Shrek is a 2001 American computer-animated fantasy film that draws inspiration from William Steig’s 1990 fairy tale picture book of the same title. The movie, directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson in their debut as directors, features the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow. Serving as a satirical take on various children’s fantasies, particularly animated Disney movies, Shrek follows the story of an ogre named Shrek (voiced by Myers) whose swamp is invaded by fairy tale creatures banished there by Lord Farquaad (voiced by Lithgow). To regain ownership of his land, Shrek strikes a deal with Farquaad to bring him a queen in exchange for his swamp deed. Accompanied by a talking Donkey (voiced by Murphy), Shrek comes across Princess Fiona (voiced by Diaz). While escorting Fiona to Farquaad for their impending marriage, Shrek develops feelings for her and uncovers a surprising truth about the princess. The film rights were acquired by Steven Spielberg in 1991, before the establishment of DreamWorks, with initial plans for a traditionally animated adaptation. The project transitioned to DreamWorks in 1994 at the suggestion of John H. Williams, leading to its development under Jeffrey Katzenberg once the studio was formed in 1995. Initially, Chris Farley was cast as the voice of Shrek and had recorded a significant portion of the dialogue. However, after Farley’s passing in 1997, Mike Myers assumed the role and opted for a Scottish accent after his initial recordings. Initially planned as a motion-capture film, the decision was made to shift to computer animation with assistance from Pacific Data Images. Shrek marked DreamWorks Animation’s emergence as a significant competitor to Pixar, grossing $484.4 million globally against a $60 million budget. Noteworthy for its appeal to both adults and children, the film featured adult-oriented humor and themes within a simple yet engaging storyline. Shrek received critical acclaim, securing the first-ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and garnering multiple other award nominations. Its success led to the creation of several sequels, holiday specials, a spin-off, and various merchandise. The protagonist, Shrek, even received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010, underscoring the enduring legacy of the film.