Shrek is a 2001 American animated fantasy film inspired by William Steig’s 1990 fairy tale picture book of the same name. Directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson in their debut as directors, the film features the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow. It cleverly parodies various children’s fantasy films, particularly animated Disney movies. The story revolves around an ogre named Shrek (voiced by Myers) whose swamp becomes home to banished fairy tale creatures due to the wicked Lord Farquaad (voiced by Lithgow). To reclaim his swamp, Shrek strikes a deal with Farquaad to bring him a queen in exchange for his land. Accompanied by a humorous talking Donkey (voiced by Murphy), Shrek sets out and encounters Princess Fiona (voiced by Diaz). As they escort Fiona to Farquaad for marriage, Shrek develops feelings for her and uncovers a surprising secret about the princess.
Initially, Steven Spielberg procured the rights to Steig’s book in 1991 with the idea of a traditional animated adaptation. However, the project was brought to DreamWorks by John H. Williams in 1994. Jeffrey Katzenberg swiftly put the film into development after DreamWorks acquired the rights in 1995. The original voice actor for Shrek, Chris Farley, passed away before completion, leading to Mike Myers taking over and infusing the character with a Scottish accent. The movie transitioned from motion-capture to computer animation with assistance from Pacific Data Images. Shrek marked DreamWorks Animation as a formidable rival to Pixar, earning a remarkable $484.4 million worldwide against a $60 million budget.
The film garnered praise for appealing to both adults and children through its mature humor and themes within a straightforward plot. It secured the first-ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and received recognition at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards. Shrek’s success spawned sequels, specials, and a spin-off, with plans for a fifth installment in the works. Additionally, the franchise led to various merchandise and accolades, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for the beloved character in 2010.
