From the outside, Illumination Entertainment's Santa Monica
headquarters looks like any generic Los Angeles Westside
warehouse, its nondescript brick exterior easily overshadowed by
the graffiti-painted building next door. Inside, however, bright
yellow Minions are swinging from the rafters, and the walls are
covered in sketches, posters and other vibrant signs of the
animation company's true personality.  So far, that identity has
been dominated by the bright yellow Minions, which not only
helped propel Illumination's 2010 blockbuster "Despicable Me" to
its $543 million worldwide haul, but inspired a Universal
Studios 3D ride and enabled "Despicable Me 2's" rise to $470.6
million in just two weeks. A spinoff feature, "Minions," is due
out in December 2014.  Judging by the numbers, the creatures'
appeal is undeniable, and yet, Illumination honcho Chris
Meledandri is also eager to introduce the studio's next batch of
unique characters. Considering the properties the company has
been stockpiling in recent years