Shrek

Mike Myers David Shankbone 2010 NYC

Eddie Murphy by David Shankbone

Shrek is a 2001 American computer-animated comedy film directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson in their directorial debut. It is based on the 1990 fairy tale picture book Shrek! by William Steig. The film stars Mike Myers as the titular character, with Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow providing the voices of the main characters. The story centers around Shrek, an ogre who finds his swamp overrun by fairy tale creatures who have been banished by the corrupt Lord Farquaad aspiring to be king. To get his land back, Shrek makes a deal with Farquaad to rescue Princess Fiona, whom Farquaad intends to marry. With the help of Donkey, Shrek embarks on his quest but soon falls in love with the princess, who harbors a secret that will change their lives forever.

Plot

Shrek, an ogre living alone in his swamp, finds his solitude disrupted when numerous fairy tale beings, including Pinocchio, the Three Little Pigs, and the Big Bad Wolf, are exiled there by the diminutive Lord Farquaad. Farquaad dreams of becoming a king but needs to marry a princess. He decides on Princess Fiona, who is locked in a castle guarded by a dragon. Shrek makes a deal with Farquaad to retrieve Fiona in exchange for the deed to his swamp.

Accompanied by Donkey, Shrek confronts many challenges and rescues Fiona. They begin to fall in love during their journey back. However, Fiona harbors a secret; she turns into an ogre at night due to a curse that only true love's first kiss can break. After a series of misunderstandings, Shrek and Fiona admit their love for each other. Farquaad is eaten by the dragon, and Shrek and Fiona marry, setting off to live happily ever after.

Production

The production of Shrek began in 1994 at DreamWorks Animation, with the film initially intended to be a motion capture project. However, after hiring Pacific Data Images (now part of DreamWorks Animation), it was decided to make Shrek entirely computer-animated. The film was noted for its technological innovation, particularly in the realistic animation of human characters and the use of natural elements like water, fire, and cloth. Shrek was also one of the first films to use motion capture technology to animate characters, although this technique was eventually dropped in favor of traditional key frame animation.

Reception

Upon its release, Shrek received critical acclaim for its animation, voice performances, and humor. It was a commercial success, grossing over $484 million worldwide. The film won the first ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, received a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, and won the BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Shrek has been praised for its appeal to both children and adults, as well as its satirical take on fairy tales.

Legacy

Shrek spawned a multi-billion dollar franchise, including three sequels: Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek the Third (2007), and Shrek Forever After (2010), a spin-off prequel Puss in Boots (2011), and numerous short films, television specials, and a stage musical. The character of Shrek has become an internet meme and a cultural icon. In 2020, Shrek was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".