Shrek

Shrek is a fictional ogre created by American author William Steig. It originated in the 1990 picture book Shrek!, which presents a gruff, antiheroic creature who rejects fairy-tale conventions. The character was adapted into a computer-animated feature film by DreamWorks Animation, released in 2001, which launched a major franchise.

The first film, Shrek, was directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson and features the voices of Mike Myers as Shrek, Eddie Murphy as Donkey, and Cameron Diaz as Princess Fiona. The plot follows Shrek as he agrees to rescue Fiona from the villainous Lord Farquaad to regain his swamp's solitude, aided by Donkey. The film popularized fairy-tale parodies and used humor to subvert genre tropes.

Shrek was a box-office success, grossing more than $480 million worldwide. It received critical praise for its animation, humor, and character writing and won the first Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2002.

Follow-up films Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek the Third (2007), and Shrek Forever After (2010) expanded the story. Spinoffs include Puss in Boots (2011) and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022), and the franchise expanded into a Broadway musical, video games, and merchandise.

Shrek has had lasting cultural impact as a subversive yet accessible entry point to modern fairy tale storytelling, influencing subsequent animated films. The character's voice and design have become iconic within popular culture.