Despicable Me Minions Plush Toy

The Minions are globally recognized characters that first appeared in the 2010 film Despicable Me. They were created by Illumination Entertainment, an American film and animation production company founded by Chris Meledandri. The brand has since expanded into a massive global franchise encompassing films, video games, theme park attractions, and a wide array of consumer merchandise.

Most plush merchandise for the Minions franchise is manufactured in China under license from Universal Products & Experiences. These manufacturing partners handle the large-scale production required for global retail distribution. Ownership of the brand lies with NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation, which oversees the intellectual property through its Universal Pictures and Illumination divisions.

As a flagship brand for Universal, Minions merchandise is distributed worldwide through various subsidiaries and licensed partners like Mattel, Hasbro, or Just Play, depending on the specific product line and region. The brand remains a cornerstone of the DreamWorks and Illumination portfolio headquartered in the United States.