"Shrek" is a 2001 American computer-animated fantasy film, inspired loosely by William Steig’s 1990 illustrated fairy tale book of the same name. Directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson in their debut, the film features voice performances by Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow. It serves as a humorous parody of traditional children's fantasy stories, particularly animated Disney classics. The story centers on Shrek, an ogre voiced by Myers, whose peaceful swamp becomes overrun with banished fairy tale creatures sent there by the villainous Lord Farquaad, voiced by Lithgow. To reclaim his swamp, Shrek strikes a deal with Farquaad: he must retrieve Princess Fiona, played by Diaz, and bring her to him as a bride. Accompanied by a witty talking Donkey, voiced by Murphy, Shrek embarks on his quest. As they journey, he begins to develop feelings for Fiona and uncovers a surprising secret about her. The rights to Steig’s book were initially acquired by Steven Spielberg in 1991, before DreamWorks was founded, with plans for a traditional animation adaptation. However, in 1994, John H. Williams persuaded Spielberg to transfer the rights to DreamWorks, where Jeffrey Katzenberg swiftly prioritized development after the studio’s establishment in 1995. Originally, Chris Farley was cast as Shrek and recorded roughly 80-90% of the dialogue. Tragically, Farley passed away in 1997 before completing his work, leading Mike Myers to replace him. Myers, after his initial recordings, adopted a Scottish accent for the character. The project was initially slated to use motion capture technology, but disappointing results led the studio to collaborate with Pacific Data Images for the final animation, resulting in the distinctive look of the film. "Shrek" established DreamWorks Animation as a formidable rival to Pixar in the realm of computer-animated feature films. It grossed approximately $484.4 million worldwide on a $60 million budget, earning critical acclaim for its appeal to adult audiences through its witty humor and mature themes, while remaining accessible to children through its simple storyline. The film received numerous accolades, including the inaugural Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. It also garnered six BAFTA nominations, winning for Best Adapted Screenplay and earning Eddie Murphy a nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Donkey. The commercial success of "Shrek" led to three sequels—"Shrek 2" (2004), "Shrek the Third" (2007), and "Shrek Forever After" (2010)—as well as two holiday specials, "Shrek the Halls" (2007) and "Scared Shrekless" (2010), and a spin-off feature, "Puss in Boots" (2011). Although a fifth film was initially planned to be the final installment, it was canceled in 2009 with plans to end the series after the fourth film. However, in 2016, the project was revived with a tentative release aimed for 2019 or 2020. Beyond the films, "Shrek" inspired a range of merchandise, including video games, a stage musical, and a comic book series by Dark Horse Comics. The character of Shrek was honored with his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in May 2010.
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