Profits

We'll file this under "Why animated features keep getting made."

NBCUniversal bigwig Steve Burke said in a conference call that ‘Despicable Me 2’ will become “the single most profitable film in the 100 year history of Universal Studios”. ...

Which explains why every conglomerate is doing animated features, and the ones who've only had a passing interest (Time-Warner, you listening?) are now getting more involved.

Which also explains why TAG has done relatively well during these times of economic flux. We're out on the surfboard, riding the wave.

(You will find Kim Masters interviewing Illumination Entertainment's topkick Chris Meledandri about how he broke into animation here.)