Animation is booming currently, and as the future looks bright for the industry, more and more films will soon come up with sequels. However, with these sequels, there is a critical question: How would you make the characters age?
Previously, it was mentioned that *Despicable Me* would follow the format of *The Simpsons.* Despite running for three decades, none of the characters in *The Simpsons* have aged a bit.
Released in 2010, *Despicable Me* has had three sequels and two spin-off prequels, yet the characters haven’t aged. With the fourth sequel on the way, fans are hoping to see some glimpse of the future.
Chris Renaud, the director of *Despicable Me 4,* stated: “I think that the world of the characters lends itself to multiple stories because they’re human, they’re very relatable. I think if you have animals or mystical creatures, it can be a bit more limiting because there’s only a certain amount of things you can really dive into. And certain things, whether it’s really breaking the format and saying, ‘Hey, we’re going to be 50 years in the future,’ there’s definitely still opportunities.”
Though it was previously mentioned that the creators wouldn’t age the characters, after the release of the fourth film, Renaud said that they are open to discussing possibilities.
“But I don’t think that precludes us from doing something where we set a movie 20 years in the future and say, ‘Oh my gosh, Gru Jr. and Edith have now inherited dad’s villain business,’ or whatever. I think we can go anywhere we want.”
So, realistically speaking, the clock won’t always stop in the *Despicable Me* universe. And this will be for the better, as touches like these can bring a sense of realism to the emotions. Obviously, if the characters don’t age, the series can continue indefinitely. But if fans want it, the creators will need to listen and adapt.
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