(Updated 10/18/2023)
Illumination Entertainment has already released one of the biggest movies of 2023: The CG-animated SUPER MARIO BROS. Now the animation studio is prepping another release for this year. MIGRATION is an original story about a family of ducks that, for the first time ever, embarks upon an epic migratory journey.
Because it's the first time to fly cross-country for these hapless fowl, their experience isn't exactly smooth. And when they take a wrong turn and end up off their path things get… well, just take a look at the new MIGRATION trailer below and then we'll tell you more about the family-oriented animated adventure.
When Does MIgration Come Out?
Universal Pictures will release MIGRATION exclusively in movie theatres beginning on December 22.
Watch the New Migration Trailer
This brisk trailer covers much of the MIGRATION experience without leaning too heavily on any one sequence. In other words you can get a great sense of the movie's story and sense of humor — and hopefully whether it's OK for your kids to see — without knowing everything that happens.
And while this is shorter than the last trailer, it has a big new inclusion…
That's a Preview of 1989 (Taylor's Version) in the Migration Trailer
The new MIGRATION trailer features more than just footage from the movie. It also has a preview of "Out of the Woods (Taylor’s Version)", from Taylor Swift's re-recorded album 1989 (Taylor's Version).
Migration's Starting Point
A couple of things stand out about MIGRATION. First, it is Illumination's first wholly original movie since 2016. Second, it is written by MIke White, the screenwriter who is currently probably best known for "The White Lotus," an HBO series that isn't exactly kid fare. But White has scripted animation in the past, and also wrote the far more kid-friendly SCHOOL OF ROCK. His talents are broad! (He's also writing Illumination's DESPICABLE ME 4.)
And MIGRATION is directed by a filmmaker with a strong past outside computer-generated animation. Benjamin Renner, best known for the hand-drawn animation of ERNEST & CELESTINE, is directing this movie with co-director Guylo Homsy.
At the Annecy Animation Festival in June, Illumination head Chris Meledandri explained that “Our whole studio in Paris were big fans of Benjamin’s before I was even aware of him… And in my team, I think it was maybe even [executive producer] Brett Hoffman who initially said, you’ve got to see Benjamin’s film. So we have a collective sensibility.” Things clearly worked out well after that meeting!
The Cast of Migration
There's a huge voice cast to talk about in MIGRATION but maybe the most important participant is Danny DeVito. He voices "Dan, the curmudgeonly and adventure-averse uncle of the Mallards." A DeVito duck! That's all you have to say.
The rest of the MIGRATION cast is great, too. The Mallard family parents, Mack and Pam, are voiced by Kumail Nanjiani and Elizabeth Banks. Their kids, Dax and Gwen, are voiced by Caspar Jennings and Tresi Gazal. As heard in the trailer, Awkwafina voices a bedraggled New York City pigeon, while Keegan-Michael Key plays Delroy, a homesick parrot kept in a Manhattan cafe. David Mitchell has a role, too, and the great Carol Kane plays Erin, a heron who becomes a friend to the Mallard family as they attempt to journey south.
MIGRATION opens on December 22.
All images courtesy of Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures.