''Shrek'' is an American
media franchise
A media franchise, also known as a multimedia franchise, is a collection of related media in which several derivative works have been produced from an original creative work of fiction, such as a film, a work of literature, a television program, o ...
of
DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Animation LLC (DWA, also known as DreamWorks Animation Studios or simply DreamWorks) is an American animation studio, owned by Comcast's NBCUniversal as part of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios, Inc, Universal Stud ...
. Loosely based on
William Steig
William Steig ( ; November 14, 1907 – October 3, 2003) was an American cartoonist, illustrator and writer of children's books, best known for the picture book ''Shrek!'', which inspired the Shrek (franchise), film series of the same name, as we ...
's 1990 picture book ''
Shrek!
''Shrek!'' is a fantasy comedy picture book published in 1990. Written and illustrated by American book writer and cartoonist William Steig, it is about a repugnant, green ogre who leaves home to see the world and ends up marrying an ugly princ ...
'', the series primarily focuses on
Shrek
''Shrek'' is a 2001 American animated fantasy comedy film directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, and written by Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Joe Stillman, and Roger S. H. Schulman, loosely based on the 1990 children's picture boo ...
, a bad-tempered but good-hearted
ogre
An ogre (feminine: ogress) is a legendary monster depicted as a large, hideous, man-like being that eats ordinary human beings, especially infants and children. Ogres frequently feature in mythology, folklore, and fiction throughout the world ...
, who begrudgingly accepts a quest to rescue a princess, resulting in him finding friends and going on many subsequent adventures in a
fairy tale
A fairy tale (alternative names include fairytale, fairy story, household tale, magic tale, or wonder tale) is a short story that belongs to the folklore genre. Such stories typically feature magic, enchantments, and mythical or fanciful bei ...
world.
The franchise includes four animated films: ''
Shrek
''Shrek'' is a 2001 American animated fantasy comedy film directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, and written by Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Joe Stillman, and Roger S. H. Schulman, loosely based on the 1990 children's picture boo ...
'' (2001), ''
Shrek 2
''Shrek 2'' is a 2004 American animated fantasy comedy film loosely based on the 1990 children's picture book '' Shrek!'' by William Steig. Directed by Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury, and Conrad Vernon from a screenplay by Adamson, Joe Sti ...
'' (2004), ''
Shrek the Third
''Shrek the Third'' (also known as ''Shrek 3'') is a 2007 American animated fantasy comedy film loosely based on the 1990 children's picture book '' Shrek!'' by William Steig. Directed by Chris Miller and co-directed by Raman Hui from a sc ...
'' (2007), and ''
Shrek Forever After
''Shrek Forever After'' is a 2010 American animated comedy film loosely based on the 1990 children's picture book '' Shrek!'' by William Steig. Directed by Mike Mitchell (in his animated directorial debut) and written by Josh Klausner and ...
'' (2010), with a fifth film, ''
Shrek 5
''Shrek 5'' is an upcoming American animated fantasy comedy film loosely based on the 1990 picture book ''Shrek!'' by William Steig, produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Universal Pictures. The sequel to ''Shrek Forever After'' ...
'', currently in production for a 2026 release. A short
4-D film 4D or 4-D primarily refers to:
* 4-dimensional spacetime: three-dimensional space of length, width, and height, plus time
* Four-dimensional space
It may also refer to:
Computers and photography
* 4D (software), a complete programming environme ...
, ''
Shrek 4-D
''Shrek 4-D'' (also known as ''Shrek 3-D'' for the DVD release and ''The Ghost of Lord Farquaad'' for the ''Shrek's Thrilling Tales'' DVD release and ''DreamWorks Spooky Stories'' Blu-ray release, Netflix, and other streaming releases) is an ani ...
'', which originally was a theme park ride, was released in 2003. Two television specials, the
Christmas
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a Religion, religious and Culture, cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by coun ...
television special ''
Shrek the Halls
''Shrek the Halls'' is an American animated Christmas comedy television special that premiered on the American television network ABC on November 28, 2007. The thirty minute Christmas special was co-written and directed by Gary Trousdale and p ...
'' (2007) and the
Halloween
Halloween, or Hallowe'en (less commonly known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve), is a celebration geography of Halloween, observed in many countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christianity, Western Christian f ...
television special ''
Scared Shrekless
''Scared Shrekless'' is a 2010 American animated Halloween horror comedy television special based on the ''Shrek'' franchise. The special premiered on the American television network NBC on October 28, 2010.
The special marks the first time out ...
'' (2010), have also been produced. Two
spin-off
Spin-off, Spin Off, Spin-Off, or Spinoff may refer to: Entertainment and media
*Spinoff (media), a media work derived from an existing work
*''The Spinoff'', a New Zealand current affairs magazine
* ''Spin Off'' (Canadian game show), a 2013 Canad ...
films were made centered around the character
Puss in Boots
"Puss in Boots" (; ; ; ) is a European fairy tale about an anthropomorphic cat who uses trickery and deceit to gain power, wealth, and the hand in marriage of a princess for his penniless and low-born master.
The oldest written telling version ...
: 2011's ''
Puss in Boots
"Puss in Boots" (; ; ; ) is a European fairy tale about an anthropomorphic cat who uses trickery and deceit to gain power, wealth, and the hand in marriage of a princess for his penniless and low-born master.
The oldest written telling version ...
'' and its sequel, 2022's ''
The Last Wish
''The Last Wish'' () is the first published short story collection in Polish fantasy writer Andrzej Sapkowski's '' The Witcher'' series. Published by SuperNowa in 1993, it was preceded by 1992's '' Sword of Destiny'', but is officially conside ...
''. Additionally, a
stage musical adaptation was created and played on
Broadway
Broadway may refer to:
Theatre
* Broadway Theatre (disambiguation)
* Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
** Broadway (Manhattan), the street
** Broadway Theatre (53rd Stre ...
for more than a year (2008–2010).
In May 2010, ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' described the
principal ''Shrek'' characters as "brilliantly realized" and said "nearly a decade after the first ''Shrek'' film they remain as vital and engaging fusions of image, personality, and voice as any characters in the
history of animation
Animation, the method for creating moving pictures from still images, has an early history and a modern history that began with the advent of celluloid film in 1888. Between 1895 and 1920, during the rise of the cinematic industry, several diffe ...
." The series was a financial success, becoming the 18th
highest-grossing film franchise of all time, the second
highest-grossing animated franchise, as well one of the
highest-grossing media franchises of all time.
