Many years ago, Perm composer and real estate agent Valery Gruner wrote a book titled Uncle Gru's Tales and dreamed of publishing it. The book's illustrator, Ukrainian artist Alexander Shults, hoped it would make him a millionaire. Director Konstantin Shitov began filming this story in 2012 but passed away before completing it. The film was finished by his colleague Semyon Sosnin, who completed the project as director and editor.