Shrek Card Match
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Released in 2001, *Shrek* reimagines William Steig’s 1990 fairy tale through a witty, irreverent lens, blending fantasy and satire under the co-direction of Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson. The film follows Shrek, a grumpy yet endearing ogre (voiced by Mike Myers), whose solitary swamp life is disrupted when exiled fairy-tale creatures invade under orders from the power-hungry Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow). To reclaim his home, Shrek strikes a deal with Farquaad: retrieve Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) as a bride in exchange for the swamp’s deed. Accompanied by the relentlessly chatty Donkey (Eddie Murphy), Shrek embarks on a quest that spirals into unexpected romance and a magical revelation about Fiona’s hidden truth. The project’s origins trace back to 1991, when Steven Spielberg acquired the rights to Steig’s book, envisioning a traditional animated adaptation. By 1994, producer John H. Williams persuaded Spielberg to shift the film to the newly formed DreamWorks, where Jeffrey Katzenberg fast-tracked development after securing the rights in 1995. Initial casting saw Chris Farley voicing Shrek, with nearly all his dialogue recorded before his untimely 1997 passing. Myers stepped in, famously revamping the character with a Scottish brogue after early recordings. Technical hurdles also arose—abandoned motion-capture plans led DreamWorks to collaborate with Pacific Data Images, refining the film’s now-iconic CGI aesthetic. A box-office juggernaut, *Shrek* earned $484 million globally against a $60 million budget, cementing DreamWorks as Pixar’s chief rival. Its blend of cheeky humor, layered themes, and family-friendly storytelling resonated across ages, netting the inaugural Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination. Eddie Murphy’s scene-stealing Donkey earned a BAFTA nod, while the script snagged a BAFTA win. The franchise expanded with three sequels, holiday specials, and the *Puss in Boots* spin-off. Though a fifth film was shelved in 2009 (with *Shrek Forever After* initially deemed the finale), plans revived in 2016 for a 2019/2020 release. Beyond film, the ogre’s legacy spans video games, a Broadway musical, comics, and even a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2010, solidifying Shrek’s place as a pop culture cornerstone.
