Despicable Me
WantedFans keep asking for it. No machine has been announced.
#182on the Hype Index, our daily ranking of themes fans want as machines
Peak #77, May 2026 ·Rank updated Oct 22.
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Minions mania meets villain antics with hilarious callout potential for an intergenerational family-friendly theme.
About This Theme
Despicable Me is an animated film franchise produced by Illumination Entertainment that began in 2010 with the release of the first film. The franchise follows the story of Gru, a supervillain who becomes a father to three adopted girls, and features the enormously popular Minions, small yellow creatures that speak a gibberish language and serve as comic relief. The franchise has grown to include multiple sequels, spin-off films focusing on the Minions, and has become one of the highest-grossing animated franchises of all time. The property has achieved significant cultural penetration, particularly through the Minions characters, which have become ubiquitous in internet memes and merchandise, appealing to multiple generations of audiences.
Discussion of a Despicable Me pinball machine has appeared sporadically in pinball community forums, with enthusiasts noting that the franchise represents an untapped theme with strong intergenerational appeal. Community members have highlighted the franchise as a natural fit for pinball, citing the abundance of colorful characters who could provide voice callouts, the mix of humor and heart in the source material, and the variety of villains and settings that could translate into distinct gameplay modes. Some fans have specifically advocated for the theme as an example of a modern comedy property that would diversify pinball offerings beyond the classic rock bands and 1980s action films that frequently dominate new releases. The franchise's broad recognition among both children and adults has been cited as a commercial advantage.
A Despicable Me pinball machine would offer substantial design opportunities across multiple aspects of gameplay and presentation. The visual aesthetic could incorporate the franchise's distinctive animation style, with bright yellows and blues dominating the playfield and backglass, while character toys could include Gru, the three girls, and multiple Minions in various poses. Gameplay modes could be structured around heist sequences from the films, with objectives like stealing the moon or infiltrating villain headquarters, while multiball modes could represent the chaos of managing dozens of Minions. The sound design would be particularly strong, as the Minions' unique vocalizations and the films' upbeat soundtracks would provide memorable audio feedback, with potential for hundreds of distinct callouts given the large cast of characters. Mechanical features could include a shrink ray mechanism or a rocket ship ramp that references key plot elements from the movies.
