Character Relationship Map: Despicable Me

Characters

• Gru (played by Steve Carell) — protagonist

  Former supervillain turned secret agent and loving adoptive father of three girls.

• Vector (played by Jason Segel) — protagonist

  Tech-savvy villain who stole the moon and rivals Gru.

• Margo (played by Miranda Cosgrove) — supporting

  Gru's intelligent and responsible eldest adopted daughter.

• Edith (played by Dana Gaier) — supporting

  Gru's mischievous and tomboyish middle adopted daughter.

• Agnes (played by Elsie Fisher) — supporting

  Gru's youngest, unicorn-loving adopted daughter.

• Gru's Mother (played by Julie Andrews) — supporting

  Gru's mother who appears in the first film.

• Mr. Perkins (played by Will Arnett) — supporting

  President of the Bank of Evil who funds villains.

• Dr. Nefario (played by Russell Brand) — supporting

  Gru's loyal scientist who creates gadgets and weapons.

• Miss Hattie (played by Kristen Wiig) — supporting

  Cruel orphanage director who runs Miss Hattie's Home.

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Gru → Agnes (family)

  Adoptive father-daughter relationship central to the narrative across multiple films.

• Gru → Edith (family)

  Adoptive father-daughter relationship central to the narrative across multiple films.

• Gru → Margo (family)

  Adoptive father-daughter relationship central to the narrative across multiple films.

• Margo → Edith (family)

  Adoptive sisters

• Edith → Agnes (family)

  Adoptive sisters

• Gru → Dr. Nefario (professional)

  Longtime assistant and inventor who aids Gru's schemes.

• Dr. Nefario → Gru (professional)

  Loyal assistant and inventor

• Gru's Mother → Gru (mother)

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Vector → Gru (conflict)
• Gru → Vector (conflict)

  Rivals in the first film

• Vector → Dr. Nefario (conflict)

  Rivals in tech and villainy

• Miss Hattie → Mr. Perkins (social)

  Neighbors of Gru

Story Analysis

A supervillain's journey from evil to fatherhood

Plot Progression

1. The Villain's Ambition — Gru, a dedicated supervillain, plans to steal the moon but faces financial obstacles.
2. Unexpected Fatherhood — Gru adopts three orphaned girls, leading to an unexpected change in his priorities.
3. The Rescue Mission — When Vector kidnaps the girls, Gru must combine his villainous skills with paternal love to save them.
4. New Family Values — Gru successfully rescues the girls and embraces his new role as a father.