Films
Main films
''Shrek'' (2001)
Shrek
''Shrek'' is a 2001 American animated fantasy comedy film directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, and written by Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Joe Stillman, and Roger S. H. Schulman, loosely based on the 1990 children's picture boo ...
, a solitary ogre, is angered when fairy tale creatures are sent to live in his swamp ordered by
Lord Farquaad
This is a list of characters that appear in the ''Shrek (franchise), Shrek'' franchise.
Main
*Shrek (character), Shrek (voiced by Mike Myers in the films and Michael Gough (voice actor), Michael Gough in the video games, spin-offs, commercial ...
. He befriends a talking
donkey
The donkey or ass is a domesticated equine. It derives from the African wild ass, ''Equus africanus'', and may be classified either as a subspecies thereof, ''Equus africanus asinus'', or as a separate species, ''Equus asinus''. It was domes ...
named
Donkey
The donkey or ass is a domesticated equine. It derives from the African wild ass, ''Equus africanus'', and may be classified either as a subspecies thereof, ''Equus africanus asinus'', or as a separate species, ''Equus asinus''. It was domes ...
, and they set off to meet with Farquaad.
The lord needs
Princess Fiona
Princess Fiona is a fictional character in DreamWorks Animation, DreamWorks' ''Shrek (franchise), Shrek'' franchise. One of the film series' List of Shrek (franchise) characters#Main, main characters, Fiona first appears in ''Shrek'' (2001) as a ...
to marry him so he will become the king of Duloc. When Shrek and Donkey visit him, they are forced to rescue her from an enormous fire-breathing dragon named
Dragon
A dragon is a Magic (supernatural), magical legendary creature that appears in the folklore of multiple cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but European dragon, dragons in Western cultures since the Hi ...
in exchange for Shrek's swamp being vacated. The Dragon turns out to be female, and after a minute or two falls in love with Donkey.
Donkey, Shrek, and Fiona escape, and Dragon chases them. Once Shrek and Donkey rescue Fiona, they take her back to Lord Farquaad. Along the way, Shrek begins to fall in love with Fiona. Donkey finds out from Fiona that she is cursed and turns into an ogre at night. The only way the curse can be broken is by true love's first kiss. Fiona and Farquaad have a marriage ceremony, but they are interrupted by Shrek, who tells Fiona he loves her.
Donkey and Dragon enter, and Dragon eats Farquaad. Shrek and Fiona kiss and Fiona is permanently turned into an ogre. Shrek gets his swamp back, and the two marry there. After a karaoke party, the newlyweds set off on their honeymoon.
''Shrek 2'' (2004)
The second film opens with
Prince Charming
Prince Charming is a fairy tale stock character archetype who comes to the rescue of a damsel in distress and must engage in a quest to liberate her from an evil spell. This classification suits most heroes of a number of traditional folk tales ...
on a quest to rescue Princess Fiona from the Dragon. When he gets there, he finds the wolf from
Little Red Riding Hood
"Little Red Riding Hood" () is a fairy tale by Charles Perrault about a young girl and a Big Bad Wolf. Its origins can be traced back to several pre-17th-century European Fable, folk tales. It was later retold in the 19th-century by the Broth ...
and
The Three Little Pigs
"The Three Little Pigs" is a fable about three pigs who build their houses of different materials. A Big Bad Wolf blows down the first two pigs' houses which are made of straw and sticks respectively, but is unable to destroy the third pig's ho ...
in Fiona's bed. He asks the wolf where Fiona is and the wolf tells him that she is on her honeymoon with Shrek. Once Shrek and Fiona return from their honeymoon, they find Donkey in the swamp who tells them he and Dragon are going through a rough patch. They then get invited to the land of Far Far Away by Fiona's parents who want to bless their marriage.
When they arrive, Shrek and Fiona are not what they expected. The
Fairy Godmother and her son, Prince Charming, are trying to break up Shrek's marriage by making Fiona fall in love with Prince Charming. However it does not work and Shrek and Fiona stay together. Shrek and Donkey get a new sidekick called
Puss in Boots
"Puss in Boots" (; ; ; ) is a European fairy tale about an anthropomorphic cat who uses trickery and deceit to gain power, wealth, and the hand in marriage of a princess for his penniless and low-born master.
The oldest written telling version ...
. They have a lengthy quest to search the Fairy Godmother's cottage to get a love
potion
A potion is a liquid "that contains medicine, poison, or something that is supposed to have magic powers." It derives from the Latin word ''potio'' which refers to a drink or the act of drinking. The term philtre is also used, often specifica ...
. Shrek and Donkey drink the potion and they become something quite unexpected. Shrek becomes
human
Humans (''Homo sapiens'') or modern humans are the most common and widespread species of primate, and the last surviving species of the genus ''Homo''. They are Hominidae, great apes characterized by their Prehistory of nakedness and clothing ...
and Donkey becomes a
horse
The horse (''Equus ferus caballus'') is a domesticated, one-toed, hoofed mammal. It belongs to the taxonomic family Equidae and is one of two extant subspecies of ''Equus ferus''. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 mi ...
. Since Shrek drank the potion, it also affected Fiona as she woke up to seeing her human form once again.
At the end of the film, King Harold reverts to a
frog
A frog is any member of a diverse and largely semiaquatic group of short-bodied, tailless amphibian vertebrates composing the order (biology), order Anura (coming from the Ancient Greek , literally 'without tail'). Frog species with rough ski ...
after being struck with the Fairy Godmother's magic, and gives Shrek and Fiona his blessing. After Fiona tells Shrek she loves him just the way he is, they revert to ogres.
''Shrek the Third'' (2007)
Shrek and Fiona are reluctantly reigning over Far, Far Away during King Harold's prolonged illness. The King promises that if they can find Fiona's cousin
Artie
Artie is usually a masculine given name, it is also usually a diminutive of Arthur. Notable people with the given name include:
People
* Artie Bettles (1891–1971), Australian rules footballer
* Artie Butler (born 1942), American popular music ...
, he will make him the next in line, so both Shrek and Fiona would not have to run the country after his death. As Shrek, Donkey and Puss set off to find Artie, Fiona reveals she is pregnant.
Shrek is shocked as he believes he will not be a good father and will ruin his child's life. This is reinforced by his relationship with his own father, where "he tried to eat me." After finding Artie, Artie is frightened of being king, and they end up on an island where they meet Artie's former magic teacher,
Merlin
The Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN) is an interferometer array of radio telescopes spread across England. The array is run from Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire by the University of Manchester on behalf of UK Re ...
. Meanwhile, Charming plots to overthrow Artie and become king, but this is foiled by Shrek.
