In 1990, Pierre Coffin enrolled at the Gobelins School of the Image in Paris, France, embarking on a journey into the world of animated film production. He took on the role of character designer, paving the way for his eventual career as a film director.
The film “Despicable Me” is considered Coffin’s major debut, in collaboration with director Chris Renaud. In addition to directing, Coffin is also famous for voicing 899 Minions in the film, including beloved characters like Kevin, Bob, Stuart, Otto, Mel, and the mischievous purple Minions.
The Talented Directors Behind the Franchise
Chris Renaud, born in 1966, has had a passion for animation since his school days. By the time he was in high school, he had already begun to design characters and was eager to become a comic book artist in the future. This dream came to fruition when Renaud officially worked with both Marvel and DC Comics starting in 1989. His career took him into storyboarding for various projects such as “Robots” and “Ice Age,” and in 2010, he made his directorial debut with “Despicable Me” alongside Coffin. In the film, he also lent his voice to the Minion character named Dave.
Following the success of the first film, the duo continued their collaboration on subsequent installments of “Despicable Me.” In the third film, Coffin returned as director while Renaud took on the role of production supervisor. This collaborative approach continued in the two standalone “Minions” films, which achieved tremendous success, solidifying “Despicable Me” as one of the most successful animated franchises of all time and a symbol of Illumination Entertainment.
However, as the fourth installment, “Despicable Me 4,” approaches, Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud will swap roles. This time, the directing seat will belong solely to Renaud, while Coffin will serve as the producer and continue voicing the Minions as before. With this sixth collaboration throughout their long-standing careers, the creative vision and synergy between Coffin and Renaud are expected to deliver yet another blockbuster, making “Despicable Me 4” the next animated hit of the year.
“Despicable Me 4” is set to premiere on July 5th, 2024.
