Illumination | 160,826 followers on LinkedIn. Creating Joy & Discovery, founded by Academy Award® nominee Chris Meledandri. | About Illumination Illumination, founded by Chris Meledandri in 2007, is one of the entertainment industry’s leading producers of event-animated films, including Despicable Me—the most successful animated franchise in cinematic history—as well as Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch and The Secret Life of Pets and Sing films.