The film ends with Shrek and Fiona caring for their newborn ogre triplets.
''Shrek Forever After'' (2010)
Shrek has become a domesticated family ogre, living happily with Princess Fiona and the triplets. Instead of scaring villagers away like he used to, a reluctant Shrek now agrees to autograph pitchforks. Longing for the days when he felt like a "real ogre", Shrek is tricked into signing a pact with the smooth-talking dealmaker
Rumpelstiltskin
"Rumpelstiltskin" ( ; ) is a German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm in the 1812 edition of ''Children's and Household Tales''. The story is about an imp who spins straw into gold in exchange for a woman's firstborn child.
Plot
I ...
. He agrees to trade a day from his childhood in exchange for a day to exist as a real ogre again. However, Shrek suddenly finds himself in a twisted, alternate reality where ogres are hunted, Rumplestiltskin is king, Puss is obese, and Shrek has never met Donkey or Fiona. Shrek discovers he unknowingly traded the day he was born and will not exist after the day is over.
Shrek becomes entangled with an underground resistance of ogres led by Fiona. Rumpelstiltskin places a bounty on Shrek's capture, offering the "deal of a lifetime" as a reward. The
Pied Piper
The Pied Piper of Hamelin (, also known as the Pan Piper or the Rat-Catcher of Hamelin) is the title character of a legend from the town of Hamelin (Hameln), Lower Saxony, Germany.
The legend dates back to the Middle Ages. The earliest refere ...
captures most of the resistance excluding Shrek and Fiona. Shrek, unable to win Fiona's affection, turns himself in and offers to trade his life to free the captured ogres. The recently released ogres go back to free Shrek and Fiona. As the twenty-four hours are almost up and Shrek lies dying, Fiona kisses him, breaking the deal and reverting everything back to normal. After finding himself back at his triplets' birthday party where he previously lost his temper and stormed out, Shrek joyfully reunites with his family and friends realizing he has everything he ever wanted.
''Puss in Boots'' films
''Puss in Boots'' (2011)
''Puss in Boots'' is an animated American
action comedy film
The action comedy is a film genre that applies to action films where humor plays a much more central role. While early films feature stuntwork and humor, academic Cynthia King wrote that the genre only came into its own as a mainstay of the Americ ...
that was released on October 28, 2011. The film is based on and follows the character Puss in Boots on his adventures with Kitty Softpaws and mastermind
Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty is a character in an English nursery rhyme, probably originally a riddle, and is typically portrayed as an anthropomorphic egg, though he is not explicitly described as such. The first recorded versions of the rhyme date from ...
.
''Puss in Boots: The Last Wish'' (2022)
''Puss in Boots: The Last Wish'' is the sequel to ''Puss in Boots'', that was released on December 21, 2022.
In November 2012, executive producer
Guillermo del Toro
Guillermo del Toro Gómez (; born 9 October 1964) is a Mexican filmmaker, author, and artist. His work has been characterized by a strong connection to fairy tales, Gothic fiction, gothicism and horror fiction, horror often blending the genres ...
said that a couple of drafts for a
sequel
A sequel is a work of literature, film, theatre, television, music, or video game that continues the story of, or expands upon, some earlier work. In the common context of a narrative work of fiction, a sequel portrays events set in the same ...
were already done, and that the director
Chris Miller wanted to take Puss on an adventure to exotic places. In April 2014, Antonio Banderas, the voice of Puss, said that the work on the sequel had just begun. On June 12, 2014, the movie was titled ''Puss in Boots 2: Nine Lives & 40 Thieves''. On February 26, 2019, it was confirmed that the sequel was still in development, and
Bob Persichetti
Robert Persichetti Jr. (born September 28, 1970) is an American filmmaker, animator, and storyboard artist. He is best known for co-directing the film '' Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse'', for which he won the Academy Award for Best Animated Fe ...
was set to direct the film. In August 2020, the name ''Puss in Boots: The Last Wish'' had been trademarked by DreamWorks, revealing the new title of the sequel. In March 2021,
Joel Crawford replaced Persichetti as director, having previously helmed DreamWorks' ''
The Croods: A New Age''.
''Puss in Boots: The Last Wish'' was theatrically released on December 21, 2022, by
Universal Pictures
Universal City Studios LLC, doing business as Universal Pictures (also known as Universal Studios or simply Universal), is an American filmmaking, film production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered at the 10 Universal Ci ...
.
The film was originally scheduled to be released on November 2, 2018,
but was delayed a month to December 21, 2018 before cancellation.
It was also scheduled to be released on September 23, 2022.
The story takes place after ''Shrek Forever After'' and follows Puss, who has burned all but the last of his nine lives, on a quest to find the mystical Last Wish in order to restore his nine lives.
Future
''Shrek 5'' (2026)
Following the success of ''Shrek 2'' in May 2004, then–
DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Animation LLC (DWA, also known as DreamWorks Animation Studios or simply DreamWorks) is an American animation studio, owned by Comcast's NBCUniversal as part of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios, Inc, Universal Stud ...
CEO
Jeffrey Katzenberg
Jeffrey Katzenberg ( ; born December 21, 1950) is an American media proprietor and film producer. He served as chairman of Walt Disney Studios (division), Walt Disney Studios from 1984 to 1994, a position in which he oversaw production and busin ...
revealed that the ''Shrek'' story had been outlined into five films almost from the beginning. "Before the first one was finished we talked about what the whole story of Shrek is, and each of the chapters answers questions about the first movie and gives us an insight," said Katzenberg. "''Shrek 3'' and ''4'' are going to reveal other unanswered questions and, finally, in the last chapter, we will understand how Shrek came to be in that swamp, when we meet him in the first movie." After the release of ''Shrek the Third'' in 2007, Katzenberg announced that the fifth film would be released in 2013.
In May 2009, DreamWorks announced that the fourth film's title would be ''Shrek Forever After'', indicating that it would be the last in the ''Shrek'' series. Later in 2009, that was confirmed by
Bill Damaschke
William Damaschke (born November 20, 1963) is an American film executive and producer who currently serves as the president of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation. Previously, he had spent 20 years at DreamWorks Animation, most recently as Chief Cr ...
, the former head of creative production at DWA, with him saying: "All that was loved about Shrek in the first film is brought to the final film."
Josh Klausner
Josh Klausner is an American screenwriter who wrote '' Date Night'' (2010) and '' Shrek Forever After'' (2010).
Biography
Early life
Josh Klausner graduated from Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey. After college, he won a Sundance Stu ...
