“Shrek” is a computer-animated fantasy film released in 2001, loosely inspired by William Steig’s 1990 fairy tale picture book of the same name. Directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson in their debut, the film features the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow. It serves as a satirical parody of numerous children’s fantasy films, particularly animated Disney classics.
The story centers on an ogre named Shrek (voiced by Myers), whose swamp becomes overrun by displaced fairy tale creatures banished there by the malevolent Lord Farquaad (voiced by Lithgow). To reclaim his home, Shrek strikes a deal with Farquaad: he must escort Princess Fiona (voiced by Diaz) to the villain so Farquaad can marry her, in exchange for the deed to his swamp. Accompanied by a talkative donkey named Donkey (voiced by Murphy), Shrek embarks on his quest and eventually discovers a surprising secret about Fiona. As their journey unfolds, romantic feelings develop, and the trio faces unforeseen adventures.
Historically, Steven Spielberg purchased the rights to Steig’s book in 1991, prior to DreamWorks’ founding, with initial plans for a traditionally animated adaptation. In 1994, John H. Williams persuaded Spielberg to collaborate with DreamWorks, and the project entered active development under Jeffrey Katzenberg after the rights were acquired in 1995. Originally, Chris Farley was cast as Shrek, recording approximately 80–90% of his dialogue. Tragically, Farley passed away in 1997 before completing his recordings, leading Myers to take over the role. Myers re-recorded his lines with a distinctive Scottish accent, establishing the character’s signature voice. The film was initially intended to be created using motion-capture technology; however, due to unsatisfactory results, the studio enlisted Pacific Data Images to refine the animation, resulting in the final computer-generated look.
“Shrek” was instrumental in establishing DreamWorks Animation as a formidable competitor to Pixar in the realm of animated feature films. It grossed approximately $484.4 million worldwide against a production budget of $60 million. Praised for its appeal to adult audiences—featuring humor and themes suited for mature viewers while remaining accessible to children—the film made a significant cultural impact. It won the inaugural Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and received a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. Additionally, it garnered six BAFTA nominations, winning the award for Best Adapted Screenplay and earning Eddie Murphy a BAFTA nod for his supporting voice role as Donkey.
The success of “Shrek” led to the creation of three sequels—”Shrek 2″ (2004), “Shrek the Third” (2007), and “Shrek Forever After” (2010)—alongside two holiday specials, “Shrek the Halls” (2007) and “Scared Shrekless” (2010). A spin-off, “Puss in Boots,” was released in 2011. Although a fifth film was planned as the series’ finale and canceled in 2009, it was revived in 2016 with a tentative release date around 2019 or 2020. The franchise’s popularity spurred various merchandise, including video games, a stage musical, and a comic book adaptation by Dark Horse Comics. In recognition of his cultural significance, the character of Shrek was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in May 2010.
