Pierre Coffin
The director began his film career studying cinema at the Paris-Sorbonne University. In 1996, he began working at Ex Machina, where he became head of animation. He next joined Wanda Productions and then Passion Pictures as an animation director. Coffin also directed animation for the award-winning 3D ride Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, which opened at Universal Studios Orlando in July 2012 and at Universal Studios Hollywood in April 2014. Academy Award®-nominated PIERRE COFFIN rejoins his fellow Minions director, Kyle Balda, to direct DESPICABLE ME 3. For the film, Coffin is also joined by his longtime collaborator, executive producer Chris Renaud, with whom he directed 2010’s DESPICABLE ME and 2013’s DESPICABLE ME 2.

Kyle Balda
Balda has been working professionally in feature animation for the past two decades. He began his career studying traditional animation at California Institute of the Arts in 1991 and continued his training with LucasArts and Pacific Data Images. In 1993, Balda joined the crew of Industrial Light & Magic, contributing to such films as THE MASK and MARS ATTACKS! and serving as animation supervisor on JUMANJI. After working as animator on Peter Jackson’s THE FRIGHTENERS at Weta Digital in New Zealand, Balda returned to California to work at Pixar Animation Studios as an animator on A BUG’S LIFE and MONSTERS, INC. and as directing animator on TOY STORY 2. Alongside Chris Renaud, Balda co-directed DR. SEUSS’ THE LORAX. Balda has also directed numerous Dr. Seuss and Minions shorts for Illumination.