The Despicable Me franchise, known for hits like “Happy” and “Just A Cloud Away,” has produced some of the most iconic music in animated films. Grammy Award-winning composers Heitor Pereira and Pharrell Williams have been pivotal in creating its unique sound.
Pereira’s character-centric approach brings each character to life through music. “I hear their music through their voices, dialogue, and interactions,” Pereira explains. His collaboration with Pharrell Williams has been instrumental, with Williams’s songs like “Despicable Me,” “Happy,” and “Just A Cloud Away” becoming emblematic of the franchise.
“In the first movie, we worked very closely together,” Pereira recalls. “Pharrell’s original themes are still there – the girls’ theme, Gru’s theme, and the Minions’ theme. My love for songs never goes away. I just see the score as a massive song!”
Despicable Me 4 features a new song by Williams, reflecting Gru’s struggle to balance his secret agent life with his family. Williams says, “The song is about Gru trying to be honest with his family while keeping his secret identity.”
In the latest installment, Gru (Steve Carell) faces new challenges with the arrival of his and Lucy’s (Kristen Wiig) new baby. Gru and the minions confront the villain Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell) and his girlfriend Valentina (Sofia Vergara), forcing the family to go on the run.
Packed with action and Illumination’s signature humor, Despicable Me 4 is now showing in cinemas nationwide.