Shrek (franchise)
Shrek is an American media franchise created by DreamWorks Animation, loosely based on William Steig's 1990 picture book Shrek!. The series primarily focuses on Shrek, a bad-tempered but good-hearted ogre, who begrudgingly accepts a quest to rescue a princess, resulting in him finding friends and going on many subsequent adventures in a fairy tale world. It includes four animated films: Shrek (2001), Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek the Third (2007), and Shrek Forever After (2010). A short 4-D film, Shrek 4-D, which originally was a theme park ride, was released in 2003. Two television specials, the Christmas television special Shrek the Halls (2007) and the Halloween television special Scared Shrekless (2010), have also been produced. Two spin-off films were made centered around the character Puss in Boots: 2011's Puss in Boots and its sequel, 2022's The Last Wish. Additionally, a stage musical adaptation was made and premiered at Broadway for more than a year (2008–2010).
Shrek
Shrek (2001)
2001–present
Main series:
- Shrek (2001)
- Shrek 2 (2004)
- Shrek the Third (2007)
- Shrek Forever After (2010)
- Puss in Boots (2011)
- Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)
The Adventures of Puss in Boots (2015–2018)
- Shrek the Halls (2007)
- Scared Shrekless (2010)
Shrek the Musical (2008)
- Fairy Tale Freakdown (2001)
- Shrek (2001)
- Treasure Hunt (2002)
- Hassle at the Castle (2002)
- Super Party (2002)
- Shrek 2 (2004)
- SuperSlam (2005)
- Smash n' Crash Racing (2006)
- Shrek the Third (2007)
- Ogres & Dronkeys (2007)
- Shrek n' Roll (2007)
- Shrek Forever After (2010)
- Fruit Ninja (2011)
- Puss in Boots (2011)
- Shrek 4-D (2003–present)
- Enchanted Airways (2010–present)
- Shrek's Faire Faire Away (2012–2023)
- Puss in Boots' Giant Journey (2015–present)
- DreamWorks Tours (2015–present)
In May 2010, The New York Times 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."[1] The series was a financial success, becoming the 18th highest-grossing film franchise of all time and the second highest-grossing animated franchise.
Future
Shrek 5
Following the success of Shrek 2 in May 2004, then–DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg 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."[11] After the release of Shrek the Third in 2007, Katzenberg announced that the fifth film would be released in 2013.[12]
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.[13] Later in 2009, that was confirmed by Bill Damaschke, 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."[14]
Josh Klausner, 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."[15]
In February 2014, in an interview with Fox Business, 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."[16]
On June 15, 2016, after NBCUniversal purchased DreamWorks Animation for $3.8 billion, NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke discussed plans to continue the franchise, as well as other DreamWorks films.[17][18] In July 2016, The Hollywood Reporter cited sources saying that the fifth film was planned for a 2019 release.[19] In September 2016, Eddie Murphy confirmed that the film was expected to be released in 2019 or 2020, and that the script had been completed.[20]
The story for the film was written by Michael McCullers, based on his own idea.[21][22] When asked about the script in March 2017, McCullers said it featured "a pretty big reinvention" for the film series.[23] On November 6, 2018, it was reported by Variety that Chris Meledandri 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.[24][25]
In April 2023, Meledandri revealed that a fifth film was still in talks with the original cast expected to return.[26][27]
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, who is replaced by Mark Moseley as Donkey.[29]
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 DVD and VHS. It is based on American Idol and guest stars Simon Cowell. 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.
Production
Despite the advances in computing power over the 2000s decade, the increasing usage of novel techniques like global illumination, physics simulation, and 3D demanded ever more CPU 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" 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.[47] Puss in Boots, which was released only one year after the previous Shrek film, utilized 63 million render hours.[48]
Comics
Dark Horse Comics released in 2003 three thirty-two-page full-color comic books featuring Shrek, Donkey and Fiona, Shrek #1,[86] Shrek #2,[87] and Shrek #3.[88] The comics were written by Mark Evanier and illustrated by Ramon Bachs and Raul Fernandez.
Ape Entertainment also released under its KiZoic label five full-color comic books, a fifty-two-page prequel 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).[89]
Attractions
Far Far Away is one of the seven themed lands in Universal Studios Singapore, 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-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 flyer 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.[90]
A Shrek-themed attraction, called DreamWork's Tours Shrek's Adventure! London, opened in 2015 at London County Hall as the first of six attractions initially planned over nine years. This "Immersive Tunnel" from Simworx[91] is built in collaboration with Merlin Entertainments. The 1,900 square metres (20,000 sq ft) 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.[92]
Multiple Shrek Water attractions opened at DreamWorks Water Park 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.[93] Dreamworks Waterpark also includes themed decorations that are balloons of Shrek and Donkey hanging from the ceiling of the waterpark.[94]
Universal Studios Florida's upcoming DreamWorks Land will include 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.[95]