Raving Toy Maniac

Universal Partnerships & Licensing and Illumination Entertainment Sign Thinkway Toys as Global Master Toy Licensee for the Upcoming Motion-Picture Event Despicable Me 2

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Jan. 5, 2012 -- Universal Partnerships & Licensing (UP&L), Illumination Entertainment and Thinkway Toys today announced that they will partner on the global production of toys based on the highly anticipated follow-up to Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment's blockbuster hit Despicable Me. Thinkway Toys has been awarded the master global toy license for the motion-picture event Despicable Me 2, which arrives in theaters on July 3, 2013. The announcement was made by UP&L President, Stephanie Sperber, and Thinkway Toys CEO, Albert Chan.

The enormous success of Despicable Me, which grossed more than $543 million at theaters worldwide, made its sequel one of the most sought after properties in Hollywood. Despicable Me was released in July 2010 and went on to become the 10th-highest-grossing animated film in U.S. history and the second highest-grossing animated film of 2010.