, one of the writers of ''Shrek Forever After'', explained in 2010 the script's evolution: "When I first came onto the project, it wasn't supposed to be the final chapter — there were originally going to be five ''Shrek'' movies. Then, about a year into the development, Jeffrey Katzenberg decided that the story that we'd come up with was the right way for Shrek's journey to end."
In February 2014, in an interview with
Fox Business
Fox Business (officially known as Fox Business Network, or FBN) is an American conservative business news channel and website publication owned by the Fox News Media division of Fox Corporation. The channel broadcasts primarily from studios ...
, Katzenberg hinted that a fifth film could still be made. "We like to let them have a little bit of time to rest," he said of the characters. "But I think you can be confident that we'll have another chapter in the ''Shrek'' series. We're not finished, and more importantly, neither is he."
On June 15, 2016, after
NBCUniversal
NBCUniversal Media, LLC (abbreviated as NBCU and Trade name, doing business as NBCUniversal or Comcast NBCUniversal since 2013) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational mass media and Show business, entertainment conglomerate (comp ...
purchased DreamWorks Animation for $3.8 billion, NBCUniversal CEO
Steve Burke discussed plans to continue the franchise, as well as other DreamWorks films. In July 2016, ''
The Hollywood Reporter
''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...
'' cited sources saying that the fifth film was planned for a 2019 release. In September 2016,
Eddie Murphy
Edward Regan Murphy (born April 3, 1961) is an American actor, comedian, and singer. He had his breakthrough as a standup comic before gaining stardom for his film roles; he is widely recognized as one of the greatest comedians of all time. H ...
confirmed that the film was expected to be released in 2019 or 2020, and that the script had been completed.
The original story for the film was written by
Michael McCullers
Michael McCullers (born 1971) is an American writer and director.
Early life
A native of Vestavia Hills, Alabama, McCullers attended Indian Springs School which is a private high school in Indian Springs Village, Alabama. He was awarded a Nat ...
, based on his own idea. When asked about the script in March 2017, McCullers said it featured "a pretty big reinvention" for the film series. On November 6, 2018, it was reported by ''
Variety
Variety may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats
* Variety (radio)
* Variety show, in theater and television
Films
* ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont
* ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'' that
Chris Meledandri
Christopher Meledandri (; born May 15, 1959) is an American film producer and founder and CEO of Illumination. He previously served as president of 20th Century Fox Animation, and has worked as the producer for the film series of ''Ice Age'', ...
had been tasked to be the executive producer of both ''Shrek 5'' and ''
Puss in Boots 2'', with the cast of the previous films potentially returning.
In April 2023, Meledandri revealed that a fifth film was still in talks with Murphy,
Mike Myers
Michael John Myers, (born May 25, 1963) is a Canadian actor, comedian, and filmmaker. His accolades include seven MTV Movie & TV Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. In 2002, he was awarded a star on the Hollywood W ...
, and
Cameron Diaz
Cameron Michelle Diaz (born August 30, 1972) is an American actress. Prolific in both comedy and drama, Cameron Diaz filmography, her films have grossed over $3 billion in the U.S. box-office. Her output of romantic comedies in the late 1990s a ...
expected to return. In June 2024, Murphy revealed that production on the film had commenced in January of the same year. He also stated that the film was expected to be released in 2025.
On July 9, DreamWorks officially announced the release date for the film as July 1, 2026, with Myers, Murphy and Diaz returning, and
Walt Dohrn
Walter Dohrn (born December 5, 1970) is an American writer, director, animator, musician, and actor. He performed the voice of Rumpelstiltskin in ''Shrek Forever After'' (2010), as well as various characters in ''Shrek the Third'' (2007). He co-d ...
set to direct. On January 10, 2025, the film was delayed to December 23, 2026. It was also announced that
Conrad Vernon
Conrad Vernon (born July 11, 1968) is an American director, producer, writer, storyboard artist and voice actor, best known for his work on the DreamWorks Animation, DreamWorks animated film series ''Shrek (franchise), Shrek'' as well as other fil ...
, co-director of ''
Shrek 2
''Shrek 2'' is a 2004 American animated fantasy comedy film loosely based on the 1990 children's picture book '' Shrek!'' by William Steig. Directed by Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury, and Conrad Vernon from a screenplay by Adamson, Joe Sti ...
'', would return to direct the film alongside Dohrn.
Untitled Donkey spin-off film (TBA)
At the same time that ''Shrek 5'' was revealed to be in development in April 2023, it was revealed that a
spin-off
Spin-off, Spin Off, Spin-Off, or Spinoff may refer to: Entertainment and media
*Spinoff (media), a media work derived from an existing work
*''The Spinoff'', a New Zealand current affairs magazine
* ''Spin Off'' (Canadian game show), a 2013 Canad ...
film revolving around Donkey was in early talks as well. In June 2024, Eddie Murphy announced that the project was officially
greenlit
In the context of the film and television industries, to greenlight is to give permission to proceed with a project. It specifically refers to formally approving its production finance and committing to this financing, thereby allowing the project ...
by DreamWorks, and stated that it would begin production following the completion of ''Shrek 5''.
Short films
''Shrek in the Swamp Karaoke Dance Party'' (2001)
''Shrek in the Swamp Karaoke Dance Party'' is a three-minute musical short film included on home media releases of ''Shrek''. It takes place during the last scene of ''Shrek'' (before Shrek and Fiona leave on their honeymoon), with the film's characters performing a medley of modern pop songs. Most of the voice cast from the film reprise their roles, with the exception of
Eddie Murphy
Edward Regan Murphy (born April 3, 1961) is an American actor, comedian, and singer. He had his breakthrough as a standup comic before gaining stardom for his film roles; he is widely recognized as one of the greatest comedians of all time. H ...
, who is replaced by
Mark Moseley
Mark DeWayne Moseley (born March 12, 1948) is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons. He played for Philadelphia Eagles (1970), the Houston Oilers (1971–72) ...
as
Donkey
The donkey or ass is a domesticated equine. It derives from the African wild ass, ''Equus africanus'', and may be classified either as a subspecies thereof, ''Equus africanus asinus'', or as a separate species, ''Equus asinus''. It was domes ...
.
''Shrek 4-D'' (2003)
''Shrek 4-D'', also known as ''Shrek 3-D'', ''Shrek 4D Adventure'', ''Shrek's Never Before Seen Adventure'', and ''The Ghost of Lord Farquaad'', is a
4-D film 4D or 4-D primarily refers to:
* 4-dimensional spacetime: three-dimensional space of length, width, and height, plus time
* Four-dimensional space
It may also refer to:
Computers and photography
* 4D (software), a complete programming environme ...
