How the Studio Behind 'Super Mario' and 'Minions' Has Become the Animation Leader

The founder of the animation studio behind “Super Mario” and the yellow, chattering “minions” cartoon characters says his movies aren’t made specifically for children.

“Thematically there’s an underpinning to every one of our films. We feel that there’s a certain simplicity that we subscribe to, because we find that there’s a beauty to simplicity,” said Chris Meledandri, founder and chief executive of Illumination, in a recent interview. “When we sit down in our creative process, we’re never intending or focused on, ‘We’re making it for children,’ though it may come out that way.”