Shrek Card Match
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Released in 2001, *Shrek* reimagines William Steig’s 1990 fairy-tale picture book into a computer-animated fantasy comedy, blending humor for all ages with a sharp parody of classic animated tropes—particularly those popularized by Disney. Directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson in their first feature-film collaboration, the story follows Shrek, a reclusive ogre voiced by Mike Myers, whose swamp becomes a dumping ground for exiled fairy-tale creatures by order of the power-hungry Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow). To reclaim his home, Shrek strikes a deal: retrieve Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) as Farquaad’s bride in exchange for the deed to his land. Joined by Eddie Murphy’s fast-talking Donkey, the journey evolves into an unexpected adventure as Shrek grapples with budding feelings for Fiona and uncovers her hidden curse. Development began when Steven Spielberg acquired the rights in 1991, envisioning a traditional animated adaptation. The project shifted to DreamWorks in 1994 under John H. Williams’ influence, with Jeffrey Katzenberg accelerating production after securing the rights in 1995. Initially cast as Shrek, Chris Farley recorded most of his dialogue before his untimely passing in 1997. Myers stepped in, later revamping the character with a Scottish accent during re-recording. Early plans for motion-capture animation were scrapped due to technical limitations, leading DreamWorks to partner with Pacific Data Images to refine the film’s iconic visual style. A critical and commercial triumph, *Shrek* earned $484 million globally against a $60 million budget, cementing DreamWorks Animation as Pixar’s chief rival. Praised for balancing adult humor with family-friendly storytelling, it made history as the first winner of the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, alongside nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay and six BAFTA nods—including a Supporting Actor nomination for Murphy. Its legacy spawned three sequels, holiday specials, the *Puss in Boots* spin-off, and multimedia expansions like video games and a stage musical. Though a fifth film was delayed and later revived after *Shrek Forever After* (2010) was initially billed as the finale, the franchise’s cultural footprint remains undeniable—culminating in Shrek receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010.
