Universal Releases Expanded Look at ‘Secret life of Pets’

‘Tis the season for animation trailers. On the heels of fresh peeks at Kubo and the Two Strings and The Angry Birds Movie, Universal unveiled a new trailer today for Illumination’s The Secret Life of Pets.

It builds on the film’s earlier teaser, filling in some of the plot points that go beyond the film’s high-concept pitch: What do our pets do after we leave for work or school each day?

The last two Illumination animated films have been massive global hits, grossing an average of over $1 billion each, but both of them have been part of the Despicable Me franchise (Despicable Me 2 and Minions). Secret Life of Pets is an original concept, but it’s been entrusted to the golden guardians of the Despicable Me franchise. The co-directors of Pets are Chris Renaud (Despicable Me series, The Lorax) and Yarrow Cheney (production designer on those same films), while writers are Brian Lynch, Cinco Paul, and Ken Daurio, who have overseen the writing on the various installments of the Despicable Me franchise.

In a year filled with ensemble animal-cast cartoon movies, Secret Life of Pets has its work cut out, but the footage released so far suggests it might have the same lightly likeable touch that made the Despicable Me franchise a hit with audiences.

Universal will release the film into U.S. theaters on July 8, 2016.