Somebody once told me /
The world is gonna roll me /
I ain’t the sharpest tool in the shed
If reading these previous lines you can’t help but have a green and very grumpy ogre appear in your head, you are undoubtedly one of the many who fell into the Shrek effect. The Dreamworks movie marked such an era in the early 2000s that no one can hear Smash Mouth without thinking of Shrek and Donkey – much to the group’s chagrin, who have been trying, unsuccessfully, to disassociate themselves from the movie for a few years now.
Now, Netflix has wanted to join the movement by adding the first film of the franchise to its catalog. And, no matter how many years go by, Shrek is going to continue being a wonderful phenomenon of animation for audiences of all ages, something that platforms are not going to easily overlook.
While we wait for more news about the future Shrek 5, confirmed by Dreamworks but about which we still know nothing, it is worth remembering why it is always a good time to go back to Shrek and delight in the finest humor of Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson.
Beyond the joke
Okay, as a joke Shrek is fine, right? I mean, as an entertaining comedy movie without much pretension, it’s clear that it works. But to say only that about Shrek would be like saying that Titanic is what it is just because of the sinking of the ship. Without a doubt, there is much more behind this movie, and the truth is that with each rewatch it becomes more and more noticeable.
Released in 2001, this masterpiece from DreamWorks Animation took the genre of computer-animated films to new heights with its clever storytelling, memorable characters, and irreverent humor that appealed to both children and adults. Directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, it has become one of the most iconic animated films of all time. And it’s not hard to see why.
The story of Shrek follows a lonely ogre of the same name, whose peaceful life in a swamp is disrupted when his home becomes the refuge of various fairy tale characters, expelled from their lands by the evil Lord Farquaad. Determined to regain his solitude, Shrek makes a deal with Farquaad to rescue Princess Fiona and return her as the feudal lord’s wife, in exchange for the restoration of his swamp. However, as the story progresses, Shrek faces moral dilemmas and discovers that being so bitter with life is not the only path to follow.
What makes Shrek so exceptional is its ability to subvert the classic tropes of fairy tales while offering a heartwarming and funny story. Instead of presenting fairy tale characters as untouchable and perfect figures, the movie portrays them realistically, with flaws and complexities that make them more human and relatable to the audience. In fact, it does it all with humor, laughing at all of them just like the original story by William Steig on which the movie is based.
This game with the stories allows Shrek to have an unforgettable cast of characters. From Shrek himself, with his grumpy attitude but tender heart, to Donkey and Princess Fiona, each character is skillfully developed and contributes to the unique charm of the movie. Additionally, as the movies progressed, they improved in this aspect, exploring other stories like Puss in Boots or Pinocchio.
In addition, in its technical aspect, Shrek is also impressive for its time. The animation still holds up surprisingly well today. The attention to detail in character and environment designs, along with the expressiveness of the movements, helps bring this world to life in a way that is both visually stunning and emotionally compelling.
The biggest embarrassment in Disney’s history
Shrek was so good technically and so captivating in its storytelling that it became, mind you, the first film to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. This was undoubtedly the biggest blow Disney has received since its founding, as it seemed obvious that this first Oscar had to go straight to the mouse company… and it didn’t.
The rivalry between DreamWorks and Disney has been an intrinsic part of the animated film industry since DreamWorks Animation was founded in 1994 by Jeffrey Katzenberg, a former Disney executive. Over the years, DreamWorks has challenged Disney’s dominance in the animation market with films like Shrek, which mocked the stereotypes and conventions associated with Disney movies.
Undoubtedly, DreamWorks set a before and after in animation with Shrek, and although some of its sequels didn’t live up to expectations (Shrek 2 did not, Shrek 2 is amazing), the company made it clear with this film that we were in a new era for cinema.
