Key facts
- Filmmaker Pierre Coffin, the voice of the Minions, has directed multiple films in the franchise.
- Coffin initially felt disconnected from the direction of some previous Minions sequels.
- The upcoming film, "Minions & Monsters," features the Minions as protagonists in a 1920s Hollywood setting.
- Coffin discovered that the Minions' core nature is akin to children, simplifying his writing process.
- The Minions' design underwent several iterations before reaching their final appearance.
Filmmaker Pierre Coffin, the creative force behind the Minions' unique language, Minionese, has spoken candidly about his evolving relationship with the characters he helped bring to life. Coffin, who co-directed the first "Despicable Me" 16 years ago and has since helmed three other films in the franchise, admitted to struggling with the direction of some previous sequels, even to the point of wanting to step away.
"I told him: I got to move on. I did my trilogy, my prequel — I’m good. I can help with the voices, no problem. But I want to move on," Coffin stated, referring to his conversations with Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri. Despite his reservations, the Minions' consistent box office success, exceeding $5 billion globally, often humbled him.
However, for the upcoming film, "Minions & Monsters," Coffin feels a renewed sense of connection. He discovered that viewing the Minions as essentially like children, with their irresponsibility and tendency to make messes, made writing for them significantly easier. This insight has led him to believe that "Minions & Monsters" might be the best installment yet, with the characters taking on the roles of protagonists in a 1920s Hollywood setting.
Coffin also touched upon the design evolution of the Minions, from hulking thugs to their current recognizable form, and the challenges of creating their gibberish language. He and cowriter Brian Lynch opted to write their dialogue in English initially to establish a foundation, rather than relying on pure gibberish. Coffin emphasized that the Minions are more than just creatures; they possess a distinct spirit and personality, a nuance he feels is sometimes overlooked when others work with the characters.