/
ride
Ride may refer to:
People
* MC Ride, a member of Death Grips
* Sally Ride (1951–2012), American astronaut
* William Ride (19262011), Australian zoologist
Arts, entertainment, and media Films
* ''Ride'' (1998 film), a comedy film by Millicen ...
at various theme parks around the world. It premiered in 2003 at
Universal Studios Florida
Universal Studios Florida is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida, that opened on June 7, 1990. Owned and operated by NBCUniversal, it features numerous rides, attractions, and live shows that are primarily themed to movies, television, and ...
, and was released on DVD. The short takes place right after the first ''Shrek'' film. Lord Farquaad returns from the dead to kidnap Princess Fiona and it is up to Shrek and Donkey to rescue her.
''Donkey's Caroling Christmas-tacular'' (2010)
''Donkey's Caroling Christmas-tacular'' (promoted as ''Donkey's Christmas Shrektacular'') is a five-minute short which was released on December 7, 2010, with the ''Shrek: The Whole Story'' box set and ''Shrek Forever After''.
This short takes place in the Candy Apple, the new version of the Poison Apple. Donkey suggests everyone sing Christmas carols. Donkey sings "
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" is a popular Christmas song written in 1963 by Edward Pola and George Wyle. It was recorded and released that year by pop singer Andy Williams for his first Christmas album, '' The Andy Williams Christm ...
". Shrek, Fiona, the Ogre children, and the army of ogres sing an ogre version of "
Jingle Bells
"Jingle Bells" is one of the most commonly sung Christmas songs in the world. It was written by James Lord Pierpont. It is an unsettled question where and when Pierpont originally composed the song that would become known as "Jingle Bells". It ...
" (such as "Bug Cocoon, Lick the spoon. Try our cricket slurp"). Puss in Boots sings "
Feliz Navidad", although he titles it "Fleas Navidad". Then everyone sings "
Jingle Bell Rock
"Jingle Bell Rock" is an American Christmas music, Christmas song first released by Bobby Helms in 1957. It has received frequent airplay in the United States during every Christmas season since then, and is generally considered Helms' list of sign ...
" as "Fairy Tale Rock".
''Shrek's Yule Log'' (2010)
''Shrek's Yule Log'' is a 30-minute short released on December 7, 2010, featured on both the Donkey's Christmas Shrektacular DVD and the ''Shrek Forever After'' Blu-ray.
The short takes place inside Shrek's house, with the fireplace as the only place seen throughout the entire short. Shrek prevents Rumpelstiltskin from dousing the fire, Donkey does the same eye gag (seen from ''Shrek Forever After''), Fiona puts out cookies for Santa, and Puss puts on weight from cookies and cookie dough. Other characters such as Gingy, Pinocchio, the Three Little Pigs, Cookie, the Ogre Triplets, the Dronkeys, and
Pied Piper
The Pied Piper of Hamelin (, also known as the Pan Piper or the Rat-Catcher of Hamelin) is the title character of a legend from the town of Hamelin (Hameln), Lower Saxony, Germany.
The legend dates back to the Middle Ages. The earliest refere ...
appear.
''Thriller Night'' (2011)
''Thriller Night'' is a six-minute short film parody of
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Michael Jackson, one of the most culturally significan ...
's music video ''
Thriller
Thriller may refer to:
* Thriller (genre), a broad genre of literature, film and television
** Thriller film, a film genre under the general thriller genre
Comics
* ''Thriller'' (DC Comics), a comic book series published 1983–84 by DC Comics i ...
''. It was directed by
Gary Trousdale
Gary Trousdale is an American animator, film director, screenwriter and storyboard artist. He is best known for directing films such as ''Beauty and the Beast'' (1991), '' The Hunchback of Notre Dame'' (1996), and '' Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' (2 ...
, and released on September 13, 2011, on the ''Scared Shrekless'' DVD. It was released on DVD
and Blu-ray
on August 28, 2012, as a part of ''Shrek's Thrilling Tales'' (''DreamWorks Spooky Stories''). None of the original main voice actors reprised their roles and are replaced by their replacement voice actors, with the exception of
Dean Edwards
Dean Edwards (born July 30, 1970) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and singer. His work as a voice actor includes Scottie Pippen and Spike Lee in ''Celebrity Deathmatch'', a robot in ''Robotomy'', and Donkey in '' Scared Shrek ...
, who reprises
Donkey
The donkey or ass is a domesticated equine. It derives from the African wild ass, ''Equus africanus'', and may be classified either as a subspecies thereof, ''Equus africanus asinus'', or as a separate species, ''Equus asinus''. It was domes ...
from
Scared Shrekless
''Scared Shrekless'' is a 2010 American animated Halloween horror comedy television special based on the ''Shrek'' franchise. The special premiered on the American television network NBC on October 28, 2010.
The special marks the first time out ...
.
Deceased characters such as Lord Farquaad, Mongo, Rumpelstiltskin, Fifi, Fairy Godmother, Prince Charming and King Harold in his frog form appear as zombies. A 3D version of the short was added in October 2011 to the Nintendo Video service for
Nintendo 3DS
The is a foldable dual-screen handheld game console produced by Nintendo. Announced in March 2010 as the successor to the Nintendo DS, the console was released originally on February 26, 2011 and went through various revisions in its lifetime, ...
owners.
''The Pig Who Cried Werewolf'' (2011)
''The Pig Who Cried Werewolf'' is a six-minute 3D Halloween short film, directed by
Gary Trousdale
Gary Trousdale is an American animator, film director, screenwriter and storyboard artist. He is best known for directing films such as ''Beauty and the Beast'' (1991), '' The Hunchback of Notre Dame'' (1996), and '' Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' (2 ...
and released on October 4, 2011,
for a limited time, exclusively on the Nintendo Video service on
Nintendo 3DS
The is a foldable dual-screen handheld game console produced by Nintendo. Announced in March 2010 as the successor to the Nintendo DS, the console was released originally on February 26, 2011 and went through various revisions in its lifetime, ...
.
It was released on DVD
and Blu-ray
on August 28, 2012, as a part of ''Shrek's Thrilling Tales'' (''DreamWorks Spooky Stories'').
The Three Little Pigs
"The Three Little Pigs" is a fable about three pigs who build their houses of different materials. A Big Bad Wolf blows down the first two pigs' houses which are made of straw and sticks respectively, but is unable to destroy the third pig's ho ...
find themselves in trouble when they ignore the warning signs of a new neighbor moving in next door who takes on a ferocious form during a full moon.
