The Evolution of Minions' Design

The Minions were originally designed to be terrifying villains before becoming the lovable

characters we know today. The initial concept featured much taller, more intimidating

creatures that would have been genuinely scary rather than cute. Designers completely

pivoted when they realized smaller, funnier versions would better complement Gru's character.

Their iconic pill shape actually comes from Twinkies, while their overall look draws inspiration

from Oompa Loompas and Star Wars Jawas. What seems like thousands of unique Minions is actually

just 36 different character types based on eye count, body shape, and five hairstyles.

Sometimes the best creative decisions happen when you throw out your first idea completely.