Pixar vs Illumination: Two Sides of the Same Coin

Illumination isn't exactly known for deep storytelling or compelling characters

The first two Despicable Me were good. There was a narration and Gru's relationship with his adopted daughters was highlighted. It was from the 3rd where the franchise began to decline. The villain was good but the movie felt like a hodgepodge of several shorts stuck together. Inside Out has so far had a solid sequel as well and a short and the reason it worked is because the studio really wanted to make something with the film. Pixar didn't just want to make a sequel to Inside Out, they wanted to tell something deeper

Illumination is what adults who aren't fans of animated films think animated films are.

7:07-7:17 I'm sorry, people tend to claim Animation is JUST 4 KIDS!? Hell Naw! It's for everyone

Remember when everyone was making edits saying how illumination was far better than pixar because of the mario movie?

I agree with you, while there are some films from Illumination I do enjoy like the first two Despicable Me movies and The Super Mario Bros Movie, the studio mainly plays it safe and not really take any risks. Which is why Pixar is easily the clear winner because a lot of their movies not only beloved by critics and audiences, but some are even considered as part of the best animated movies of all time. Also, the more I think about it, the quality that Illumination that has with most of their films, is similar to what Sony Pictures Animation had before the released Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse, where most of their films were honestly mediocre at best and go way too over the top with its comedy and animation. Unlike nowadays where the animation studio is being experimental with not just their animation, but also with their storytelling.

In my opinion, Pixar might go back into the spotlight once again. I am glad this movie wasn’t cancelled

Animation as a whole has always been a medium for everyone to enjoy, from the very beginning of days....

What I like is that these 2 studios are completely different. Pixar is for amazingly storylines and emotional moments. Illumination is for having fun and getting a good laugh. I like having a studio for both and wouldn’t change the style of either

Illmination is just great with animation and characters.

T-Two sides of the same coin?! "You're life double sided!" HAHA!

As a fan of both animation companies, I honestly agree that both have their positives and weaknesses: Pixar’s animation is more emotional and goes for more “out of the box” ideas, while Illumination has more grounded storytelling and focuses more on the comedic side. The negatives however, are also noticeable: Pixar has a sort of hit-or-miss (mostly hit) reputation, and Illumination stays more to their already impressive brands.

I am worried that Illumination is heading the way of Blue Sky: Always focusing on one popular film IP half the time, and rarely making room for new properties or adaptations (like Horton Hears a Who, The Grinch, The Peanuts Movie and The Super Mario Brothers Movie) the other half of the time. If Despicable Me 5 goes sideways, whatever new non-Despicable Me film that Illumination has planned to come out after that might just be their new version of Spies In Disguise - a good film to watch that makes a decent new film property, but is not amazing enough to save Blue Sky/Illumination from eventually shutting down two years later. July 14, 2024, 4:13pm

Inside Out 2 doesn’t feel like a movie. It feels like an episode of an animated show just like how Toystory 4 feels like an episode of an animated show. Honestly Soul is more deserving of those box office numbers. Soul is an amazing film about enjoying life even when you don’t have a plan.

Especially with films like cars 2 who felt like it was written by drunk and high, got me dying of laughter

I find myself kind of enjoying Illumination’s films. It is not like they make films that are beyond obscene. I will hope that one day they will pleasantly surprise us with something different. Very good, fair review of both studios.

Not every animation studio has to make a smash hit animated masterpiece. They would sometimes have a financial failure, critically panned films, or ones that are mid. That's business, my friend.

I remember I had an argument with my mother once. I said "I personally think the first Ice Age was the best because of the heavily mature and adult story it told." and she answered "yes but the newer ones are better looking." That's it?

Yeah Animation is Cinma But it doesn't hurt have some fun flims And we'll am not A huge Illumination fan but I did enjoy there flims Like Despicable Me 1-4 Sing 1 & 2 The Secret Life of Pets 1 & 2 Miragration And the Super Mario Bros Movie

Weren't people like 5 months ago saying how Illumination and Dreamworks are better than Disney/Pixar? They did, and now that Illumination and Dreamworks both released ONE bad movie, people are back to shitting on them. The truth is, none of the studios are better than any other. Sometimes they make good movies, sometimes they make bad movies. EVERY studio has a bunch of movies that are mediocre or just bad, but that doesn't mean the studio is "hopeless and dead". They can just make another movie that maybe can turn out to be masterpiece. I'm pretty sure this or next year dreamworks or illumination will make a movie that will turn out to be at least decently good, and everyone will start giving them a ton of praise again, until they make a bad movie and the cycle will just keep repeating.