Shrek, a computer-animated fantasy film released in 2001, is loosely based on William Steig’s 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 parody of popular children’s fantasy films, particularly those from Disney, the story follows an ogre named Shrek (voiced by Myers) whose swamp is invaded by fairy tale creatures banished by the evil 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 embarks on a journey to find Princess Fiona (voiced by Diaz) for Farquaad. However, along the way, Shrek develops feelings for Fiona and uncovers a surprising secret about her. Originally, the rights to Steig’s book were acquired by Steven Spielberg in 1991, with plans for a traditionally animated film. The project eventually moved to DreamWorks in 1994, under the guidance of John H. Williams, shortly after the studio’s founding.
The character of Shrek was originally voiced by Chris Farley, but due to his untimely death in 1997, Mike Myers was brought in and decided to portray Shrek with a Scottish accent. Initially planned as a motion-capture project, the film shifted to a fully computer-animated format with the assistance of Pacific Data Images.
Shrek’s release cemented DreamWorks Animation as a rival to Pixar in the animation industry, grossing $484.4 million worldwide against a $60 million production budget. The film was praised for its appeal to both adults and children, blending adult-oriented humor with a straightforward plot. It won the first Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and received accolades at the BAFTA Awards for Eddie Murphy’s performance as Donkey and its screenplay adaptation.
The film’s success led to three sequels, two holiday specials, a spin-off movie, and a planned fifth installment. Merchandise and adaptations, including video games, a stage musical, and a comic book series, further capitalized on Shrek’s popularity. In recognition of the character’s impact, Shrek received his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010.
