Shrek, an Academy Award winning animated feature film, by DreamWorks Animation debuted in 2001, and is based upon William Steig's 1990 fairy tale picture book entitled Shrek! It was directed by New Zealander Andrew Adamson and Los Angeles artist Vicky Jenson and animated by DreamWorks Animation SKG. Shrek was the first film to win an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, a category introduced in 2001. It was released on DVD and VHS on November 7 2001.

The film features the voices of Mike Myers as a large, strong, solitude-loving, grumpy ogre named Shrek (from the German word "schreck" meaning "terror" or Yiddish word שרעק, meaning "fear"), Cameron Diaz as the beautiful but very down-to-earth and feisty Princess Fiona, Eddie Murphy as a talkative donkey named Donkey, and John Lithgow as the villainous Lord Farquaad.

It was critically acclaimed as an animated film worthy of adult interest, with many adult-oriented jokes and themes but a simple enough plot and humor to appeal to children. It made notable use of pop music—the soundtrack includes music by Smash Mouth, Joan Jett, The Proclaimers, Jason Wade, The Baha Men, and Rufus Wainwright.

The film was extremely successful on release in 2001 and it helped establish DreamWorks as a prime competitor to Walt Disney Pictures in the field of feature film animation, particularly in computer animation. Furthermore, Shrek was made the mascot for the company's animation productions.

This film is third on Bravo's "100 Funniest Movies". Shrek was also ranked second in a Channel 4 poll of the 100 greatest family films, losing out on the top spot to E.T.

When a green ogre called Shrek discovers his swamp has been 'swamped' with all sorts of fairytale creatures, by the scheming Lord Farquaad. With a very loud donkey by his side, Shrek sets out to 'persuade' Farquaad to give his swamp back. Instead a deal is made. Farquaad, who wants to become the King, sends Shrek to rescue Princess Fiona, who is waiting for her one true love. But once they head back Fiona, it starts to become apparent that not only do Shrek like Fiona, but Fiona is keeping something secret. Written by Film_Fan

Shrek is a big ogre who lives alone in the woods, feared from all the people in the land of Duloc. When Lord Farquaad, the ruler of Duloc, exiles all the fairy-tale beings in the woods, Shrek looses his peaceful life and his home becomes a refugees camp. So, he sets to find Lord Farquaad and convince him to take the fairy-tale beings back where they belong, and leave him alone. Lord Farquaad accepts, under one condition. Shrek must first go and find the beautiful young princess Fiona, who will become Farquaad's bride. So, the big Ogre begins his quest, along with his newfound donkey friend... Written by Chris Makrozahopoulos

In a faraway land called Duloc, a heartless ruler, the midget Lord Farquaad has banished all the fairy tales from the land so it can be as boring as he is. But there are three characters who will stand is his way. The first is a green, smelly ogre with a heart of gold named Shrek, his faithful steed, a Donkey, who will do anything but shut up, and the beautiful, but tough Princess Fiona whom Lord Farquaad wishes to make his wife so he can become king of Duloc. What's to do in a screwy fairy tale like this? Written by Will