With different personalities, gibberish language, and hilarious acts, Minions have stolen hearts all over the world. But have you ever wondered who invented the Minions or what inspired their design? This article will detail the origins of the Minions, explore the genius behind their invention and why they are all male.
Minions: A Brief Overview
Minions are small, yellow, cylindrical creatures. First appearing in Despicable Me (2010) as sidekicks, they have gained a lot of popularity in pop culture. People mainly recognize them through their overalls, goggles, and strange language with a mischievous, fun-loving attitude.
One special thing about the Minions is their unwavering loyalty to their masters. Throughout the Despicable Me series, they serve various villains, including Scarlet Overkill and Gru, always eager to assist in their schemes. They also share a strong bond with each other, often working together to overcome challenges and support their fellow Minions.
Now, these side characters have become global icons, starring in solo films (Minions and Minions: The Rise of Gru), merchandise lines, and countless memes. They are beloved by people from children to adults all over the world.
Who Created The Minions?
So, who invented the Minions? The Minions were created by Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud, two talented filmmakers and animators.
Pierre Coffin, a French animator and voice actor, created the unique personalities of the Minions. He co-directed the Despicable Me movies and did all the quirky voices for the Minions that gave them their signature charm.
Along with Coffin, it was co-created by Chris Renaud, an American film director and producer. He had previously directed well-known animated films such as The Lorax and The Secret Life of Pets.
All About The Creation of the Minions
When Were Minions Created?
The Minions were first created during the development of Despicable Me, which began on July 9, 2010. They were once conceived as enormous, grotesque beings, though they eventually transformed into the mini, yellow cylindrical beings that viewers are familiar with today.
What Inspired the Minions?
The Minions were inspired by a combination of classic film characters and silent film stars. Directors Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin, along with character designer Eric Guillon, drew inspiration from:
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Original concept: The Minions were supposed to be dwarf factory workers. They are small, yellow, capsule-shaped creatures as a contrast to their tall, evil leader.
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Oompa-Loompas: The small, whimsical workers from "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" (1971).
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Jawas: The mysterious, hooded creatures from "Star Wars."
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Silent film stars: Comedians like Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin, known for their expressive physical comedy.
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Warner Bros. cartoon characters: Including Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck.
Moreover, some people believe that Minions have been inspired by Nazi experiments in the years of World War II. However, there is no credible evidence for such rumors. Reliable sources, including Snopes and the Associated Press, investigated this rumor thoroughly and denied it.
How Were Minions Designed and Developed?
The Minions were designed and developed to be memorable and appealing to all audiences.
Shape: Their cylindrical, pill-like shape was picked out for simplicity and versatility. It would permit a wide range of exaggerated movements and expressions that enhanced their comic appeal.
Color: Minions’ main color is bright yellow, making them very noticeable and full of energy and fun.
Clothing and accessories: Goggles with one or two lenses, different heights, and overalls were also included to give each Minion an individuality in uniformity.
Overall, all these little variations made every minion unique in his own little ways while retaining a group of cohesive minions.
Animation Choices
The main focus in animating the Minions is the emphasis on slapstick humor through exaggerated body movements and comic accidents. Facial expressions are highly elastic to make their emotions clear and interesting without spoken words.
In terms of techniques of animation, the playful energy of the Minions is portrayed by smooth and quick animation, accentuating their hyperactive personalities. While cartoonish in nature, the physics involved in the action scenes—for example, objects falling or Minions tumbling—feels realistic, adding to the immersion.
Languages and Communication
The Minions speak a unique constructed language called Minionese. Basically, it is an ingenious combination of nonsensical sounds and actual words from various languages.
Pierre Coffin, the co-director of the Despicable Me series, is the one that invented this language. He ad-libbed much of their dialogue, adding in some understandable words like "banana" to create a lighthearted, universally understood form of communication.
Why Are Minions All Males?
According to Pierre Coffin, that was a very conscious choice. He explained in an interview that Minions are designed to be inherently silly and "a little dumb," traits he found easier to get across with male personalities.
"Seeing how adorable and stupid they often are, I just couldn't imagine Minions being girls," said Coffin. For their creator, that artistic choice gave them cohesive continuity and added to their sulky appeal.
In conclusion
That concludes our article on who created Minions, including when were Minions created, its inspiration, and everything behind the scenes. Hopefully you find this article interesting, and don’t forget to visit Fendory for more information!
