‘Minions & Monsters’ to Open 2026 Annecy Animation Film Festival – New Teaser Revealed
Illumination’s new animated film “Minions & Monsters” is set to kick off the Annecy Animation Film Festival on June 21.
The movie is the newest entry in the Minions universe and continues the story following “Minions: The Rise of Gru” released in 2022. It is also part of the wider “Despicable Me” franchise, which started back in 2010.
Pierre Coffin is directing the film. He helped create the original “Despicable Me” films and remains closely tied to the franchise. Illumination is producing the project, with Chris Meledandri and Bill Ryan among the key producers.
The story follows the Minions as they go through a wild journey connected to Hollywood. Their path includes sudden success, major failure, and a chain of events that leads to monsters being released into the world. After that, they are forced to deal with the damage and try to stop the chaos they created.
a real bestie supports all your dreams…even if they include terrifying monsters. Don't miss Minions & Monsters, only in theaters July 1. pic.twitter.com/0oluXfMP31
— Minions (@Minions) April 27, 2026
The film continues the franchise’s familiar style, mixing action and comedy with fast-paced and exaggerated humor. It also features a large voice cast that includes Jeff Bridges, Jesse Eisenberg, Allison Janney, Christoph Waltz, Zoey Deutch, Bobby Moynihan, Trey Parker, and Pierre Coffin, who has voiced the Minions since their first appearance.
The screenplay is written by Coffin and Brian Lynch, who has worked on other animated projects like “Minions” and “The Secret Life of Pets.”
Before its screening at Annecy, parts of the film were shown at major industry events, including CinemaCon 2026. A teaser was also released earlier during the Super Bowl, giving audiences an early preview of the story.
The “Despicable Me” franchise has grown into one of the most successful animated series in film history, earning billions worldwide since its launch. “Minions & Monsters” continues that long-running success and brings the characters back into the spotlight on a global stage.
It makes sense that this film is opening Annecy because the festival is closely linked with animation history and this franchise is a big part of modern animation success. The Minions still have strong popularity, and this event helps build attention ahead of release. It will be interesting to see if the film offers something new or sticks to its usual formula. What do you think about this new Minions movie? Share your thoughts in the comments.
