If you’re sitting through the Despicable Me 3 end credits hoping for a post-credits scene or a massive teaser for Minions: The Rise of Gru, you’re probably going to be a little disappointed. It's weird. Usually, Illumination Entertainment likes to pack their movies with little Easter eggs or slapstick gags to reward the parents and kids who stay until the lights come up. But with this 2017 three-quel, the vibe is different. It’s mostly just a stylish roll of names.
Seriously.
Most people wait around because Marvel has basically conditioned our brains to never leave a theater until the ushers start sweeping popcorn around our feet. We expect a payoff. We want to see Balthazar Bratt survive that final blow or maybe a hint at Gru’s next career move. Instead, what you get is a very clean, very graphic-heavy sequence that highlights the main rivalry of the film: Gru versus his long-lost twin brother, Dru.
What’s Actually Happening in the Despicable Me 3 End Credits?
The credits start with a "Spy vs. Spy" style animation. It’s actually pretty clever if you’re into character design. You see Gru and Dru basically pranking each other and engaging in some sibling rivalry antics that mirror the plot of the movie.
Dru wants to be a villain. Gru is trying to stay on the straight and narrow (mostly). The animation reflects this push-and-pull.
But there is no secret scene.
No "stinger."
It’s just a montage.
Illumination’s CEO Chris Meledandri and directors Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda opted for a more traditional exit here. If you look at the history of the franchise, the first Despicable Me had those iconic Minions "auditioning" for the next movie during the credits, which was hilarious and used 3D effects to poke at the audience. Despicable Me 2 had the Minions literally performing a song. By the time we got to the Despicable Me 3 end credits, the team seemed to lean more into the visual aesthetic of the new characters rather than a narrative punchline.
Why the Lack of a Post-Credits Scene Actually Matters
I know, it sounds dramatic. It’s just a cartoon, right? Well, not exactly. In the world of franchise building, those final seconds are prime real estate. By 2017, the Minions spin-off had already made a billion dollars. People were hungry for more.
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By choosing not to include a teaser, Illumination basically told the audience that the story of Dru and Gru was "to be continued" in our own imaginations for a while. It’s a bit of a bold move for a studio that usually milks every second of screen time for a laugh.
The credits are actually a tribute to the work of the animators at Illumination Mac Guff in Paris. If you pay attention to the names—and honestly, who does besides the people on screen?—you see the sheer scale of the production. Over 800 people worked on this film. That’s a lot of rendering power for a guy with a pointy nose and his blonde twin.
The Visual Style of the Dru and Gru Sequence
The art style in the Despicable Me 3 end credits is a bit of a departure from the 3D world we just watched for 90 minutes. It’s flatter. It’s more graphic. It looks like it could have been pulled from a 1960s comic book or a Saul Bass title sequence.
You’ve got:
- Silhouette work that emphasizes the brothers' contrasting shapes.
- Bright, solid color backgrounds (mostly yellows and blues, obviously).
- Kinetic movement that feels faster and more "cartoony" than the main feature.
It’s fun to look at, but it doesn't give us the closure we usually want. Honestly, the real "ending" of the movie happens right before the credits, when Dru takes the Minions and flies off in Gru’s airship, officially taking up the family mantle of villainy. The credits just reinforce that they are now rivals. It’s a setup for Despicable Me 4, but it’s a thematic setup, not a literal one.
Comparing This to Other Illumination Credits
If we look at Sing or The Secret Life of Pets, those movies often use the credits to show "what happened next." We see the pets returning to their lives or the singers enjoying their new fame.
Despicable Me 3 doesn't do that.
Maybe the production was rushed? Or maybe they felt the Gru/Dru dynamic was strong enough to stand on its own without a "Where are they now?" montage. Either way, it’s a bit of a pivot.
Some fans have speculated that there was a deleted scene involving Lucy (voiced by Kristen Wiig) and her new role as a mom that was supposed to go there. There's no hard evidence for that, but it would have fit the emotional arc of the movie better than just seeing Gru get hit with a giant mallet by his brother again.
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The Music: Heitor Pereira and Pharrell Williams
You can't talk about the Despicable Me 3 end credits without talking about the music. Pharrell Williams has been the heartbeat of this franchise since day one. "Happy" from the second movie was a global phenomenon that you literally couldn't escape for three years.
For the third movie, the credits are driven by tracks like "Yellow Light" and "There's Something Special."
The vibe is very 80s-inspired, which matches Balthazar Bratt’s whole aesthetic. It’s upbeat. It’s catchy. It almost makes you forget that you’re just staring at a list of names. Heitor Pereira’s score also weaves through the credits, blending those spy themes with Pharrell's pop sensibility.
If you’re an audiophile, the credits are actually the best part of the movie. The sound mix is incredibly crisp. You can hear the layering of the synthesizers—a direct nod to the Yamaha keytar-heavy soundtrack of the villain.
Why People Keep Searching for a "Secret" Ending
There’s a lot of misinformation online. Some YouTube videos claim there’s a "secret" ending if you wait 10 minutes.
They’re lying.
It’s clickbait.
I’ve watched those credits on DVD, on streaming, and in the theater. They are the same every time. You get the 2D-style animation of Gru and Dru, the credits scroll, and then the Illumination logo pops up with a Minion (usually Stuart or Kevin) making a noise. That’s it.
The confusion likely stems from the fact that Minions (2015) had a huge musical number at the very end with a young Gru. People expected that level of "extra" content here, and when it didn't happen, they assumed they just missed it.
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The Practical Side: Should You Stay?
Honestly? If you need to use the bathroom or beat the traffic in the parking lot, you can leave as soon as the screen goes black. You aren't missing a plot point that will make the next movie confusing.
However, if you appreciate the artistry of character design, the Despicable Me 3 end credits are worth a look. The way they play with the silhouettes of the two brothers is a masterclass in shape language. Gru is all shoulders and skinny legs; Dru is… well, basically the same but with a ridiculous head of blonde hair.
The animation team clearly had fun with the sibling rivalry. It’s basically a series of "gotcha" moments.
One brother freezes the other.
The other explodes a bomb.
Repeat.
It’s the essence of the franchise boiled down to its simplest form: two idiots who love/hate each other, surrounded by yellow henchmen.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Next Rewatch
If you’re planning a marathon before the newer movies, here is how to handle the ending of the third installment:
- Don't Expect a Teaser: There is no Minions 2 or Despicable Me 4 trailer hidden at the end.
- Listen to the Lyrics: Pharrell’s songs in this movie actually tell more of the story than people give them credit for. "Yellow Light" is basically an anthem for the Minions' rebellion.
- Watch the Art Style: Notice how the 2D animation during the credits uses a very specific color palette that avoids the grays and purples of the main film, sticking mostly to primary colors.
- Check the Voice Cast: If you stay for the credits, you'll see just how many voices Pierre Coffin actually does. It’s insane. He voices almost every single Minion, and seeing his name repeated or credited for "Additional Voices" reminds you of the Herculean effort involved in the vocal performance.
The Despicable Me 3 end credits might not be the cinematic event of the century, but they serve as a stylish bridge between the film's conclusion and the franchise's future. They celebrate the bond between the brothers, even if that bond is mostly expressed through cartoon violence and high-pitched gibberish.
Next time you watch, skip the search for a hidden scene. Just enjoy the music, appreciate the 2D art, and then go grab some ice cream—just like Gru would (if he weren't busy fighting his brother).