When were the minions made?

Minions, as we know them, were first introduced in the 2010 animated film *Despicable Me* .

However, the concept of these yellow creatures existed before that. They were initially created as side characters in a 2008 short film titled "The Night Before Christmas" made by Illumination Entertainment, the studio behind the *Despicable Me* franchise.

So, while the Minions we know and love officially debuted in 2010, their origins can be traced back to 2008.