New year, new beginning.
This January, meet the latest original adorable characters created by Illumination, the animation studio behind the record-shattering The Super Mario Bros. Movie and beloved franchises Minions, Despicable Me, Sing and The Secret Life of Pets—a duck family called the Mallards, who are going to embark on a great big adventure for the first time ever in the new comedy Migration.
And it’s not just the Mallards who are doing something new. With Migration, a funny, emotional and visually stunning film that explores universal themes of family, curiosity and the rewards of stepping outside your comfort zone, Illumination embarks on a new adventure as well.
“At Illumination, we’re fortunate to be the stewards of a number of franchises, but we also believe that we have a mission to bring new stories and new characters to the world,” Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri says. “The making of Migration has been a great adventure. Each time we create a new story, we start in different places. From the time I was a child, I’ve always found ducks incredibly appealing because they’re so silly and likable. But what really gives this movie its universality is that the film is touching on issues that are very human, relevant issues.”
At the core of Migration is a narrative that taps into the comedic, wise, irritating and affectionate elements of universal family dynamics, and thanks to the razor-witted mind of Emmy winner Mike White, creator of the HBO sensation The White Lotus and writer of the 2003 comedy blockbuster School of Rock, paired with the direction of Oscar® nominee Benjamin Renner, audiences are in for quite an adventure themselves.
“When I first saw Benjamin’s work, particularly his direction of Ernest & Celestine, I felt an immediate connection to his vision,” Meledandri says. “He finds unique ways to express moments in a film that are touching, funny and clever. His work is visually quite stunning, and perhaps most importantly, his characters have this innate sweetness to them.” And just as important? “He happens to share our love of ducks,” shares Meledandri.
When he first met Meledandri, Renner was a mixture of excitement and nerves. But the two connected on a deep level from the get go, and Renner quickly became comfortable and gained confidence to do his work. “This movie strives to establish a strong connection with audiences by expressing the reward of embracing these new experiences and the wonderful moments and relationships that can emerge along the way,” shares Renner. “In exploring the theme of coming out of one’s comfort zone, it reminded me of my own love for hiking and traveling. I’ve had experiences where I didn’t want to go, but someone encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone, and every time I did, I had a magnificent and great experience. I wanted to share that feeling with the audience, that sense of reward when you have an adventure.”
In Migration, the Mallard family is led by dad Mack (voiced by Kumail Nanjiani), who is content to keep his family safe paddling around their New England pond forever, and mom Pam (Elizabeth Banks), who prefers to shake things up and show their kids—teen son Dax (Caspar Jennings) and duckling daughter Gwen (Tresi Gazal)—the whole wide world. When a migrating duck family alights on their pond with thrilling tales of far-flung places, Pam seizes the opportunity and persuades Mack to embark on a family trip, via New York City, to tropical Jamaica.
Banks shares her excitement to voice the Mallard family matriarch. “Pam is this adventurous character that I was excited to bring to life,” Banks says. “And the story resonated with me, too. It beautifully captures the essence of family bonding and growth through embracing new experiences. It’s all about discovering the world together and creating unforgettable memories.”
Get ready to create unforgettable memories with your family and loved ones when Migration, starring Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, Keegan-Michael Key, Awkwafina and Danny Devito, lands in Philippine cinemas January 17, 2024. #MigrationMovie
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