Everything We Know About Migration, The Animated Movie Starring Kumail Nanjiani
Having collected all the gold coins in the Mushroom Kingdom thanks to "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," Illumination is gearing up to release its next animated feature film, "Migration." The studio's first original project since 2016's "Sing" (it has been a minute, hasn't it?), the movie follows a family of ducks as they set forth on their very first vacation. What ensues is a classic cultural clash as these humble country birds cross paths with all manner of unknown critters and baffling obstacles on the way to their sunny, tropical final destination. It's basically one of National Lampoon's "Vacation" comedies, except with animated mallards rather than Clark Griswold and his long-suffering kin.
A silly, light-hearted family flick about talking fowl, "Migration" sounds like it's firmly in the wheelhouse for the studio behind "Despicable Me," "Minions," and particularly "The Secret Life of Pets." Discussing the movie at this year's CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Illumination CEO and founder Chris Meledandri said that the film's ducks "work beautifully to convey the relatable quirks and truths of a modern-day family." Honestly, I'll probably have an easier time seeing myself in the quackers' homebody patriarch (who's voiced by Kumail Nanjiani) than most other characters gracing the big screen in 2023.
On that note, here's everything you need to know about "Migration" before it flocks into theaters.
Migration release date and where you can watch it
"Migration" is currently scheduled to make its way into theaters just in time for the winter holiday session on December 22, 2023. It was previously slated to arrive much earlier on June 30, where the movie would've gone head-to-head with PIxar's "Elemental" in its third weekend of release. Wisely, however, Illumination shuffled it back to the end of the year instead — a frame where the studio has previously enjoyed great box office success with the "Sing" movies. That will also give it extra breathing room away from Disney's animated musical "Wish," which aims to corner the family market when it launches over this year's Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
While it's yet to receive a streaming premiere date, those who would prefer to catch "Migration" at home may do so when it makes its way onto Peacock sometimes in 2024. As part of Universal's deal with Netflix, the film will be available on the studio's streamer for the first four months of its pay-TV window, before moving to Netflix for a 10-month period, then back to Peacock again. (And who says the age of streaming is an overly convoluted, confusing mess?)
What we know about the plot of Migration
Where Pixar and Disney's animated films are lauded for their "ageless" stories and thematic depth, Illumination has made its name crafting irreverent but sweet tales about families (be they the ones you make or the ones you're born with), as well as characters branching out beyond their comfort zones. Those elements will be very much present and accounted for in "Migration," with the story centering on "a family of ducks living in New England who try to convince their overprotective father to go on a vacation of a lifetime in the Bahamas."
In keeping with that approach, the film will pit its leads against very immediate obstacles like cars, trucks, and, at one point, a dance club, as opposed to more existential conflicts or emotional dilemmas. It's a far cry from the heady subject matter of Pixar movies like "Inside Out" or the themes of generational trauma from Disney's "Encanto" or even DreamWorks' "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" and its examination of mortality. Still, Illumination knows what it's about and "Migration" may yet prove to have some unexpected substance, based on its creative team.
What we know about the Migration cast and crew
Kumail Nanjiani and Elizabeth Banks lead a talented cast in "Migration" as the voices of the duck-y parents Mack and Pam Mallard. Caspar Jennings and Tresi Gazal lend their voices to the duo's son and daughter, Dax and Gwen, with Keegan-Michael Key lending his vocals to a Jamaican parrot named Delroy and Awkwafina voicing the leader of a New York City gang ... of pigeons. There's also Danny DeVito as Mack's cantankerous uncle Dan, with David Mitchell and the great Carol Kane voicing feathered individuals who befriend the Mallards on their wayward adventure.
That being said, it's with the behind-the-scenes crew that "Migration" really sounds promising. The film was directed by Benjamin Renner, the French animator and filmmaker who received a Best Animated Feature Oscar nomination for his work on the animated 2012 dramedy "Ernest & Celestine." Elsewhere, script-writing duties were handled by Mike White, the creator of "The White Lotus" and writer of Richard Linklater's beloved family comedy "School of Rock." He's also a credited co-writer on "The Emoji Movie," but hey, we've all got things in our past we'd rather not talk about.
Watch the trailer for Migration here
The "Migration" Announcement trailer is less a preview for the film than a showreel for Illumination, highlighting its efforts on box office hits like "Despicable Me," "Sing," "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," and more. It does, however, end with some footage from "Migration" itself — and so far, it looks perfectly amusing, combining pleasantly cartoonish designs with inviting colors and gentle details. As much as one might prefer it if the studio were a little more ambitious with its animated offerings, there's something to be said for a film that aspires to tell a simple yet meaningful story devoid of attachments to any franchises or well-known IPs. Really, in this day and age, I'll take whatever originality I can get when it comes to major studio releases.
To reiterate: "Migration" will make its way into theaters towards the end of this year on December 22, 2023.