Shrek, released in 2001, is an American computer-animated fantasy film that draws loose inspiration from William Steig’s 1990 fairy tale picture book of the same name. Directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson in their directorial debut, the film features the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow. Serving as a satirical take on various children’s fantasy films, particularly those by Disney, Shrek follows the story of an ogre named Shrek (voiced by Myers) whose swamp becomes populated by fairy tale creatures banished there by 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 ownership of his land.
Accompanied by a talking Donkey (voiced by Murphy), Shrek encounters Princess Fiona (voiced by Diaz) and begins a journey to deliver her to Farquaad for marriage. However, as Shrek starts to develop feelings for the princess, he uncovers a surprising secret about her. Originally, Steven Spielberg acquired the rights to Steig’s book in 1991 with intentions of creating a traditionally animated film. In 1994, John H. Williams persuaded Spielberg to bring the project to DreamWorks, leading to the film’s development under Jeffrey Katzenberg after the studio’s establishment in 1995.
Initially, Chris Farley was cast as the voice of Shrek, completing a significant portion of his dialogues before his passing in 1997. Mike Myers then took over the role and opted for a Scottish accent, reshaping the character. Originally planned as a motion-capture project, the film shifted to a computer-animated format in collaboration with Pacific Data Images to achieve its final appearance. Shrek’s success positioned DreamWorks Animation as a formidable rival to Pixar, grossing $484.4 million globally against a $60 million budget.
Praised for its ability to engage both adult and younger audiences, Shrek received critical acclaim and won the inaugural Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Additionally, it garnered nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay and several British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards. The film’s triumph led to the development of several sequels, specials, and a spin-off, showcasing the enduring popularity of the franchise. Shrek himself was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in May 2010.
