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The Villain Isn’t the Only Thing That’s French! ‘Despicable Me 4’ Director Chris Renaud on the Animated Franchise’s Roots in France
Introducing a French villain in its fourth opus, Universal and Illumination's "Despicable Me" boasts a Gallic DNA that can't be underestimated.
He says the team initially “had more of a generic villain in place, somebody big and strong and very intimidating as a way to get Gru and the family to leave their home,” but they dropped what seemed “a little too scary,” and ultimately came into the idea of “a high school rivalry.” The director notes that the influences for Gru and Maxime Le Mal have been pulled from the works of Jacques Tati, the renowned French mime-turned-director who was a master of physical comedy, among others. Renaud says coming to France to make “Despicable Me” has allowed the production to tap into the vast talent pool, many of whom have graduated from the country’s top animation schools such as les Gobelins; as well as deliver studio-level movies on competitive budgets.
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