When it comes toanimation history, there are some films that will forever remain important milestones of the genre. From Disney’sSnow White and the Seven DwarfstoCinderella, to the monumental hit that isFrozen, each picture represents an important breakthrough for the art form. But, whileDisney’s achievementsmay be among the first films audiences remember when discussing animation, one cannot discount the important and historic work accomplished byDreamWorks, specifically the studio’s seminal classic,Shrek. The story of the titular ogre (Mike Myers), his sidekick, Donkey (Eddie Murphy) and his feisty, independent love interest, Fiona (Cameron Diaz) is an important step in the development of 3D animation, and remains a pop-culture icon that inspired a franchise, theme park attractions, and even aBroadway musical. However,long before Shrek was lighting up the big screen or singing on stage, he was a humble children’s book character, whosefilm was nearly derailed by a dynamic yet misguided form of movie making.
‘Shrek’ Started Out as a Bizarre Children’s Book
Like many classic movies,Shrekstarted out in the literary world. Written byWilliam Steig,Shrek!is a children’s fairy tale with a twist. Like his film counterpart, Shrek isn’t exactly conventionally attractive. However,thefilm took quite a few liberties. His parents send him out into the world, after they tire of his constant “hissing.” Along the way, Shrek encounters all sorts of threats and creatures. From a fortune-telling witch, who is made woozy by Shrek’s vile stench, before predicting he will meet a donkey and marry a princess, to his encounter with a knight,Shrek wreaks all sorts of havoc on the fairytale forest. The book ultimately culminates with Shrek meeting a princess who is said to be even more homely than he is, and the couple is deemed so ugly that no priest will marry them, so they have to resort to their nuptials being performed by a crocodile.
You Shouldn’t Be Surprised or Confused That ‘Shrek 5’ Looks So Different
This is pretty normal for the franchise.
Filled with surprisingly dark humor and a rather odd approach to storytelling, the book doesn’t necessarily sound like it has the makings ofthe classic film universewe know and love today. However, DreamWorks was up for the task. Still in its infancy at the time,the studio, co-founded by Steven Spielberg, took on a slew of original projects, one of them, of course, beingShrek. But the execution of the film was originally going to be quite different and exceedingly groundbreaking.
‘Shrek’ Was Originally Going to Combine Several Methods of Filmmaking
Some of the greatest films of all time are those that pushed thevery boundaries of movie making. Whether it bearthouse cinema, or commercial spectacles, the art form thrives when it’s being challenged, andShrekwas set to be one of the most ambitious pieces of animation ever attempted. In anarchived articlefrom 1997, Business Wire revealed thatDreamWorks had hiredmotion capturecompany, MotionAnalysis Corp., to take on the production. Initially,Shrekwas going to utilize the technology to animate the film. The method was still very much in its infancy, and would not be seen in a full formatuntil 2001’s notorious flop,Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. What’s more,Shrekwas out to push boundaries even further when it came to its sets.
As stated byGizmodo,Shrekwas going to utilize real sets, built in miniature form, and then combine them with the motion capture animation. While combining 2D animation with live-action had been achieved withfilms likeWho Framed Roger Rabbit?,Shrek’s ambition was truly groundbreaking. Indeed, the efforts would have been groundbreaking. So, what happened?
A Screen Test Derailed ‘Shrek’s Ambition
Shrekmay have had big ideas, but a screen test revealed thatthe animation as a whole was not working. The test, which has become known as the “Shrek: I Feel Good” test, was conducted in 1995, back whenChris Farley was attached to play everyone’s favorite ogre, prior to his passing. The results of the test have since become known as infamously terrible. In fact, according toJim Hill Media,studio co-founder,Jeffrey Katzenbergsaid that the test “looked terrible,” further elaborating that “it didn’t work, it wasn’t funny, and we didn’t like it.” But was it truly that horrible? Well, audiences had the chance to find out when it was released onYouTube, and, indeed, it doesn’t quite work. In a way, watching the test today puts a lot of the discourse around the upcomingShrek 5’s change in animationstyle into perspective. While the efforts were valiant, they certainly do not look as though they were the groundwork for a classic. Luckily, DreamWorks ultimately abandoned the idea and went on to create a piece of animation that remains among the most beloved and profound of the genre.
The continued relevance ofShrekcannot be overstated. Its characters, music and animation remain among the genre’s best. And while there is a case to be made for the efforts of DreamWorks to make a groundbreaking, stylish film that should still be applauded for their creativity, we’re incredibly grateful that the studio opted to abandon their original execution. The movie’s merits remain impressive, and have aged beautifully, something that could not have been said had the studio pursued its original ideas. And as the release ofShrek 5draws nearer, it seems that Shrek and the gang will continue to entertain us for years to come.
An ogre named Shrek finds his swamp invaded by banished fairy tale characters. To reclaim his peaceful solitude, Shrek strikes a deal with the diminutive tyrant Lord Farquaad to rescue Princess Fiona from a dragon-guarded castle. An unlikely friendship forms between Shrek, Fiona, and a talkative Donkey, leading to comedic adventures and lessons about true love and acceptance.
