Illumination Studios Paris (formerly known as Illumination Mac Guff) is a French animated feature production company owned by Illumination, an "exclusive financing and distribution" partner of Universal Pictures,[2] making the major American film backer and releaser its only client. Based in Paris, France, the company was created in 2011 as part of Universal's purchase of the animation arm of French animation and VFX company Mac Guff and subsequent contribution of the production house to Illumination.[3] It is responsible for the animation on Illumination's feature-length animated films and associated short films, most notably the Despicable Me franchise.
History
Mac Guff era (2011–2021)
Following their work with Illumination on Despicable Me (2010) and its associated short films, Universal purchased the animation arm of Mac Guff, aptly renaming it Illumination Mac Guff. The first film produced by the new studio was