Startups
Illumination Entertainment is an American film production company, founded by Chris Meledandri in 2007 after he left his post as President of Fox Animation Studios in early 2007.
By 2008, a deal was announced positioning Illumination as NBC Universal’s family entertainment arm that would produce one to two films a year starting in 2010. It is co-owned by Universal, who exclusively distributes the films, but Illumination retains creative control as an independent production company.
Illumination’s world headquarters and main production office is based in Santa Monica, California. The company subscribes to a philosophy of global film making and contracts independent studios all over the world on a film-by-film basis. It also maintains offices on the Universal Studios lot in CA and at Illumination Mac Guff in Paris, France (animation/production).
By 2008, a deal was announced positioning Illumination as NBC Universal’s family entertainment arm that would produce one to two films a year starting in 2010. It is co-owned by Universal, who exclusively distributes the films, but Illumination retains creative control as an independent production company.
Illumination’s world headquarters and main production office is based in Santa Monica, California. The company subscribes to a philosophy of global film making and contracts independent studios all over the world on a film-by-film basis. It also maintains offices on the Universal Studios lot in CA and at Illumination Mac Guff in Paris, France (animation/production).
Overview
Location
United States, California, Santa Monica
Employees
51-200
Founded date
2007
Mentions in press and media 18
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| May 8, 2026 | Nintendo hikes Switch 2 prices and expects console sales to decline as memory crunch bites | Nintendo said the price of the Switch 2 in the U.S. will rise by $50 from $449.99 to $499.99. Memory, a key component of Nintendo’s Switch consoles, has seen an unprecedented price rise, playing a part in the company’s price hike. Nintendo ... |
| Mar 25, 2026 | Spring movies 2026: our picks for 26 best new releases | Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... The annual movie-release calendar goes something like this: Fall and winter are most often associated with deep-thinking movies, the more cerebral affairs seeking awards glory. Summer, of course, m... |
| Jan 27, 2026 | Universal Studios Japan to Deliver Immersive Pokemon Experiences for Fans | OSAKA, Japan, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On January 27, Universal Studios Japan, operated by USJ LLC, and The Pokemon Company announced their plan to offer more innovative, immersive, and world-class Pokemon experiences. The project is p... |
| Jan 17, 2026 | Disney dominated the 2025 box office. Here’s how it could keep the crown in 2026 | Box office ticket sales in the United States and Canada rose about 4% in 2025 to $9.05 billion. Disney accounted for the highest share of that haul with $2.49 billion in ticket sales, or 27.5%. The studio’s standout performance came on the ... |
| 2026 | The best new films to catch in 2026, from Toy Story to Peaky Blinders | New installations of classic franchises and brand new gambits from the likes of Christopher Nolan, there is a bumper set of new films lined up for cinematic release in 2026. Here are some of the new releases not to miss. Toy Story 5 It’s be... |
| 2026 | Top 10 new theme park attractions in the U.S. for 2026 | Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... It’s never too early to look ahead at what’s on tap for next year and 2026 is already shaping up as a good year for roller coaster enthusiasts, thrill ride junkies and theme park fans in the United... |
| Sep 28, 2025 | Why the new ‘Gabby’s Dollhouse’ film is more than a movie for Universal and DreamWorks | “Gabby’s Dollhouse” is the latest kid’s TV show to head to the box office, with “Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie” hitting theaters this weekend. Children’s programming has become an increasingly important piece of the media landscape in recent... |
| Sep 14, 2025 | The Super Mario Galaxy Movie set for theatrical release in April 2026, with Chris Pratt returning as Mario | Listen 2 min New: You can now listen to articles. This audio is generated by an AI tool. The Super Mario Bros. sequel will be called The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic will return to helm the sequel after taking... |
| Aug 21, 2025 | Blokees made its debut at 2025 Indonesia International Toys Expo , exhibiting multiple IP series new products | SHANGHAI, Aug. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- From August 20 to 22, 2025, the Assembly Character Toys brand Blokees made its debut at the 2025 Indonesia International Toys Expo. Blokees exhibited over 50 model kits that are based on world-renowne... |
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FAQ about Illumination
When was Illumination founded?
Illumination was founded in 2007.
What has the press written about Illumination?
Parsers VC has collected 18 articles mentioning Illumination, among them “Nintendo hikes Switch 2 prices and expects console sales to decline as memory crunch bites” (May 8, 2026) and “Spring movies 2026: our picks for 26 best new releases” (Mar 25, 2026).
Is Illumination still active?
Yes, Illumination is active; its latest activity on Parsers VC dates from Aug 3, 2026.