“Shrek” is a 2001 American computer-animated fantasy film that draws inspiration from William Steig’s 1990 fairy tale picture book. It was directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson in their directorial debut. The movie features the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow. “Shrek” serves as a playful parody of various children’s fantasy films, particularly those from Disney. The story follows an ogre named Shrek (voiced by Myers) as he deals with his swamp being invaded by fairy tale creatures banished there by the villainous Lord Farquaad (voiced by Lithgow). To reclaim his home, Shrek strikes a deal with Farquaad to retrieve a queen in exchange for the deed to his swamp. Accompanied by a chatty Donkey (voiced by Murphy), Shrek sets out to find Princess Fiona (voiced by Diaz). As they journey to deliver Fiona to Farquaad for marriage, Shrek discovers he has feelings for her and uncovers a surprising secret about the princess.
Originally, Steven Spielberg acquired the rights to Steig’s book in 1991 with intentions of creating a traditional animated film. The project later transitioned to DreamWorks in 1994 under the guidance of John H. Williams. Development commenced in 1995 when DreamWorks purchased the rights, with Jeffrey Katzenberg overseeing the process. Mike Myers replaced Chris Farley as the voice of Shrek after Farley’s untimely passing, choosing to give the character a Scottish accent. Production initially aimed for motion capture technology but switched to a computer-animated approach with the assistance of Pacific Data Images to achieve the final look.
“Shrek” marked DreamWorks Animation as a strong contender in feature film computer animation, garnering significant commercial success worldwide. The movie’s blend of mature humor with a simple yet engaging plot attracted both adult and child audiences. It was honored with the first Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and received acclaim for its adult-oriented themes and subtle humor. The film’s achievements led to sequels, holiday specials, a spin-off, and various merchandise. “Shrek” remains a prominent figure in popular culture, as evidenced by the character’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
