Migration (2023 film)

Migration
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBenjamin Renner
Screenplay byMike White
Produced byChris Meledandri
Starring
Edited byChristian Gazal
Music byJohn Powell
Production
company
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release dates
  • October 19, 2023 (2023-10-19) (VIEW Conference)
  • December 22, 2023 (2023-12-22) (United States)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Migration is a 2023 American animated adventure comedy film directed by Benjamin Renner, co-directed by Guylo Homsy, and written by Mike White. Produced by Illumination and distributed by Universal Pictures, the film features the voices of Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, Awkwafina, Keegan-Michael Key, David Mitchell, Carol Kane, Caspar Jennings, Tresi Gazal, and Danny DeVito. The story follows a family of mallards who try to convince their overprotective father to go on a vacation of a lifetime and attempt to migrate from New England, through New York City, and to Jamaica.

Illumination announced Migration in February 2022, with Renner, Homsy, and White attached as director, co-director, and writer, respectively. Renner, who had previously helmed traditionally animated films, was tasked with adapting his simple drawing style for a computer-animated film. In hiring Renner, studio head and producer Chris Meledandri sought to focus on a filmmaker's vision for the project in comparison with Illumination's recent films. John Powell will compose the score, marking his second collaboration with Illumination following The Lorax (2012).

Migration premiered at the VIEW Conference in Turin, Italy on October 19, 2023, and is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on December 22.

Premise

The Mallard family is in a bit of rut. While dad Mack is content to keep his family safe paddling around their New England pond forever, mom Pam is eager to shake things up and show their kids—teen son Dax and duckling daughter Gwen—the whole wide world. After a migrating duck family alights on their pond with thrilling tales of far-flung places, Pam persuades Mack to embark on a family trip, via New York City, to tropical Jamaica.

As the Mallards make their way south for the winter, their well-laid plans quickly go awry. The experience will inspire them to expand their horizons, open themselves up to new friends and accomplish more than they ever thought possible, while teaching them more about each other—and themselves—than they ever imagined.

— Illumination[1]

Voice cast

  • Kumail Nanjiani as Mack Mallard, the anxious father of Dax and Gwen
  • Elizabeth Banks as Pam Mallard, the daring and quick-witted mother of Dax and Gwen
  • Awkwafina as Chump, the leader of a New York City pigeon gang
  • Keegan-Michael Key as Delroy, a homesick Jamaican-accented parrot locked away in a Manhattan restaurant
  • David Mitchell as the yogic leader of a duck farm
  • Carol Kane as Erin, a heron whom the Mallards befriend in their journey
  • Caspar Jennings as Dax Mallard, Mack and Pam's confident and restless son
  • Tresi Gazal as Gwen Mallard, Mack and Pam's innocent and lovable daughter
  • Danny DeVito as Dan, the curmudgeonly and adventure-averse uncle of Mack and Pam[2]

Production

On February 18, 2022, Illumination announced a new film titled Migration, with French animator and comic book creator Benjamin Renner set to direct with Guylo Homsy as co-director and Mike White set to pen the script.[3] Renner previously directed the traditionally animated films Ernest & Celestine (2012) and The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales... (2017), and was already a household name among the staff of Illumination Studios Paris prior to his involvement with the company.[4] Illumination head and film producer Chris Meledandri hired Renner to direct the studio's first original project since 2016 for his filmmaking sensibility, stating during his visit to the Annecy International Animation Film Festival that there is a "filmmaker attention" for Migration in comparison with Illumination's recent releases up to The Super Mario Bros. Movie.[4]

Renner was tasked with adapting his minimalist drawing style from previous films for a computer-animated film, which requires backgrounds to be fully visualized and rendered instead of suggested;[5] he had previously designed the visuals for the 2014 Franco-Belgian computer-animated film about migrating birds titled Yellowbird, which was noted for not strictly adhering to photorealism.[6] For Migration, Renner explained that he took inspiration from naturally expressive animals in the wild in creating characters that have distinctly expressive features in their designs.[5] He also noted that the film's tone would increasingly become more tense as the story progresses.[5]

On April 26, 2023, Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, Keegan-Michael Key, Awkwafina, Danny DeVito, Caspar Jennings, Tresi Gazal, David Mitchell, and Carol Kane were announced to be part of the film's lead voice cast, while some of the film crew such as co-director Guylo Homsy, editor Christian Gazal and production designer Colin Stimpson were also revealed.[2]

Music

On June 18, 2023, it was announced that John Powell would compose the film's score, marking his return to Illumination since The Lorax (2012), as well as his 24th animated film score, with the latest being DreamWorks Animation's How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019).[7]

Release

Theatrical

Migration had its official premiere at the VIEW Conference in Turin, Italy on October 19, 2023,[8] and is scheduled to be released in the United States on December 22.[9] It was previously scheduled to be released on June 30, 2023,[3] but was pushed back to its current release date, with DreamWorks Animation's Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken taking its previous date.[10]

On June 14, 2023, Illumination gave a special 25-minute preview of Migration at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, with Renner and producer Chris Meledandri attending the event.[5]

Home media

As part of Universal's deal with Netflix, the film will stream on Peacock for the first four months of the pay-TV window, then will move to Netflix for the next ten, and then will return to Peacock for the remaining four. [11][12]

References

  1. ^ "Synopsis". Migration Movie Site. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  2. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 26, 2023). "Illumination's 'Migration' Cast Includes Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, Awkwafina, Keegan-Michael Key, Danny DeVito & More – CinemaCon". Deadline. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Grobar, Matt (February 18, 2022). "Illumination & Universal Set Dates For Animated Films Migration & Despicable Me 4". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 18, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Croll, Ben (June 16, 2023). "With 'Migration,' Illumination's Chris Meledandri Emphasizes Auteurism". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on June 20, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d Croll, Ben (June 14, 2023). "Annecy International Animation Film Festival". Variety. Variety Media, LLC. Archived from the original on June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  6. ^ Van Hoeij, Boyd (December 15, 2014). "'Yellowbird': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  7. ^ "John Powell Scoring Illumination Entertainment's 'Migration'". Film Music Reporter. June 18, 2023. Archived from the original on June 18, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  8. ^ Diamond Sarto, Debbie (September 30, 2023). "VIEW 2023 Welcomes 'Migration' Director Benjamin Renner". Animation World Network. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  9. ^ Grobar, Matt (June 28, 2022). "Universal Pushes Release Date For Illumination Comedy 'Migration'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 15, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  10. ^ Zahed, Ramin (March 16, 2023). "Trailer Premiere: Director Kirk DeMicco and Producer Kelly Cooney Cilella Give Us the Scoop on DreamWorks' Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  11. ^ Hayes, Dade (December 9, 2021). "NBCUniversal's New Theatrical Window Scheme To Bring Films To Peacock After As Few As 45 Days Of Release". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  12. ^ Moon, Mariella (July 14, 2021). "Netflix extends exclusive rights to Universal's animated films in the US". Engadget. Archived from the original on July 10, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2021.

External links