''Puss in Boots: The Three Diablos'' (2012)
''Puss in Boots: The Three Diablos'' is a 13-minute animated short film, directed by
Raman Hui
Raman Hui Shing-Ngai (Traditional Chinese: 許誠毅, born 4 July 1963) is a Hong Kong animator, film director, and film producer. He is best known for directing the films ''Monster Hunt'' and ''Monster Hunt 2''.
Early life
Hui was born in H ...
, and was released on the DVD and Blu-ray releases of ''Puss in Boots'' on February 24, 2012. The short tells a story of Puss in Boots on a mission to recover a princess's stolen ruby from the notorious French thief, the Whisperer. Reluctantly accompanied by three little kittens, The Three Diablos, Puss must tame them before they endanger the mission.
''Puss in Boots: The Trident'' (2023)
''Puss in Boots: The Trident'' is a 4-minute animated short film, directed by Matt Flynn, and was released on the digital release of ''Puss in Boots: The Last Wish: Collector's Edition'' on February 21, 2023 and on the 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD releases of ''Puss in Boots: The Last Wish'' on February 28.
Television and interactive specials
''Far Far Away Idol'' (2004)
''Far Far Away Idol'' is an interactive five-minute short (but with multiple endings), released on November 5, 2004 as an extra on the ''
Shrek 2
''Shrek 2'' is a 2004 American animated fantasy comedy film loosely based on the 1990 children's picture book '' Shrek!'' by William Steig. Directed by Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury, and Conrad Vernon from a screenplay by Adamson, Joe Sti ...
'' DVD and VHS. It is based on ''
American Idol
''American Idol'' is an American Music competition, singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle (company), Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It a ...
'' and guest stars
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell (; born 7 October 1959) is an English television personality and businessman. He has judged on the British television talent competition shows ''Pop Idol'' (2001–2003), ''The X Factor (British TV series), The X Factor UK ...
. Taking place right after ''Shrek 2'' ends, the film's supporting characters hold a singing competition, with Shrek, Fiona, and Simon Cowell as the judges.
''Shrek the Halls'' (2007)
''Shrek the Halls'' is a 22-minute
Christmas
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a Religion, religious and Culture, cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by coun ...
-themed
television special
A television special (often TV special, or rarely television spectacular) is a standalone television show which may also temporarily interrupt episodic programming normally scheduled for a given time slot. Some specials provide a full range of en ...
, set after the events of ''Shrek the Third'' but before the events of ''Shrek Forever After''. It follows Shrek, who has never celebrated Christmas before, attempting to make the perfect day for his family. It premiered on the American television network
ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media Broadcasting
* Aliw Broadcasting Corporation, Philippine broadcast company
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial American ...
on November 28, 2007.
''Scared Shrekless'' (2010)
''Scared Shrekless'' is a 21-minute
Halloween
Halloween, or Hallowe'en (less commonly known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve), is a celebration geography of Halloween, observed in many countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christianity, Western Christian f ...
-themed television special set after the events of ''Shrek Forever After''. Shrek challenges Donkey, Puss in Boots, and his other fairy tale friends to spend the night in Lord Farquaad's haunted castle, telling scary stories to see who can resist becoming scared and stay the longest. The special premiered on the American television network
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...
on October 28, 2010.
''Puss in Book: Trapped in an Epic Tale'' (2017)
''Puss in Book: Trapped in an Epic Tale'' is an
interactive special
Interactive cinema tries to give an audience an active role in the showing of movies.
Another newer definition of interactive cinema is a video game which is a hybrid between participation and viewing, giving the player – or viewer, as it were � ...
developed by
DreamWorks Animation Television
DreamWorks Animation Television (formerly DreamWorks Television Animation, abbreviated as DWATV) is an American animation studio that serves as the television production arm of DreamWorks Animation, itself a subsidiary of Universal Pictures an ...
which debuted on Netflix in 2017, featuring the character Puss in Boots. It is Netflix's first attempt at interactive television: during the program, the viewer is given points while using their remote control or other device to decide how the narrative should proceed.
Television series
''The Adventures of Puss in Boots'' (2015–2018)
A television series, starring Puss from the ''Shrek'' franchise, debuted on
Netflix
Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
on January 16, 2015.
Web series
From 2014 to 2016, the
Peacock Kids YouTube channel (formerly known as
DreamWorksTV DreamWorksTV may refer to:
* DreamWorksTV (television series), a 2016 Canadian animated television series on the Family Channel
* DreamWorksTV (YouTube channel), the former name of Peacock Kids, a YouTube channel that was launched in June 2014 by ...
) produced several web series, including ''New Shrek'', ''New Puss in Boots'', ''Swamp Talk'', and ''Epic Cat Battles With Puss In Boots''. These were later released separately on the Peacock website.
Production
Despite the advances in computing power over the 2000s decade, the increasing usage of novel techniques like
global illumination
Global illumination (GI), or indirect illumination, is a group of algorithms used in 3D computer graphics that are meant to add more realistic lighting
Lighting or illumination is the deliberate use of light to achieve practical or aest ...
,
physics simulation, and
3D demanded ever more
CPU
A central processing unit (CPU), also called a central processor, main processor, or just processor, is the primary processor in a given computer. Its electronic circuitry executes instructions of a computer program, such as arithmetic, log ...
hours to render the films. DreamWorks Animation noticed that every ''Shrek'' film took roughly twice the CPU hours than the previous film and thus labeled this trend as "Shrek's law". Similar to "
Moore's law
Moore's law is the observation that the Transistor count, number of transistors in an integrated circuit (IC) doubles about every two years. Moore's law is an observation and Forecasting, projection of a historical trend. Rather than a law of ...
" the Shrek's law says, "The CPU render hours needed to complete production on a theatrical sequel will double compared to the amount of time needed on the previous film."
In 2001, ''Shrek'' required approximately 5 million CPU render hours. In 2004, ''Shrek 2'' required over 10 million CPU render hours. In 2007, ''Shrek the Third'' required over 20 million CPU render hours, and the 2010 3D release of ''Shrek Forever After'' demanded more than 50 million CPU render hours on account of rendering an increased amount of frames. ''Puss in Boots'', which was released only one year after the previous ''Shrek'' film, utilized 63 million render hours.
Reception
Box office performance
Critical and public response
Academy Awards
Home video sales
''Shrek'' and ''Shrek 2'' have collectively raised over $1.6 billion in home video sales. Together with the rest of the films in the series with combined editions, the franchise's total revenue is over $2 billion.
Cast and characters
*
*
*
Crew
Video games
* ''
Shrek
''Shrek'' is a 2001 American animated fantasy comedy film directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, and written by Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Joe Stillman, and Roger S. H. Schulman, loosely based on the 1990 children's picture boo ...
