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Shrek

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Shrek is a 2001 American animated fantasy comedy film.

Mike Myers 2017 (37220071326) (cropped)
Mike Myers 2017 (37220071326) (cropped)

It was directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson. The story is loosely based on the 1990 children's book by William Steig. The film follows an asocial ogre named Shrek who lives in a swamp. He enjoys his solitude until fairy tale creatures are banished to his home by Lord Farquaad. Shrek makes a deal with the ruler to rescue Princess Fiona to regain his land. This film is a parody, which means it mocks and plays with traditional fairy tale stories. It is famous for appealing to both children and adults through its humor and writing.

The creation of the film involved complex technical and artistic processes. Originally, the studio considered using motion capture technology. However, poor test results led them to hire Pacific Data Images for computer animation. Artists sought real-world inspiration for the movie's settings. Art directors visited Hearst Castle and Stratford upon Avon to find ideas. One director even visited a magnolia plantation in South Carolina to design the swamp. The character of Fiona was carefully crafted through many stages. The supervising animator created over 100 different sculptures of her before the final design was chosen.

Perry-miniature-donkey-in-Palo-Alto-CA-2016
Perry-miniature-donkey-in-Palo-Alto-CA-2016

The plot centers on Shrek's journey with a talkative Donkey.

Eddie Murphy by David Shankbone
Eddie Murphy by David Shankbone

Donkey was actually modeled after a real miniature donkey named Pericles. During the journey, Shrek and Donkey rescue Princess Fiona from a castle guarded by a Dragon. Fiona carries a secret curse that turns her into an ogress at night. She believes only "true love's first kiss" can break the spell. After several misunderstandings, Shrek and Fiona realize they have fallen in love. The climax involves stopping a wedding between Fiona and Lord Farquaad. The story concludes with Shrek and Fiona marrying in the swamp.

The history of the project shows many significant changes. Steven Spielberg first bought the rights to the book in 1991. He initially planned a traditionally animated film. In 1994, John H. Williams moved the project to the new DreamWorks Pictures. Development began in 1995 under Jeffrey Katzenberg, Williams, and Aron Warner. The casting of the main character also underwent a major shift. Chris Farley was originally cast as Shrek and recorded most of the dialogue. He passed away in 1997 before finishing his work. Mike Myers was then hired to replace him. Myers chose to give the character a Scottish accent and requested a complete script rewrite.

Shrek achieved massive commercial and critical success upon its release. It premiered at the Mann Village Theatre on April 22, 2001. It was later shown at the Cannes Film Festival, competing for the Palme d'Or. This made it the first animated film in the main competition since 1980. The film was released in the United States on May 18, 2001. It grossed more than $492 million worldwide. This total made it the fourth highest-grossing film of 2001. Critics praised the animation, the soundtrack, and the voice performances.

The film earned many prestigious honors and awards. It won the inaugural Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. It also received a BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. The American Film Institute named it one of the top 10 films of 2001. This was the first animated film to be included on that list. In 2020, the United States Library of Congress selected Shrek for the National Film Registry. It was the first animated film from the 21st century to receive this honor.

Shrek's impact helped shape the modern animation industry. Its success established DreamWorks Animation as a major competitor to Pixar. The film launched a massive franchise with several sequels and spin-offs. These include Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, and Shrek Forever After. There are also spin-off films like Puss in Boots. The character of Puss in Boots appeared in films released in 2011 and 2022. The franchise remains influential and is considered one of the greatest animated films ever made.

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File:Perry-miniature-donkey-in-Palo-Alto-CA-2016.jpg
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File:Mike Myers 2017 (37220071326) (cropped).jpg
Mike Myers 2017 (37220071326) (cropped).jpg
File:Eddie Murphy by David Shankbone.jpg
Eddie Murphy by David Shankbone.jpg
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