What does it mean “Ogre”? If we refer to European mythology and legends, it is a species of large, deformed and cruel humanoid that feeds on humans. But if we refer to the collective imagination and the history of an animation studio called dreamworksthe same term evokes a single monosyllabic word: Shrek.
For both adults and children, the green ogre from the movies – based on the story by William Steig – is one of the most remembered and loved characters in animated cinema. Since its release in 2001 and its subsequent sequels, there have been few feature films in the same genre that have had as great an impact as his.
This 2024, Shrek 2, the acclaimed sequel to the green ogre, has been in existence for no less than two decades. To commemorate this important anniversary, here are some very particular facts about the film that broke the curse that says “second parts were never good.”
From the use of a new technology to its viralization on the internet through memes.
Shrek 2 represented a significant advance in computer animation thanks to the innovative technologies developed by PDI/DreamWorks. The film introduced improved skin shading technology to The cat with bootswhich allowed a more realistic handling of their fur.
Two specific shaders were created for the feather on his hat and a new simulation system that automatically moved the cat’s fur so that it did not interfere with his belt, since this was manually animated.
The hair also experienced notable improvements. Darin Grant, head of production technology, especially remembers the shampoo scene with Prince Charminghighlighting the advanced hair simulation in that sequence.
The sequel also marked a milestone in the fluid simulation, especially during the “From Here to Eternity” parody between Shrek and Fiona. While the first film only featured a glass of milk, the sequel featured multiple layers of water elements, animating particles for the waves and different layers of splashes.
In 2004, Eugenio Derbezwho lent his voice to the character of Donkey in the Latin American adaptation of Shrek 2, faced a legal lawsuit by the Clímax group. The controversy arose because Derbez included a verse from the song “Za-za-za” or “Table that applauds the most” without the permission of the group.
Derbez’s contract stipulated that he must be held responsible for any lawsuits if he deviated from the original script, and he did so. In an interview, Derbez recalled the incident: “For this one the ‘Table’ was in fashion and I said: ‘Let’s put it in.’ The point is that Everyone laughed their asses off, but: ‘The rights’”.
The Mexican had underestimated the legal implications, believing that the musicians would appreciate inclusion in an international film. “They are going to talk to me and kiss my feet”Derbez thought at that time. However, the actor was sued for thousands of pesos, but after a series of negotiations, they reached an agreement.
To resolve the conflict, Eugenio recorded an album with the song “Table that applauds the most” using the voices of his comic characters, like Lonje Moco and Aarón Abasolo. This solution allowed both parties to be on good terms without resorting to protracted litigation. “I don’t know how they marketed it, but they got a little wool from there,” he recalled.
The one who had no problems and actually started working hard was Antonio Banderas. The man from Malaga was chosen by Jerry Katzenberg, executive producer of the film, to provide his voice to the cat character without the need for an audition. Banderas, in addition to recording the dialogues in English, also gave life to the character in the Latin American and Spanish versions.
As the years go by, Shrek and Shrek 2 has become classics. However, one cultural manifestation The film began to brew between 2013 and 2014, when fans began to appropriate the character and his universe on the web, taking the franchise in unexpected directions.
One of the most notable points of fanaticism was Shrek is Love. Shrek is Life in 2013, a disturbing story that was popularized by 4chan users and became a viral phenomenon thanks to videos and animations that dramatized the narrative.
This content solidified the ogre as a cult character on the internet, generating an entire movement of memes which ranged from the absurd to the dark and obsessive. The YouTube series React amplified this phenomenon by capturing the reactions of popular YouTubers, further propelling Shrek’s fame in the digital community.
Thanks to its success, it was a matter of time before the videogame official Shrek Super Slamreleased in 2005 and initially criticized as “shovelware,” was rediscovered by a community of gamers in 2014. The creation of a subreddit and the development of advanced gaming techniques gave new life to the title, with several players sharing tips and strategies on forums dedicated.
As if that were not enough, there is also the Shrekfest, an annual Comic-Con style event in Madison, Wisconsin. Started as a joke on Facebook, the festival has grown in size and popularity, attracting hundreds of fans who celebrate with costume contests, live music and screenings of the film.
Among other curiosities that occur within the film, there are some that not many knew. One of them is the scene that parodies the reality show nineties COPS —called knights in the movie—, where Shrek, Donkey and Puss are arrested after a police chase.
In the middle of the arrest, one of the knights finds a envelope full of “catnip” in Puss in Boots’ pocket. However, this joke was lost in the Latin dub, where they described the package as “sand for cats” (a double meaning drug joke). Also know as Cathar Nepetait is an herb from the mint family that causes a euphoric reaction in cats.
Another curiosity is in the extra material of the Blue-Ray Shrek: The Whole Story (2010). Andrew Adamson commented that he had considered transform the Dragon into a pegasus or unicorn after what Donkey drank the potion “Happily ever after”. However, Adamson decided to eliminate the sequence since he could not find a way to integrate it into the script without breaking the coherence of the plot.
The second installment of “Shrek” also contains a nod to Justin Timberlake with a poster titled “Sir Justin”. The poster, which appears during the scene set to “I Need Some Sleep” by Eels, shows the singer’s face with the iconic short hairstyle he had in the early 2000s. In fact, in 2007, Timberlake was chosen to lend his voice to Artur Pendragon, Fiona’s cousin and heir to Far Far Away.
With a budget of USD 150 million dollars“Shrek 2″ raised USD 935.3 million dollars worldwide with the Statista portal. This made it the highest-grossing film of 2004, but also the highest-grossing film of the DreamWorks studio in its entire history, even above other productions such as “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”, “War of the Worlds” and the Oscar-winning “ Gladiator”.
For 19 years, the film had also held the record for the highest-grossing non-Disney animated film, but this 2023, the film adaptation of “Super Mario Bros” took the throne from him, reaching a historic figure of USD 1,365 million dollars.
Even having been surpassed in this area, Shrek 2 continues to be a favorite of children and adults, especially in Latin America, which thanks to its particular dubbing, generated a deeper bond that continues to pierce the gap of time.