''
* ''
Shrek: Hassle at the Castle''
* ''
Shrek: Extra Large''
* ''
Shrek: Super Party''
* ''
Shrek 2
''Shrek 2'' is a 2004 American animated fantasy comedy film loosely based on the 1990 children's picture book '' Shrek!'' by William Steig. Directed by Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury, and Conrad Vernon from a screenplay by Adamson, Joe Sti ...
''
* ''
Shrek SuperSlam
''Shrek SuperSlam'' is a fighting video game featuring characters from the ''Shrek'' film series. It was developed by Shaba Games, published by Activision and released in the fall of 2005 for the Xbox, PlayStation 2, GameCube, Nintendo DS and G ...
''
* ''
Shrek Smash n' Crash Racing
''Shrek Smash n' Crash Racing'' is a kart racing video game released in November 2006. The game is based on the ''Shrek'' franchise. Players have the option of playing one of twelve ''Shrek'' characters, using racing and combat skills to defeat ...
''
* ''
Shrek the Third
''Shrek the Third'' (also known as ''Shrek 3'') is a 2007 American animated fantasy comedy film loosely based on the 1990 children's picture book '' Shrek!'' by William Steig. Directed by Chris Miller and co-directed by Raman Hui from a sc ...
''
* ''
Shrek n' Roll
''Shrek n' Roll'', also known as ''DreamWorks Shrek-N-Roll'', is a video game developed by Backbone Entertainment and published by Activision on November 14, 2007. The puzzle game was released on the Xbox 360.
Gameplay
The gameplay consists of ...
''
* ''
Madagascar Kartz
''Madagascar Kartz'' is a kart racing game developed by Sidhe and published by Activision. Based on DreamWorks Animation's ''Madagascar,'' It was released in 2009 for various consoles as the second game on ''Madagascar''s spin-off series. The N ...
''
* ''
Shrek Forever After
''Shrek Forever After'' is a 2010 American animated comedy film loosely based on the 1990 children's picture book '' Shrek!'' by William Steig. Directed by Mike Mitchell (in his animated directorial debut) and written by Josh Klausner and ...
''
* ''
DreamWorks Super Star Kartz''
Musical
''
Shrek the Musical
''Shrek the Musical'' is a musical with music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire. It is based on the 2001 DreamWorks Animation film ''Shrek'', along with elements of its sequels: ''Shrek 2'', '' Shrek Forever After' ...
'' is a
musical
Musical is the adjective of music.
Musical may also refer to:
* Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance
* Musical film
Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), charac ...
based on the first film of the franchise. After a try out in
Seattle, Washington
Seattle ( ) is the List of municipalities in Washington, most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the List of Unit ...
, it began performances on
Broadway
Broadway may refer to:
Theatre
* Broadway Theatre (disambiguation)
* Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
** Broadway (Manhattan), the street
** Broadway Theatre (53rd Stre ...
from November 8, 2008, before opening on December 14. Despite mixed reviews, the musical received eight
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...
nominations including
Best Musical. At the time, the most expensive musical on Broadway ran for over a year and closed, at a loss, on January 3, 2010, after 478 performances.
A re-imagined version of the show ran as a tour of the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
from July 2010 to July 2011. The second tour launched in two months. A
West End production opened in
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
,
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
in June 2011, to positive reviews. It received five
Laurence Olivier Award
The Laurence Olivier Awards, or simply The Olivier Awards, are presented annually by the Society of London Theatre to recognize excellence in West End theatre, professional theatre in London. The awards were originally known as the Society of We ...
nominations including
Best New Musical. A differently staged production ran in Israel in 2010, with international productions running since 2011 in Poland and Spain,
and since 2012 in France. The show was soon to premiere in Brazil,
Italy,
Australia, and Philippines in 2012.
The title role was played by
Brian d'Arcy James
Brian d'Arcy James (born June 29, 1968) is an American actor and musician. He is known primarily for his Broadway roles, including Shrek in '' Shrek the Musical'', Nick Bottom in '' Something Rotten!'', King George III in '' Hamilton'', and T ...
on Broadway, and
Nigel Lindsay
Nigel Lindsay (born 17 January 1969) is an English actor. He is best known on television for his roles as Sir Robert Peel in the first two seasons of ''Victoria'', Jo Jo Marshall in the Netflix series ''Safe'' and as Barry in the BAFTA-winning ...
on the West End. Other notable performances include
Amanda Holden
Amanda Louise Holden (born 16 February 1971) is an English media personality, actress and singer. Since 2007, she has been a judge on the television talent competition show '' Britain's Got Talent'' on ITV. She also co-hosts the national ''H ...
(West End),
Sutton Foster
Sutton Lenore Foster (born March 18, 1975) is an American actress. She is known for her work on the Broadway stage, for which she has been nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical seven times, winning in 2002 for her role as ...
(Broadway) and
Kimberley Walsh
Kimberley Jane Scott ( Walsh; born 20 November 1981) is an English singer, dancer, television presenter and actress. She rose to fame in late 2002 when she auditioned for the reality series ''Popstars: The Rivals'' on ITV (TV network), ITV. Th ...
(West End) as Princess Fiona,
Christopher Sieber
Christopher Luverne Sieber (born February 18, 1969) is an American actor. Known primarily for his extensive roles on stage in musicals, he has received nominations for two Tony Awards, two Drama Desk Awards, and two Outer Critics Circle Awards ...
(Broadway) and
Nigel Harman
Nigel Derek Harman (born 11 August 1973) is an English actor. Beginning his career as a child actor, he has played various roles across theatre, stage and television, including as Sky Masterson in Michael Grandage's revival o ...
(West End) as Lord Farquaad, and
John Tartaglia
John Nicholas Tartaglia (; born February 16, 1978) is an American puppeteer, actor, and singer.
Early life
Tartaglia was born in Maple Shade Township, New Jersey, and graduated from Upper Dublin High School in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, i ...
(Broadway) as Pinocchio.
Comics
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is an American comic book, graphic novel, manga and Artist's book, art book publisher founded in Milwaukie, Oregon, by Mike Richardson in 1986. The company was created using funds earned from Richardson's chain of Portland, O ...
released in 2003 three thirty-two-page full-color comic books featuring Shrek, Donkey and Fiona, ''Shrek #1'', ''Shrek #2'', and ''Shrek #3''. The comics were written by
Mark Evanier
Mark Stephen Evanier (; born March 2, 1952) is an American comic book and television writer, known for his work on the animated TV series '' Garfield and Friends'' and on the comic book '' Groo the Wanderer''. He is also known for his columns and ...
and illustrated by Ramon Bachs and Raul Fernandez.
