Migration (2023 Film)

Migration is a 2023 American animated adventure comedy film Produced by Universal Pictures and Illumination, and distributed by Universal Pictures. This film is directed by Benjamin Renner, co-directed by Guylo Homsy, produced by Chris Meledandri and written by Mike White. It stars the voices of Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, Awkwafina, Keegan-Michael Key, David Mitchell, Carol Kane, Casper Jennings, Tresi Gazal, and Danny DeVito. The story follows a family of mallards as they go on a vacation and attempt to migrate from New England, through New York City, to Jamaica. 
Illumination announced Migration in February 2022, with Renner, Homsy, and White attached as director, co-director, and writer, respectively. Renner, who had previously helmed traditionally animated films, was tasked with adapting his simple drawing style for a computer-animated film.
Migration premiered at the VIEW Conference in Italy, on October 19, 2023 and was theatrically released in the United States on December 22. The film received generally positive reviews from critics and grossed $298.9 million worldwide.
Premise
In Moosehead Pond somewhere in a New England forest, Mack Mallard prevents his kids Dax and Gwen from venturing into the outside world much to the displeasure of his wife Pam.
One day, the Mallards meet a flock of migrating Blue-winged teal ducks who are flying south to Jamaica which the family finds interesting, but Mack forbids them to join. Pam tells Mack that he must open his eyes to the world outside him. That night, Mack talks with his aging Uncle Dan who also does not want to leave the pond. However, Uncle Dan makes Mack second-guess his stance and he decides to let his family migrate, with Uncle Dan joining them.
However, shortly after taking off, They get lost and fly into a rainstorm, forcing them to take shelter in a swamp underneath a boardwalk, where they encounter a great blue heron named Erin, who brings them to her shack to spend the night with herself and her husband Harry. Despite their frightening disposition, Erin prove their good intentions by saving Dax and Gwen from a catfish.
The following day, the Mallards arrive in New York City where Uncle Dan wanders off and ends up getting the ducks in trouble with a flock of pigeons led by the pugnacious Chump, but Pam's assertiveness puts them in Chump's good graces. Chump leads them to her friend Delroy, a Scarlet Macaw who is from Jamaica, but lives caged by a human chef that owns him. Wanting to set Delroy free, Mack and Pam infiltrate The Ciguapi, the restaurant where the chef works to acquire a key to his cage. After evading the humans, they manage to get the key and free Delroy who gratefully guides them to Jamaica.
While Gwen stops for a bathroom break, Mack soon finds an entrance to a paradise full of pekins. The group begins to enjoy themselves but Dax soon finds out the whole place is a duck farm, with the chef from earlier being one of its clients. Dax helps the pekins and his family escape the farm, but he loses his wing feathers after being stepped on by the chef, rendering him flightless. The birds stop to rest at a resort in Florida where Mack angrily scolds Dax for his heedless actions.
Soon, the chef finds the birds via helicopter and traps them in a net while Dax and Gwen manage to hide. Inside, the chef plans to kill Mack and Pam first, prompting Pam to give into despair only for Mack to raise her spirits. Using a salsa dance they learned at the restaurant, they attempt to push a button to release the birds, but the chef catches them in the act. At this point, Delroy has finally had enough and he, Uncle Dan, and the pekins pelt the chef with fruits and vegetables. The chef is knocked unconscious by a squash, hitting a button that causes the helicopter to drop out Pam and Mack, still stuck in their cage. They are saved and freed by their kids with Dax having fixed his wings using some of the other birds' feathers. Both father and son silently reconcile.
Now led by Dax, the birds arrive in Jamaica where Delroy reunites with his family and the Mallards catch up with the duck family who visited their pond earlier. The following spring, the family is about to head for home when Mack shows them a group of lost penguins that need to get to the South Pole, agreeing to help them get there.
Production
On February 18, 2022, Illumination announced a new film titled Migration, with French animator and comic book creator Benjamin Renner set to direct with Guylo Homsy as co-director and Mike White set to pen the script.
On April 26, 2023, Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, Keegan-Michael Key, Awkwafina, Danny DeVito, Caspar Jennings, Tresi Gazal, David Mitchell, and Carol Kane were announced to be part of the film's lead voice cast, while some of the film crew such as co-director Guylo Homsy, editor Christian Gazal and production designer Colin Stimpson were also revealed.
Music
On June 18, 2023, it was announced that John Powell will compose the film's score, returning to Illumination since The Lorax (2012). Mon Laferte performed a cover of Destiny's Child's 2001 single Survivor for the film. The soundtrack album was released on December 15, 2023.
Release
Migration's world premiere took place on October 19, 2023, at the VIEW Conference in Italy. the film was released on December 22, 2023 in theaters along with the Despicable Me short film, Mooned. It was previously scheduled to be released on June 30, 2023, but was postponed to its current release date, with DreamWorks Animation's Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken taking its original date.
Home Media
Migration was released on Digital Download on January 23 2024, and on DVD and Blu-Ray on February 27. It includes three short films: Fly Hard, Mooned, and Midnight Mission.
The film was made available to stream on the Peacock streaming service on April 19, 2024 As part of their 18-month deal with Netflix. the film is streaming on Peacock for the first four months, then will move to Netflix for the next ten, and then will return to Peacock for the remaining four.