Shrek is a 2001 American computer-animated fantasy film loosely inspired by William Steig’s 1990 fairy tale picture book of the same name. Directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson in their directorial debut, the film features the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow. Serving as a parody of popular children’s fantasies, notably animated Disney films, the story centers around an ogre named Shrek (voiced by Myers) whose swamp is invaded by fairy tale creatures banished by the villainous Lord Farquaad (voiced by Lithgow).

In a bid to reclaim his land, Shrek strikes a deal with Farquaad to fetch a queen in exchange for his swamp. Accompanied by a chatty Donkey (voiced by Murphy), Shrek embarks on a journey to rescue Princess Fiona (voiced by Diaz). Along the way, Shrek finds himself falling for Fiona and uncovers a surprising secret about her.

Originally, Steven Spielberg acquired the rights to Steig’s book in 1991 with plans for a traditional animated adaptation. However, the project transitioned to DreamWorks in 1994 under the guidance of John H. Williams. Jeffrey Katzenberg spearheaded the film’s development after DreamWorks secured the rights in 1995. Initially intended to be motion-captured, the decision was made to enlist Pacific Data Images for a computer-animated look due to unsatisfactory results.

Shrek became a significant milestone for DreamWorks Animation, rivaling Pixar in feature film computer animation. Praised for appealing to both adults and children, the movie grossed $484.4 million worldwide against a $60 million production budget. It won the first-ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and earned nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay and other accolades.

The film’s commercial success led to the creation of sequels, holiday specials, a spin-off, and other merchandise. Shrek received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010, cementing its place as a cultural phenomenon.