A lot of people might not know this, but 'Mi villana favorita' (or 'Despicable Me' in English) isn’t directly based on a book. It’s actually an original concept dreamed up by the folks at Illumination Entertainment. That said, you can definitely see how it borrows some classic tropes from children’s literature and villain origin stories—think 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' meets a spy flick, but with way more minions and banana jokes. The charm of Gru and his chaotic little family feels like it could’ve jumped straight out of a quirky illustrated novel, but nope, it’s pure cinematic magic from the start.
What’s really cool is how the franchise expanded into books after the movies blew up. There are tons of children’s books, graphic novels, and even junior novelizations now, all spinning off from the films. They capture the same humor and heart, especially the dynamic between Gru and the girls. If you’re craving more of that world, the books are a fun way to dive deeper—just don’t expect some hidden literary origin story. The movies came first, and honestly, I kinda love that. It’s refreshing when something this iconic starts as a blank slate and grows into its own weird, wonderful legacy.