon Martin Margiela makes comeback as artist with eerie wonderland of human bodiesReclusive fashion icon Martin Margiela makes comeback as artist with eerie wonderland of human bodies
4The Boyz member Hyunjae apologizes for wearing hat with Rising Sun flag design The Boyz member Hyunjae apologizes for wearing hat with Rising Sun flag design
5SM in internal feud over founder's exit from producing SM in internal feud over founder's exit from producing
DARKROOM
  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

  • World Cup 2022 France vs Morocco

    World Cup 2022 France vs Morocco

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group