Reebok And Illumination Present "Minions: The Rise Of Gru" Footwear Collection Detailing A Young Gru's Dream Of Becoming The World's Greatest Supervillain, Available October 1

BOSTON, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, in partnership with Illumination and global cultural phenomenon, Minions, as well as Universal Brand Development, Reebok officially unveils their Minions: The Rise of Gru collection celebrating the blockbuster franchise's upcoming theatrical release slated for July 2, 2021 (official trailer HERE). Available globally from Reebok.com and select retailers beginning October 1, the exclusive full-family footwear collection unfolds a real-life creative alliance of epic proportions revealing a master plan years in the making.

Recognized globally as the world's most successful animated film franchise of all time, Illumination's iconic Despicable Me continues to capture the imagination of audiences worldwide. Evolving the Minions legacy and Reebok's historically bold brand narrative, the Minions x Reebok collection injects inspiration directly from the forthcoming film that chronicles the untold story of one 12-year-old's dream to become the world's greatest supervillain.

Minions x Reebok Question Mid "Gru's Lab" ($175): An imaginative modification of the historic Question Mid inspired by a young Gru for the 'baddest' baller of all-time, Allen Iverson, this silver/black execution injects glow-in-the-dark sticky "slime" into the outsole through two intake and outtake tubes to achieve impossible grip on court, while adapted rocket booster graphics underfoot propel any undersized villain to the rim. Using different "metals" from around Gru's lab to form a mostly unpolished silver upper, while a more-finished glossy chrome leather panel at the heel pops above his signature "G" logo stamped in place of the traditional Iverson "3". Looking inside, wearers will find asymmetric double-sided 'trap door' sock liners - a first-of-its kind sneaker innovation - that each hide top-secret elements from Gru's lab on the underside. Available in adult sizing.

Minons x Reebok Instapump Fury "Vicious 6" ($200): In order to become the world's greatest super villain, Gru must first defeat the Vicious 6, the world's most notorious collective of villains. Taking inspiration from the infamous group, this asymmetric fashion-forward take on Reebok's historic 'laceless' Instapump Fury is one of the model's boldest executions to date. Mixing a plethora of contrasting prints, colors, materials and textures, the silhouette goes big like the villains themselves. The left shoe houses gold and yellow color blocking, materials and graphics from Belle Bottom's (voiced by Taraji P. Henson) go-to wardrobe, rugged nods to Stronghold's (Danny Trejo) tank, and a custom molded heel TPU with faux stingray material inspired by Jean Claw's (Jean-Claude Van Damme) robotic crab arm, while the right shoe features a padded collar lining with racing stripes and spikes inspired by Svengeance's (Dolph Lundgren) over-the-top roller derby uniform, a teal and gold filigree with a stain glass pump ball replicating Nun Chuck's (Lucy Lawless) holy chariot, and a zebra-striped pony hair and gator embossed toe nodding White Nuckle's (Alan Arkin) throne, trophies and weapons. Available in adult and toddler sizing.

Minions x Reebok Club C "Vicious 6" ($100): Nodding to the film's 70's vibes and the specific textures and retro colors dressing of the Vicious 6 villains' lounge, this understated Club C features corduroy, premium leather and nubuck panels on the upper, a velvet interior lining, shag rug sock liner, and soft cotton laces all brought together by the Vicious 6 logo on the tongue. Available in adult sizing.

Minions x Reebok Instapump Fury "Minions" ($170): An homage to the Minions' iconic yellow and blue color palette, this vibrant yet wearable take on the Instapump Fury is imagined through the eye(s) of the Minions themselves, creating an asymmetric pair with bold nods to the film including a Minions party insole, Minion eyes on either Pump button, a banana peel graphic on the left outsole and reflective hits throughout. Available in adult and toddler sizing.

Minions x Reebok Club C "Otto" ($70): This subtle yet bright kids-only take on the classic Club C celebrates the franchise's newest Minion, "Otto." The silhouette, a second creation inspired by the Minions horde, is filled with yellow paint, Minions party insoles, pops of lime green and a splash of mud on either outsole – the meaning behind which will be revealed in the forthcoming film. Available in grade school, pre-school and toddler sizing.

Completing the collection, playful Minions x Reebok graphics are united across a clean apparel capsule featuring short-sleeve and long-sleeve cropped and regular tees.

Finally, Gru's lab is replicated in real life by elevated sneaker packaging that houses each of these Reebok creations. Displayed on the box are hand-illustrated orthographic views of Gru's childhood bedroom and top-secret lair riddled with Easter eggs from the forthcoming film and additional details that Minions, Iverson and Reebok fans will all enjoy. 

Creative content and product imagery from the collection can be found HERE.

On September 30, members of Reebok UNLOCKED (Reebok's free loyalty program that offers exclusive perks and consumers) will have one-day early access to the Minions x Reebok collection. Then, on October 1, the collection becomes available industry-wide from Reebok.com and select local retailers.

Fans can look out for additional details and content from the collection and more to be revealed by Reebok and Illumination ahead of the October 1 product launch as well as in the lead up to the July 2021 theatrical release.

About Illumination: Illumination, founded by Academy Award^® nominee Chris Meledandri in 2007, is one of the entertainment industry's leading producers of event-animated films, including Despicable Me, the most successful animated franchise in cinematic history.  The company's releases include two of the top 10 animated films of all time, and its iconic, beloved franchises—infused with memorable and distinct characters, global appeal and cultural relevance—have grossed more than $6.25 billion worldwide.

Illumination, which has an exclusive financing and distribution partnership with Universal Pictures, is the creator of the  world of Despicable Me. The franchise includes Minions, the fourth-highest-grossing animated film of all time and the most profitable film in Universal's history, as well as the Academy Award^®- nominated Despicable Me 2 and Despicable Me 3, which made more than $1 billion at the global box office.

Illumination has launched two additional original properties that captivated audiences worldwide: The Secret Life of Pets, which achieved the best opening for an original movie, animated or otherwise, in U.S. history, and the global smash, Sing. In 2018, Illumination's Dr. Seuss's The Grinch had the biggest opening weekend of any Christmas-themed movie in history, followed, in June 2019, by The Secret Life of Pets 2. Illumination's upcoming films for 2021 include Minions: The Rise of Gru in July and Sing 2 in December.

About Universal Brand Development: Universal Brand Development globally drives expansion of the company's intellectual properties, franchises, characters and stories through innovative physical and digital products, content, and consumer experiences. Along with franchise brand management, Universal Brand Development's core businesses include Consumer Products and Games and Digital Platforms based on the company's extensive portfolio of intellectual properties created by Universal Pictures, Illumination, DreamWorks Animation and NBCUniversal cable and television. Universal Brand Development is part of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. www.universalbranddevelopment.com.

About Reebok: Reebok International Ltd., headquartered in Boston, MA, USA, is a leading worldwide designer, marketer and distributor of fitness and lifestyle footwear, apparel and equipment. An American-inspired global brand, Reebok is a pioneer in the sporting goods industry with a rich and storied fitness heritage. Reebok develops products, technologies and programming that enable movement so people can fulfill their potential. Reebok connects with the fitness consumer wherever they are and however they choose to stay fit – whether it's functional training, running, combat training, walking, dance, yoga or aerobics. Reebok Classics leverages the brand's fitness heritage and represents the roots of the brand in the sports lifestyle market. For more information, visit Reebok at www.reebok.com, or, for the latest news at http://news.reebok.com/ Discover Reebok at the following locations: https://www.instagram.com/reebok/; http://twitter.com/reebok; and http://youtube.com/reebok

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SOURCE Universal Brand Development