- The movie was entirely animated in the French studio. 'Mac Guff' in Paris.
- Steve Carell experimented with Gru's voice until he came up with one that sounded "somewhere between Ricardo Montalban and Bela Lugosi."
- The directors wrote a functioning language for the gibberish the minions speak throughout the film - "minion-eise".
- Teen star Miranda Cosgrove, who voices orphan sister Margo in the movie, is better known to tweenie audiences as Carly Shay in the hit TV programme iCarly.
- Russell Brand based the character of mad scientist Dr Nefario on Sexy Beast and Gangs of New York star Ray Winstone...but "mellower".
- The idea for Despicable Me came from Barcelona-born Spanish animator Sergio Pablos, who had worked on disney films The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Tarzan and Treasure Planet.
- When Gru is seen entering the Bank of Evil, the subtitle "Formerly Lehman Brothers" can be seen over the door.
- The number on Gru's ticket for Swan Lake - while he is orbiting the moon - 072069. July 20 1969 is the date of first moon landing, which Gru is seen watching in flashbacks.
- Gru discovers a doll's head in his bed, parodying the famous scene in The Godfather where Jack Woltz sees the head of one of his prize horses on his pillow.
- Soundtrack composer Hans Zimmer has also written the scores for The Lion King, Gladiator,Pirates of the Caribbean, The Dark Knight and Inception.
- Julie Andrews, who voiced Gru's mother Marlena, has also provided the vocal talent for Shrekas Queen Lillian and Enchanted as the narrator.
- It's the first time that Russell Brand - famous for playing rock star Aldous Snow in Get Him To The Greek - has provided his voice for a character.
- Co-director Chris Renaud was nominated for an Academy Award for the 2006 animated short No Time for Nuts, which featured the character Scrat from the Ice Age films.
- Following the movie's box office success, the studio has already started work on a sequel.
- In August the film crossed the $200m mark, becoming the first Universal film to reach the milestone since 2007's The Bourne Ultimatum.
- The song You Should Be Dancing, which closes the film, was a hit for the Bee Gees in 1976 and launched their celebrated disco period.
Facts from: http://skymovies.sky.com/despicable-me/twenty-despicable-facts
