The move, an unusual one for a big holiday major studio ‘toon, made a statement here at the Toronto International Film Festival that this film would not only be a major hit and priority for Universal and Illumination, but that it would also be an awards player in the unusually heavy Animated Feature competition this year. Showing up with a splashy event at TIFF is one way to do it, and with voiceover stars Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon and Scarlett Johansson on hand, along with a post mini-concert of a few of the film’s 65 songs by co-stars Jennifer Hudson and Tori Kelly, the fans went wild, both outside where the biggest crowd I have seen here in a long time strained to get photos, and inside where the crowd with tickets was equally enthusiastic.
When I asked Meledandri if he was surprised by the reception he definitely answered in the affirmative. “I wassurprised because in the 30 years I have been in the business I have never seen anything like it, not with Ice Age, not with Despicable Me, not with Minions,” he said. It is rare that every song gets applause from the audience, but this film did that. Universal’s Ron Meyer was among those showing support at the after-party and he told me he was certainly thrilled with the reaction as well. And why not? Illumination has become Universal’s most reliable cash cow, with one hit after another, most recently this summer’s smash The Secret Life Of Pets. And I think Sing could equal it and put the studio in the Oscar race in the ani feature category.