Ape Entertainment
Ape Entertainment, also known as Ape Comics, was an American independent comic book publisher that operated from 2003 to 2015.
The company began by publishing original limited series and graphic novels, many with mature themes; it later pivoted ...
also released under its KiZoic label five full-color comic books, a fifty-two-page
prequel
A prequel is a literary, dramatic or cinematic work whose story precedes that of a previous work, by focusing on events that occur before the original narrative. A prequel is a work that forms part of a backstory to the preceding work.
The term ...
to ''Shrek Forever After'' titled ''Shrek'' (2010), and four thirty-two-page books: ''Shrek #1'' (2010), ''Shrek #2'' (2010), ''Shrek #3'' (2011), and ''Shrek #4'' (2011).
Attractions
''
Far Far Away'' is one of the seven themed lands in
Universal Studios Singapore
Universal Studios Singapore (abbreviation: USS) is a theme park located within the Resorts World Sentosa integrated resort at Sentosa in Singapore. It features 24 rides, shows, and attractions in seven themed zones. It is one of the five U ...
, and it consists of many locations from the ''Shrek'' franchise, including the forty-meter-tall Far Far Away Castle.
''
Shrek's Faire Faire Away'' was one of the three areas at the
DreamWorks Experience
DreamWorks Experience was a themed land at the Dreamworld theme park on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It contained attractions themed to DreamWorks Animation films. Prior, the land was formerly themed to Nickelodeon properties.
His ...
-themed land at the Australian theme park
Dreamworld. It opened in 2012 and it consisted of a fixed arm, rotating plane ride ''Dronkey Flyers'', a kite flier ''Gingy's Glider'', a swing ride ''Puss in Boots Sword Swing'' and a carousel ''Shrek's Ogre-Go-Round''. The area was replaced by a section of
Kenny and Belinda's Dreamland in early 2023.
A ''Shrek''-themed attraction, called ''
DreamWork's Tours Shrek's Adventure! London'', opened in 2015 at
London County Hall
County Hall (sometimes called London County Hall) is a building in the district of Lambeth, London that was the headquarters of London County Council (LCC) and later the Greater London Council (GLC). The building is on the South Bank of the Riv ...
as the first of six attractions initially planned over nine years. This "Immersive Tunnel" from Simworx is built in collaboration with
Merlin Entertainments
Merlin Entertainments Limited is a global entertainment company based in London, England, which operates a number of theme park resorts and other visitor attractions. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange until November 2019, when it was ...
. The live interactive walkthrough adventure presents an original story written by DWA, along with a character courtyard, also featuring characters from several other DreamWorks Animation's franchises.
Multiple Shrek Water attractions opened at
DreamWorks Water Park
DreamWorks Water Park is an indoor water park within the American Dream shopping and entertainment complex, at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States. Opened on October 1, 2020, the water park includes 15 ...
on October 1, 2020, these attractions are called Far Far a Bay Wavepool, Forbidden Waters Hot Tubs, Dragon and Donkey's Flight, Swamp & Splash, Shrek's Sinkhole Slammer. Dreamworks Waterpark also includes themed decorations that are balloons of Shrek and Donkey hanging from the ceiling of the waterpark.
Universal Studios Florida
Universal Studios Florida is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida, that opened on June 7, 1990. Owned and operated by NBCUniversal, it features numerous rides, attractions, and live shows that are primarily themed to movies, television, and ...
's
DreamWorks Land includes a recreation of Shrek's cottage, Shrek's Swamp Meet, Shrek's Swamp for Little Ogres, Mama Luna Feline Fiesta, King Harold's Swamp Symphony, and the kiosk Swamp Snacks.
Universal Kids Resort
Universal Kids Resort is an upcoming children's theme park and entertainment resort under construction in Frisco, Texas, United States. Scheduled to open in May 2026, it will be the sixth Universal Studios Resort, and the third in the United ...
will include themed lands based on the ''Shrek'' and ''Puss in Boots'' franchises.
Internet fandom
An underground fandom of the ''Shrek'' film series emerged on the Internet. With the fanbase described by some as having an ironic liking towards the series, there have been several sexually explicit memes based on the titular character. The most notable example is a 2013
metameme
In the field of memetics, a ''metameme'' (or meta-meme) is defined as a meme about a meme. The very concept of memes themselves has been referred to as "''the'' Metameme".Glenn GrantA Memetic Lexicon(Archived) Ideological tolerance and the rhetor ...
based on a fanmade video called "Shrek is love, Shrek is life". Fans of Shrek are known as "Brogres", a take on the name "
Bronies
'' My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' is an animated children's television series produced by Hasbro that ran from 2010 to 2019 as part of the ''My Little Pony'' toy franchise. The series tied in with the 2010 relaunch of dolls, play ...
", the fans of the show ''
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' outside of the shows intended audience. A "Shrek Filmmaker" movement of
Source Filmmaker
Source Filmmaker (often abbreviated as SFM) is a free 3D computer graphics software tool published by Valve for creating animated films, which uses the Source game engine. Source Filmmaker has been used to create many community-based animated ...
animators making videos based on the Internet's obsession towards the character has also occurred.
Since 2014,
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is the List of municipalities in Wisconsin by population, second-most populous city in the state, with a population of 269,840 at the 2020 Uni ...
has celebrated the annual Shrekfest with costume and onion-eating contests, themed merchandise, and other festivities. In November 2018, comedy group 3GI, organizer of Shrekfest, released a
shot-for-shot
Shot-for-shot (or shot-for-shot adaptation, shot-for-shot remake) is a way to describe a visual work based on an existing work that is transferred almost completely identically from the original work without much interpretation.
Production use ...
parody
A parody is a creative work designed to imitate, comment on, and/or mock its subject by means of satire, satirical or irony, ironic imitation. Often its subject is an Originality, original work or some aspect of it (theme/content, author, style, e ...
remake
A remake is a film, television series, video game, song or similar form of entertainment that is based upon and retells the story of an earlier production in the same medium—e.g., a "new version of an existing film". A remake tells the same s ...
of the film ''Shrek'' made by a crew of over 200 artists, titled ''
Shrek Retold''.
Notes
References
External links
*
{{DreamWorks animated films
Mass media franchises introduced in 1990
Adventure film series
Animated film series
Comedy film franchises
DreamWorks Animation franchises
Fantasy film franchises
Film series introduced in 2001
Children's film series