Physical media isn't dead. Honestly, if you look at the secondary market for animation, it’s thriving. When Universal Pictures Home Entertainment dropped the despicable me 2 2013 dvd back in December of that year, nobody really expected it to become a permanent fixture in the "vanity" collection of millennial parents and Gen Z nostalgists. It was just another sequel. Except it wasn't. It was the moment the Minions transitioned from sidekicks to a global superpower, and that specific disc holds the DNA of how Illumination Entertainment took over the world.
Think about the context. In 2013, we were still regularly going to Target or Walmart to pick up physical copies of movies. Streaming was growing, sure, but it wasn't the behemoth it is now. You wanted the "Mini-Movies." You wanted the tactile experience.
The Weirdly Addictive Bonus Features on the Despicable Me 2 2013 DVD
Most people buy DVDs for the movie, but they stay for the extras. Or at least, they used to. This specific release was a goldmine. You get these three "Mini-Movies" that are arguably better than some full-length features from rival studios. Puppy, Panic in the Mailroom, and Training Wheels. They’re short. They’re punchy. They basically served as the pilot episodes for the Minions' solo careers.
Illumination’s CEO, Chris Meledandri, has always been vocal about the "economical" way they make movies compared to Pixar. They spend less, but they focus heavily on character physical comedy. You see that in the "Gru’s Girls" featurette. It’s not just fluff; it’s a breakdown of how they managed to make a reformed villain relatable as a girl-dad.
The despicable me 2 2013 dvd also includes a feature commentary with directors Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin. Listening to Coffin is wild because he’s the voice of the Minions. You’re literally hearing the creator talk about the "Minion-ese" language, which is a blend of French, English, Spanish, and food names. It’s a masterclass in voice acting and character design that often gets overlooked because people think it’s just for kids. It isn't. It's high-level slapstick.
Why the 2013 Release Hits Differently Than Streaming
Digital bitrates suck. There, I said it. Even if you’re streaming in "4K" on a popular platform, the compression often kills the vibrant purples of the "Evil Minions" (the mutated ones created by El Macho). On the 2013 DVD, despite it being standard definition, there's a certain color saturation and stability that feels right.
📖 Related: Alfonso Cuarón: Why the Harry Potter 3 Director Changed the Wizarding World Forever
Also, ownership.
Digital licenses can vanish. One day you have Despicable Me 2 in your library, the next day a licensing agreement expires and it’s gone. The physical disc doesn't care about contracts between Universal and Netflix. It just sits there. Waiting.
Technical Specs and the Anamorphic Widescreen
The disc features a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio. This is crucial. It means the movie fills your modern TV screen without those giant black bars at the top and bottom, making the visual gags—like the Minions fighting over a jelly bean—feel much more immediate.
The audio is a Dolby Digital 5.1 track. It’s loud. It’s crisp. Pharrell Williams’ "Happy" was the anthem of 2013, and hearing it through a proper home theater setup via a physical disc beats the flattened audio of a smartphone stream any day of the week.
The El Macho Factor: A Villain That Actually Worked
Benjamin Bratt killed it as Eduardo/El Macho. But did you know Al Pacino was originally supposed to play the role? He actually recorded most of his lines before leaving the project due to "creative differences."
👉 See also: Why the Cast of Hold Your Breath 2024 Makes This Dust Bowl Horror Actually Work
When you watch the despicable me 2 2013 dvd, you can almost feel that vestigial intensity in the character’s design. El Macho isn't just a goofy bad guy; he’s a foil to Gru’s domesticity. He represents the life Gru left behind. The DVD features a "Deleted Scenes" section that gives a little more flavor to this rivalry. It’s a shame we never got the Pacino cut, but Bratt brought a swagger that arguably saved the movie’s pacing.
Kristen Wiig also returned, but as a totally different character—Lucy Wilde. In the first film, she voiced Miss Hattie. Most viewers didn't even notice. That’s the level of talent Illumination was pulling. They weren't just making a sequel; they were building a repertory company of voice actors.
Collecting and the Resale Market
Is the despicable me 2 2013 dvd a "rare" collectible? No. Millions were printed. But finding one in 2026 with the original slipcover intact? That’s becoming a bit of a hunt. Collectors are starting to value these "early peak" Illumination releases because they represent a specific era of animation history.
- The Slipcover: If it’s shiny and embossed, keep it.
- The Inserts: Many 2013 copies came with UltraViolet digital codes (which are mostly expired now, sadly) and promotional inserts for the then-upcoming Minions movie.
- The Condition: Scratched discs are a dime a dozen. A pristine copy is a keeper.
Handling the "Wait, is this for my kids or me?" Crisis
Let's be real. If you're looking for the despicable me 2 2013 dvd, you're likely doing it because your kids have requested it for the 400th time, or you're a student of animation. It’s one of the few "kids" movies that doesn't feel like a chore to sit through. The pacing is relentless.
The subplot with Gru’s eldest daughter, Margo, going on her first date with Antonio is painful in the best way possible. It’s something every parent recognizes. The DVD allows you to skip right to those specific chapters when you need a quick laugh or a relatable moment.
✨ Don't miss: Is Steven Weber Leaving Chicago Med? What Really Happened With Dean Archer
Actionable Advice for Physical Media Owners
If you still have this disc, or you're planning to buy a used copy, here is what you need to do to make it worth your while.
- Check the Region Code: Most 2013 North American releases are Region 1. If you're buying from an international seller, make sure your player is region-free or matches the disc.
- Clean Your Laser: If the disc skips during the "PX-41 serum" heist scene, it might not be the disc. DVD players from the early 2010s often need a quick lens cleaning to handle the dual-layer transitions on these high-capacity discs.
- Archive the Extras: Use a tool like MakeMKV to back up those mini-movies. They are genuinely difficult to find in high quality elsewhere without a subscription.
- Don't Toss the Case: The artwork for Despicable Me 2 is iconic. That bright yellow cover is a piece of pop culture history.
The despicable me 2 2013 dvd represents a turning point in cinema where the "villain" became the hero, and the sidekicks became the stars. It’s a snapshot of a time when we owned our movies and the "Happy" song hadn't yet been overplayed to the point of madness. It’s a solid, fun, and technically proficient release that holds up over a decade later.
If you're hunting for a copy, stick to reputable sellers on eBay or check your local thrift store’s "family" section. You'll likely find it sandwiched between Shrek and Finding Nemo. Grab it. The mini-movies alone are worth the three bucks.
To get the most out of your viewing, set your TV to "Cinema" or "Movie" mode rather than "Vivid." The animation in Despicable Me 2 is incredibly detailed—look at the texture on Gru’s scarf or the individual hairs on the Minions’ heads. Standard DVD resolution can't show everything, but with the right TV settings, the 2013 encode still looks surprisingly sharp and honors the work of the hundreds of animators at Mac Guff in Paris. Enjoy the nostalgia.