Ciao everyone! For today’s post, I’ve found the first meme of the semester:

This image is powerful and I definitely rate it 10/10. Absolutely complex. There are layers to this meme and I was shocked when I found it. Perfection.

Shrek is perhaps my favorite movie, though I do love several others. This blog post was heavily inspired by my Ted Talk and research paper from last semester, which featured our favorite ogre. Can you believe that Shrek is over 20 years old?

In commemoration, here are some in’s and out’s about the process of creating this iconic film:

Number 1: The plot wasn’t as appreciated as it is today. 

Shrek, as a reclusive, selfish, temperamental, and closed-minded ogre in his swamp, didn’t automatically achieve the approval ratings the producers desired. A New York Times article reports that the idea of an ogre as the protagonist brought about doubts regarding ticket sales. Apparently, meeting after meeting, it was believed that straying from the traditional prince and princess wouldn’t engage audiences. Oh how they were wrong…

I partially blame the writers’ lack of imagination and ignorance for this misconception. Yes, we often see Disney creating the perfect “happily ever afters,” but it’s important to acknowledge that being happy and achieving success can come in several different forms for different people. Shrek obviously demonstrates that.

Number 2: No one wanted to work on this project.

Shrek, inherently, was the black sheep of DreamWorks production. It was the problem child of all the running projects. “Getting sent to ‘Shrek’ felt like being sent to Siberia,” the director Vicky Jenson recalled. Why?

Well, the main characters in Shrek were criticized for being “too difficult” to animate and posed as too advanced and too “challenging” for the artists on the design team. Archaic and out-dated technology at the time can be attributed to this. Additionally, other past projects such as Aladdin and The Road to El Dorado were taken more seriously by staff, while Shrek was continuously considered as satire and made the daily job insincere. Perhaps that’s what makes it so hilarious and appealing!

Number 3: There was debate over originality. 

Across the internet, several journalists will argue that Shrek directly copies the plot of The Princess Bride (1987). Personally, I don’t see how these films are identical; while there are some parallels, like a friendly giant and the formation of a band of misfits, I really think that Shrek is more on the original side.

But what ethos does an 18-year-old girl have? None apparently, but I would say that the masses agree with me here. The Princess Bride clearly lacks the onion metaphors and the monster archetype we’ve all grown to love.

Number 4: Hidden casting issues that no one talks about played a role.

Mike Meyers, who voices Shrek in the film, wasn’t the original actor casted. It was actually Chris Farley, former star of Saturday Night Live, that was supposed to become our green hero. His untimely passing in 1997 led to the abdication of the role.

Chris Farley, the OG Shrek

However unfortunate that Farley had recorded many of his lines, directors loved Mike Meyers and his Scottish take on Shrek. According to the New York Times, Meyers was the one who coined the phrase, “Better out than in.” Love it.

It was fascinating to read about the secrets of this cinematic masterpiece and I hope you enjoyed the nice Marvel reference in the meme (from Avengers: Infinity War).

Now, it’s my turn to make like a tree and get out of here. Until next time my jokers!

Reference: Cherelus, Gina. “’Shrek’ at 20: How a Chaotic Project Became a Beloved Hit.”

                 The New York Times,  The New York Times, 18 May 2021,             

                 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/18/movies/shrek-20th- anniversary.html.