Chris Meledandri

Chris Meledandri
Born Christopher Meledandri
(1959-05-15) May 15, 1959
New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation Film producer, founder, CEO and owner of Illumination
Nationality American
Alma mater Dartmouth College
Genre Animation
Notable works Ice Age
Horton Hears a Who!
Robots
Despicable Me (franchise)
The Lorax
The Secret Life of Pets
Sing

Christopher Meledandri (/mɛlɛdɑːndreɪ/; born May 15, 1959) is an American film producer and the founder, CEO and owner of Illumination. He is best known as the producer of the Despicable Me franchise.

Works

Walt Disney Pictures

Before joining Fox, Meledandri was president of Dawn Steel Pictures at Walt Disney Pictures, where he served as an executive producer of Cool Runnings.

20th Century Fox Animation

During his tenure, he produced Ever After: A Cinderella Story and helped Fox become a major player in the world of animated feature films. In 1998 he led Fox's acquisition of fledgling visual effects/commercial house Blue Sky Studios, which he built into a successful producer of animated features. He oversaw the creative and business operations of Blue Sky, now Fox's wholly owned CGI studio. While at the studio, Meledandri supervised and/or executive produced movies including Ice Age, Ice Age: The Meltdown, Robots, Alvin and the Chipmunks, The Simpsons Movie and Dr. Seuss Horton Hears a Who![1] He also produced two animated shorts, Gone Nutty and No Time for Nuts, both were nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.

Illumination

Meledandri left as President of 20th Century Fox Animation in early 2007 and founded Illumination, an all-audience film production company, co-owned by Universal Pictures, which fully finances and owns the films.[2] In 2010 Illumination released its first film, Despicable Me, (which became very successful and was followed by Despicable Me 2 in 2013), and in 2011 Hop. Illumination released a film version of Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, which continued the successful collaboration between Meledandri and Theodor (Dr. Seuss) Geisel's widow, Audrey.[3] He also produced the franchise spin-off featuring the Minions, Minions (2015).

In January 2018, Nintendo announced during a fiscal meeting that Illumination would be developing an animated Mario film and that Meledandri will co-produce the film with Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto.

DreamWorks Animation

On April 28, 2016, NBCUniversal announced its intent to acquire competing studio DreamWorks Animation for $3.8 billion. It was announced that Meledandri would oversee both Illumination and DreamWorks following the completion of the merger.[4] However, it was later announced that Meledandri had declined to oversee DreamWorks, and will instead be a consultant at the studio.[5]

Personal life

Meledandri was born in New York City. He is a member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He attended Dartmouth College[3] and is a member of the board of trustees at The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut. He has two sons, who are 18–19 and 27–28 years old.[6]

Filmography

Films

Year Title Notes
1986 Quicksilverassociate producer
1989 Brothers in Armsproducer
1990 Opportunity Knocks
1993 Fly by Nightexecutive producer
Swing Kids
Cool Runnings
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habitco-executive producer
1994 Trial by Juryproducer
2002 Ice Ageexecutive producer
Gone Nutty
2005 Robots
Aunt Fanny's Tour of Booty
2006 Ice Age: The Meltdown
No Time for Nuts
2008 Horton Hears a Who!
2010 Despicable Meproducer
2011 Hop
2012 The Lorax
2013 Despicable Me 2
2015 Minions[7]
2016 The Secret Life of Pets[8]
Sing
2017 Despicable Me 3[9]
2018 The Grinch[10]
2019 The Secret Life of Pets 2[11]
2020 Minions 2
Sing 2
TBD Untitled Mario film[12]

References

  1. ↑ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0577560/
  2. ↑ Kilday, Gregg (December 9, 2016). "Illumination's Chris Meledandri Talks Success Secrets, Rumors He'll Head DreamWorks". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
  3. 1 2 Archibald, Sophia (2011-05-10). "In nod to other famous alum., Meledandri produces 'Lorax'". The Dartmouth. Retrieved 2011-06-26.
  4. ↑ "Comcast's NBCUniversal buys DreamWorks Animation in $3.8-billion deal". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  5. ↑ Palmeri, Christopher; Sakoui, Anousha (September 12, 2017). "In Dismal Summer, 'Despicable Me 3' Producer Delivers $1 Billion". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
  6. ↑ S. Cohen, David (October 26, 2013). "Chris Meledandri: Event Films Are Cannibalizing Each Othe". Variety. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  7. ↑ Mike Fleming (2012-07-23). "Illumination And Universal Hatch 'Despicable Me' Spinoff About The Minions". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2012-07-23.
  8. ↑ Fleming Jr, Mike (January 24, 2014). "Chris Meledandri's Illumination Sets Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet And Kevin Hart For 3D Animated 'Pets' Pic At Universal". Deadline. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  9. ↑ Bond, Paul (September 11, 2013). "Steve Burke: NBC's Ratings Woes Hurting Revenues". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 12, 2013. A third film is in the works, as is a Christmastime spinoff about the Minions.
  10. ↑ Kroll, Justin (October 8, 2013). "Universal, Illumination to reboot 'The Grinch'". Variety. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
  11. ↑ Mandell, Andrea (August 2, 2016). "Get Ready for 'Secret Life of Pets 2'". USA Today. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Nintendo and Illumination are partnering on a movie starring Mario, co-produced by Shigeru Miyamoto and Chris Meledandri!". Twitter. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
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