🟨 12 Curiosities about the movie "Shrek" (2001) that you didn't know!

Since its debut in 2001, Shrek has won hearts around the world with its irreverent take on traditional fairy tales. Created by DreamWorks Animation, the film stands out not only for its innovative animation but also for its clever script that blends humor, satire, and a universal message about acceptance and self-acceptance.

The green ogre that gives the film its name, masterfully voiced by Mike Myers, along with his inseparable companions, such as Eddie Murphy's talking donkey and Cameron Diaz's Princess Fiona, form a cast that avoids typical fairy tale clichés. Shrek is also known for its cultural impact, influencing other films and media with its unique style and subversive messages.

Get ready to dive into fascinating trivia that reveals the secrets behind this beloved animation that continues to delight audiences of all ages.

1 - BASED ON A BOOK

Although it may seem like a completely original story, Shrek is actually an adaptation of the children's book Shrek!, written by American author William Steig. In the book, Shrek is a young ogre living with his parents in a swamp. However, upon reaching adulthood, he is sent away from home to find his own path.

During his journey, he encounters a witch who foretells that he will team up with a donkey to rescue a princess as ugly as he is.

2 - IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A TRADITIONAL ANIMATION

Initially, the intention was to create a traditional animation. However, after several discussions on how to balance the jokes to appeal to both children and adults, they decided to turn the film into a major parody. The original idea kept Shrek more true to the book, living with his parents in an environment where he slept in a room full of rotten fish.

Instead of a swamp, the setting would be a landfill, and his appearance would also be more similar to that described in the book. Fortunately, they opted for a more innovative design, which ended up becoming iconic and memorable for fans.

3 - VOICE ACTORS WHO PASSED AWAY

Actor and comedian Chris Farley was chosen to voice Shrek and had even recorded nearly all of the character’s lines. However, after his premature death from an overdose in 1997, the role was taken over by his "Saturday Night Live" friend, Mike Myers.

Interestingly, in Brazil, the character was voiced by Bussunda from the group "Casseta & Planeta". Unfortunately, Bussunda also passed away, but in 2006, during the World Cup.

4 - SCOTTISH ACCENT AND STEVEN SPIELBERG'S PRAISE

With about 95% of the film already recorded with Farley's voice, the production team debated whether to keep the comedian’s work or hire a new actor for the role. Since a few lines were still needed, they decided to cast Mike Myers.

Myers requested that the script be rewritten to remove any influence from Farley’s humor, allowing him to adapt the jokes to his style. Although Myers recorded the lines with his normal voice, he felt something was missing. He initially tried adding a Canadian accent, but it still didn’t seem right. Finally, he decided to use the Scottish accent his mother used when telling him stories as a child.

Despite the additional cost of about 4 million dollars to re-record, the team liked the new approach so much that they decided to invest. Myers's performance was so impressive that Steven Spielberg sent a letter praising his dedication and performance.

5 - DEDICATING ROMANTIC LINES TO HIS WIFE

Myers’s performance was widely praised, largely due to the rewritten script. With the new text, he was able to infuse Shrek with his own personality, improvising several of the character's lines.

Additionally, Myers invited his then-wife, Robin Ruzan, to accompany him to the studio during the recording of the romantic scenes. He recited Shrek’s "romantic" lines to her, making the recordings even more special.

6 - THUNDEROUS SUCCESS

The film was a thunderous success both commercially and critically, earning two Oscar nominations in 2002. It competed in the Best Adapted Screenplay category and won Best Animated Feature, beating "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius" and the night's favorite, Pixar's "Monsters, Inc".

With this win, Shrek became the first film to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, a significant achievement as the three previous editions had been considered honorary awards.

In other words, Disney was the first company to create an animation with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937, but it was DreamWorks that won the first Best Animated Feature Oscar in history.

7 - ICONIC SOUNDTRACK

A true icon of the 1990s and 2000s, the song "All Star" by Smash Mouth became legendary thanks to Shrek's opening scene.

Interestingly, the song was initially chosen as a temporary solution while they decided which famous song to use. However, the enthusiastic reactions from audiences during test screenings led the team to keep the scene as it was.

The success was so great that the band was also invited to record the closing song, "I’m a Believer".

8 - MOCKING DISNEY

When deciding that Shrek would be a parody, DreamWorks Animation chose to mock its main competitor by criticizing its approach to adaptations. While DreamWorks is known for acquiring innovative and promising children's stories, Disney traditionally adapts classic fairy tales and fables that are in the public domain.

In this way, Shrek took the same tales that Disney had turned into cinematic hits and satirized them one by one, even making jokes about some of the theme park attractions in the Duloc sequence.

9 - LORD FARQUAAD

The film's villain is the short Lord Farquaad. Initially, the producers wanted Alan Rickman to play the character and even invited him to participate in the film. However, Rickman received an offer for another role for which he had auditioned. Recognizing the chance to act in a promising franchise and reach a broader audience, he chose to accept the Warner role and set aside Lord Farquaad, who was eventually played by John Lithgow.

The role in question was Professor Snape in the Harry Potter series, a role that would become iconic and cement Rickman in film history.

10 - THE VOICE ACTORS DIDN'T INTERACT DURING RECORDINGS

The film was an absolute success and won the affection of the actors themselves. Eddie Murphy, who voices Donkey, has mentioned several times that he considers this role one of the best of his career.

However, despite the overall enthusiasm for the film, the actors did not interact during the recordings. Each recorded their lines separately and on different days. This was a disappointment for John Lithgow, who would have liked to meet the comedians in the cast in person.

11 – SEQUELS

The success of Shrek led to several sequels, including "Shrek 2" (2004), "Shrek the Third" (2007), and "Shrek Forever After" (2010).

12 - BUDGET AND BOX OFFICE

The film cost US$ 60 million and was a major success, grossing US$ 488 million worldwide.

"Shrek" is a milestone in the history of animation, both for its innovation and its cultural impact. Released in 2001, the film not only redefined the genre with its irreverent approach and sharp humor but also established DreamWorks Animation as a formidable competitor in the animation world.

Its cultural references and captivating characters, such as Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey, won over audiences of all ages and secured a special place in viewers' hearts.

With its win of the first Best Animated Feature Oscar and the success of its soundtrack, "Shrek" became a global phenomenon, serving as a shining example of how animation can be both innovative and deeply engaging, establishing a lasting legacy in the entertainment industry.