Imagine being an animator at DreamWorks, only to be punished by being forced to work on what would become one of the most iconic and beloved animated franchises of all time. Sounds absurd, right? But that’s exactly what happened with Shrek. Before it became a cultural phenomenon, the film was seen as the studio’s dumping ground—a place where animators were sent if they messed up on more prestigious projects like The Prince of Egypt. And this is the part most people miss: the movie that was once considered a career demotion ended up outshining its 'superior' counterparts in both box office success and cultural impact.
Let’s rewind to the late 1990s, when DreamWorks was still finding its footing in the film industry. Mimi Leder’s The Peacemaker kicked things off in 1997, followed by high-profile releases like Steven Spielberg’s Amistad and Gore Verbinski’s Mouse Hunt. But it was in animation where DreamWorks truly began to flex its muscles. In 1998, the studio released Antz and The Prince of Egypt, the latter of which was a lavish musical retelling of the Book of Exodus. With an all-star voice cast including Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes, and Michelle Pfeiffer, The Prince of Egypt was a prestige project aimed at challenging Disney’s animation dominance during its Renaissance era. It earned two Oscar nominations, including a win for Best Song, and was seen as the studio’s crown jewel.
Meanwhile, Shrek was viewed as the red-headed stepchild of DreamWorks’ animation slate. Based on William Steig’s picture book, the film was originally envisioned as a far grosser, more irreverent take on fairy tales. The titular ogre was meant to be the most disgusting creature imaginable, marrying an equally revolting partner and having equally revolting offspring. Add to that the fact that it was a computer-animated film, which many traditional animators looked down upon, and you have a recipe for a project no one wanted to touch. As one anonymous animator put it, working on Shrek was like being sent to the ‘Gulag’—a punitive measure for those who failed on The Prince of Egypt.
But here’s where it gets controversial: What if the very elements that made Shrek unappealing to animators were the keys to its success? The film’s cheeky satire of fairy tales, its irreverent humor, and its willingness to push boundaries (remember the farting in the swamp scene?) resonated with audiences in a way no one anticipated. Even DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg feared the film’s premiere would end in walkouts and outrage. Instead, Shrek became a massive hit, spawning a franchise that includes sequels, spin-offs like Puss in Boots, a Broadway musical, and countless video games. It even influenced Disney’s own Frozen, which adopted a similar anti-Disney sentiment.
Looking back, the irony is impossible to ignore. Shrek, once the studio’s black sheep, became its most profitable and enduring creation. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the projects we least expect to succeed are the ones that leave the biggest mark. So, here’s a thought-provoking question for you: Could Shrek’s success have happened if it wasn’t initially seen as a punishment? Or was it the very lack of pressure and prestige that allowed its creativity to flourish? Let’s discuss in the comments!
