[title text=”Count Down To The Minions Movie!” style=”bold_center”]
[title text=”Order your Decorated Minion Cookies By April 30th to ensure delivery before the movie! ” style=”bold_center”][tab title=”The Story”]
The story of Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment’s MINIONS begins at the dawn of time. Starting as single-celled yellow organisms, Minions evolve through the ages, perpetually serving the most despicable of masters. Continuously unsuccessful at keeping these masters—from T. rex to Napoleon—the Minions find themselves without someone to serve and fall into a deep depression.
But one Minion named Kevin has a plan, and he—alongside teenage rebel Stuart and lovable little Bob—ventures out into the world to find a new evil boss for his brethren to follow.
The trio embarks upon a thrilling journey that ultimately leads them to their next potential master, Scarlet Overkill (Academy Award® winner Sandra Bullock), the world’s first-ever female super-villain. They travel from frigid Antarctica to 1960s New York City, ending in mod London, where they must face their biggest challenge to date: saving all of Minionkind…from annihilation.
Featuring a soundtrack of hit music from the ’60s that still permeates our culture today, MINIONS is produced by Illumination’s Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy, and is directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda. Brian Lynch has written the screen- play for the 3D-CG comedy adventure, and Chris Renaud serves as executive producer of the film.
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[tab title=”A Powerhouse Brand”]
• With $1.5B globally, Despicable Me is bigger than every other animated franchise over their first two films
• Despicable Me 2 is the fourth highest grossing animated film in history • Despicable Me 2 was the #1 Home Entertainment release of 2013
• 500+ Licensees
• Despicable Me music partner Pharrell Williams’ Academy Award® nominated song “Happy” from the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack has more than 700MM views online
• $1B+ in retail sales to date
• 400MM+ downloads – Despicable Me: Minion Rush
• 50MM Facebook fans
• Top attractions in Orlando and Hollywood with planned expansion at Universal Parks overseas
• Despicable Me 3 slated for 2017 release
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[tab title=”Film Marketing”]
• Multimillion dollar global marketing campaign targeting all audiences around the world
• Campaign kicked off November 3 with worldwide teaser trailer debut generating 50MM views in the first 24 hours
• Global, company-wide initiative for all Comcast and NBC Universal assets
• Partnering with the largest global/regional brands in the world – delivering double the number of partners from Despicable Me 2
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• Cross-category licensing program including global partners Thinkway Toys, Hasbro and Mega Bloks
• Unprecedented mobile deal will bring the brand directly into the hands of fans
• Merchandise target: kids 6-12, teens and millennials
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[tab title=”Press Release”]
Cookies United LLC Signs License with Universal Partnerships & Licensing for Cookies and Kits Based on Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment’s Upcoming Film Minions
Long Island, NY, DATE – Cookies United LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of United Baking Co., Inc. (the manufacturer of the Uncle Wally’s brand of baked goods), has signed a licensing agreement with Universal Partnerships & Licensing to manufacture decorated cookies and cookie kits based on the upcoming Minions movie, a spin-off from the phenomenally successful Despicable Me franchise. Minions will be released on July 10, 2015.
“Our team is very excited to create an all-new line of decorated cookies and cookie kits for Minions, and we look forward to an ongoing and mutually beneficial relationship with Universal Partnerships & Licensing and Illumination Entertainment,” said Lou Avignone, CEO of Cookies United.
Minions tells the tale of Kevin, teenage rebel Stuart and lovable little Bob, who embark on a thrilling journey to find a new evil boss, that takes them from frigid Antarctica to 1960s New York City, ending in mod London, where they must face their biggest challenge to date: saving all of Minionkind…from annihilation. Featuring a soundtrack of favorites from the ’60s, Minions is produced by Illumination’s Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy, and directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda. The film stars Academy Award®-winner Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton, Allison Janney and Steve Coogan, and opens in theaters July 10, 2015.
Products will be available on shelves in summer 2015.
About Illumination Entertainment
Illumination Entertainment, founded by Chris Meledandri in 2007, is one of the entertainment industry’s leading producers of all-audience event films. In July 2010, Illumination, which has an exclusive financing and distribution partnership with Universal Pictures, released its first film, Despicable Me, starring Steve Carell, which earned more than $540 million worldwide and launched a beloved global franchise. With the success of 2011’s Hop, 2012’s Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax and 2013’s juggernaut Despicable Me 2— the highest-grossing first-run film in Universal’s history and the year’s third-highest-grossing film at the worldwide box office—Illumination’s films have made almost $2 billion. Universal’s and Illumination’s next film, Minions, a spin-off of the phenomenally successful Despicable Me series— starring Academy Award® winner Sandra Bullock and Jon Hamm—arrives in theaters on July 10, 2015.
In 2011, Universal Pictures acquired the animation division of French visual effects studio Mac Guff Ligne and formed Illumination Mac Guff to work exclusively on Illumination Entertainment’s fully CG movies. Fans may also experience Minion Mayhem in 3D with the Ultra-HD movie motion simulator adventure at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood.
About Universal Partnerships & Licensing
Universal Partnerships & Licensing (UP&L) oversees NBCUniversal’s consumer product licensing, film, home entertainment and television promotions, and corporate alliances for Universal’s theatrical, home entertainment, television, theme parks and stage productions. This dedicated division is also responsible for monetizing the company’s vast library of films and characters through licensing, branding and marketing opportunities. UP&L is part of NBCUniversal. NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.
For more information please contact:
Robert Cavellier
COOKIES UNITED LLC
141 Freeman Avenue
Islip, New York 11751 631.581.4000 bobc@cookiesunitedllc.com
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