Behind the Scenes Details of Animated Hit The Secret Life of Pets (2016)

The Making of The Secret Life of Pets

The Secret Life of Pets is a 2016 animated comedy film produced by Illumination Entertainment. It explores what pets do when their owners are away and stars a terrier named Max and his friends in New York City. The Secret Life of Pets was a major box office success, grossing over $875 million worldwide. But what went into making this hilarious and heartwarming film? Here's a behind the scenes look at how The Secret Life of Pets was made.

Origins and Inspiration

The idea for The Secret Life of Pets came from Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri. He was inspired by thinking about what his own pets do when he's not home. The film's director Chris Renaud has also said he was influenced by his experiences growing up with pets and always wondering what they got up to. The premise allowed for comedy and adventure as the team developed the story.

Writing the Script

The Secret Life of Pets script was written by Brian Lynch, Cinco Paul, and Ken Daurio. They incorporated ideas about pet behavior from pet experts and focused on creating distinct personalities for each animal character. The writers also ensured the story highlighted themes of friendship and teamwork. Several drafts were developed before they landed on the final version that animated.

Voice Casting

The lead voice actors in The Secret Life of Pets help bring the characters to life with their energetic performances. Louis C.K. voices Max the terrier, with Eric Stonestreet as the fluffy Newfoundland dog Duke, Kevin Hart as the hyperactive rabbit Snowball, and Lake Bell as the level-headed tabby cat Chloe. Other notable voices include Jenny Slate, Ellie Kemper, Albert Brooks, and Dana Carvey.

Character Design

Illumination's artists went through multiple rounds of conceptual drawings to develop the look of each animal character. They focused on making them cute yet realistic. Max was designed to look like an average terrier you might see on the street. Duke was animated to capture the size and fluff of a real Newfoundland. And Snowball was modeled after the Netherland Dwarf breed of bunny. The animators looked at photos, videos, and actual pets for reference.

World Building

The Secret Life of Pets is set in a bustling New York City populated entirely by animals. The artists and set designers carefully crafted distinct neighborhoods, apartments, streets, and environments. They included little touches to make the world feel immersive like Times Square billboards with pet-related puns and a mock subway system with paw print decals. The visuals bring the setting to life in vivid detail.

Animation

All the animation in The Secret Life of Pets was created using computer generated imagery by Illumination's artists and animators. They used advanced 3D modeling software and technology to achieve smooth, complex movements and photorealistic elements. The characters' fur, water effects like splashes and rain, and textures like asphalt were specially engineered to look realistic.

Music

The original score for The Secret Life of Pets was composed by Alexandre Desplat. The soundtrack combines lively, upbeat melodies with slower emotional tracks. Desplat worked with director Chris Renaud to match the music to key story moments and further develop the personality of each character. There is also a ratio of licensed songs from popular artists to complement the score.

Cast Performances

The voice actors recorded their dialogue together in the studio rather than individually in isolation. This allowed them to bounce off each other's energy and improvise lines. Much of the rapid-fire humor and character interactions was shaped by these recording sessions. Louis C.K. and Eric Stonestreet embraced improv and played off their comedic chemistry especially well.

Trailers and Promotion

Illumination built anticipation for The Secret Life of Pets through memorable trailers and marketing. The main trailer showed Max's world being turned upside down by Duke's arrival while setting up the film's funny premise. TV spots and social media expanded awareness with new comedic snippets. Voice actors and animators also participated in press interviews previewing the movie.

Critical Reception

The Secret Life of Pets received generally positive reviews from critics. It currently holds a 72% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics praised the movie's vibrant animation, humor, and characters while noting some of the themes and plot elements feel familiar. Audiences loved the film even more - it has a higher 80% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Box Office Success

The Secret Life of Pets was a huge commercial hit. It opened #1 at the box office its debut weekend with over $100 million grossed domestically. It went on to earn $875 million total worldwide. This made it the 6th highest grossing film of 2016 and the highest grossing original film not based on existing IP. The Secret Life of Pets success greenlit the sequel The Secret Life of Pets 2.

Why Audiences Loved The Secret Life of Pets

There are several reasons why The Secret Life of Pets resonated so strongly with audiences and critics:

• Relatable premise and pets' perspectives
• Cute and colorful animal characters
• Fast-paced humor and physical comedy
• Splashy animated city environments
• Fun adventures and action
• Universal themes of friendship and belonging
• Topical storylines like rescue pets
• Catchy music and score
• Talented voice cast's performances
• Memorable marketing built anticipation

By combining a unique perspective on pet life with vibrant animation, laugh-out-loud comedy, and a ton of heart, The Secret Life of Pets created an experience audiences and critics thoroughly enjoyed. The behind the scenes efforts to craft memorable characters, detailed worlds, and an entertaining story clearly paid off for this hit film.

FAQs

What is The Secret Life of Pets about?

The Secret Life of Pets is about the adventures and misadventures of a group of pets living in New York City, centering around a terrier named Max whose life is turned upside down when his owner brings home a new big shaggy dog named Duke.

Who are the main characters in The Secret Life of Pets?

The main characters are Max the terrier (voiced by Louis C.K.), Duke the Newfoundland dog (Eric Stonestreet), Gidget the Pomeranian (Jenny Slate), Chloe the cat (Lake Bell), Mel the pug (Bobby Moynihan), Buddy the dachshund (Hannibal Buress), and Snowball the rabbit (Kevin Hart).

How did The Secret Life of Pets do at the box office?

The Secret Life of Pets was a major box office success, earning over $875 million worldwide. It was the 6th highest grossing film of 2016 and the highest grossing original film not based on existing IP that year.

How was the animation made for The Secret Life of Pets?

All the animation was computer generated imagery created using advanced 3D modeling tools and software. Great care was taken to make the animal characters look cute yet realistic in their movements, fur, and environments.

Are there any sequels to The Secret Life of Pets?

Yes, the commercial success of the first movie greenlit a sequel called The Secret Life of Pets 2, which was released in 2019 and also produced by Illumination Entertainment.