100 Fun Facts About Shrek

What color is Shrek?

Shrek is green: a green-skinned ogre with trumpet-shaped ears and a bald head, a design that became one of animation's most recognisable.

Who provides the voice of Shrek in the film series?

Mike Myers voices Shrek; he first recorded the ogre in his natural Canadian voice, then re-recorded every line in a new accent.

What colour is Donkey's fur in the Shrek films?

Donkey's fur is grey, set off by a darker mane and a pair of oversized ears that flap as he talks.

What does Shrek compare ogres to when explaining that they have layers?

Shrek says ogres are like onions because they have layers; Donkey objects that not everybody likes onions and proposes a sweeter alternative.

What song by Smash Mouth plays during the opening of Shrek (2001)?

Smash Mouth's "All Star", a 1999 hit from the album Astro Lounge, plays over the opening montage of Shrek's morning routine.

What does Princess Fiona transform into every night due to a curse?

Princess Fiona was cursed as a child to transform into an ogre every night. The curse can only be broken by true love's kiss, which ultimately makes her ogre form permanent.

Which actress provides the voice of Princess Fiona?

Cameron Diaz voices Princess Fiona across all four Shrek films. She brings both comedic timing and warmth to the character.

Which animation studio produced the Shrek films?

DreamWorks Animation produced the Shrek films; the original Shrek (2001) was the studio's second computer-animated feature, after Antz (1998).

What job does Thelonius hold under Lord Farquaad?

Thelonius is Lord Farquaad's hooded executioner and torturer, the hulking henchman who holds up the wrong number of fingers while urging Farquaad's pick at the Magic Mirror's bachelorette show.

What kind of animal does Donkey fall in love with in the first Shrek film?

The tower's ruby-coloured guardian later becomes Donkey's mate, and the pair have six hybrid children in the sequel.

In Shrek 2, what is the name of the kingdom where Fiona's parents live?

Fiona's parents rule Far Far Away, a Hollywood-styled kingdom; Shrek dreads the trip but Fiona talks him into going.

Whose name has Fiona doodled as her future husband in the childhood diary Shrek reads?

Reading Fiona's childhood diary in Shrek 2, Shrek finds page after page signed 'Mrs. Fiona Charming', convincing him she once dreamed of marrying Prince Charming.

Which Shrek film features Rumpelstiltskin as the main villain?

Rumpelstiltskin is the main antagonist in Shrek Forever After (2010), the fourth film. He tricks Shrek into signing a contract that erases the day Shrek was born.

In Shrek the Third, what recurring nightmare terrifies Shrek after Fiona says she is pregnant?

Shrek's nightmare in Shrek the Third is a flood of ogre babies overrunning the swamp, after Fiona tells him she is pregnant; he wakes up screaming.

Which Leonard Cohen song, sung by John Cale, scores Shrek's sad montage after the misunderstanding?

John Cale's recording of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" plays as Shrek and Fiona part; Rufus Wainwright's version replaced it on the soundtrack album.

Eddie Murphy's sidekick character in the Shrek films was modelled after what real animal?

The animators gave him grey fur, brown eyes and a black mane; his personality came from Eddie Murphy's improvised sessions.

What does Lord Farquaad ask Shrek to do in exchange for clearing the swamp?

Farquaad promises to clear the swamp if Shrek rescues Princess Fiona from her dragon-guarded tower; he wants a bride but will not face the dragon himself.

What Academy Award did Shrek (2001) win?

Shrek won Best Animated Feature at the 2002 ceremony, the category's first year, beating Monsters, Inc. and Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius.

Who voices Puss in Boots in the Shrek franchise and his spin-off films?

Antonio Banderas voices Puss in Boots, introduced in Shrek 2 (2004), and reprised the swashbuckling cat in the later Shrek films and two spin-offs.

What surrounds the castle where Fiona is imprisoned in the first Shrek film?

Fiona's keep stands in a boiling lake of lava, reached by a rickety rope bridge that Shrek and Donkey cross before the dragon attacks.

Which celebrity appears as herself hosting the red-carpet arrivals in Shrek 2?

Joan Rivers appears as herself, hosting the red-carpet arrivals for the royal ball in Shrek 2 in a spoof of her E! coverage.

Which bachelorette does the Magic Mirror call 'a mentally abused shut-in'?

The Mirror presents Cinderella as bachelorette number one, 'a mentally abused shut-in from a kingdom far, far away' whose hobbies include cooking and cleaning for her two evil sisters.

Who wrote the 1990 children's picture book that Shrek is based on?

William Steig wrote and illustrated the picture book 'Shrek!' in 1990. In the book, Shrek is an ugly ogre who is told by a witch that he will marry a princess even uglier than himself.

What Shrek character is voiced by Julie Andrews?

Julie Andrews voices Queen Lillian, Fiona's mother and queen of Far Far Away, first appearing in Shrek 2; Andrews had just played royalty in The Princess Diaries (2001).

What song does the Fairy Godmother perform at the ball in Shrek 2?

The Fairy Godmother belts "Holding Out for a Hero" at the royal ball as she tries to force Fiona to kiss Charming; the 1984 song first appeared on the Footloose soundtrack.

Which bachelorette does the Magic Mirror introduce as 'a cape-wearing girl from the land of fancy'?

The Mirror presents Snow White as bachelorette number two, 'a cape-wearing girl from the land of fancy' who 'lives with seven other men, but she's not easy'.

What are the hybrid babies Donkey fathers in the Shrek films called?

Donkey and Dragon's babies are dronkeys, fire-breathing dragon-donkey hybrids who arrive at the end of Shrek 2 and get names in Shrek the Third.

Which actor voices King Harold in Shrek 2?

John Cleese, the Monty Python veteran, voices King Harold, Fiona's father, who bristles at accepting an ogre son-in-law in Shrek 2.

What colour is Princess Fiona's hair?

Princess Fiona has red hair in both her human and ogre forms, worn in a single long braid in the first Shrek film.

In which accent, his mother's for bedtime stories, did Shrek's voice actor re-record every line?

Myers re-recorded Shrek in a Scottish accent he had used in So I Married an Axe Murderer; Katzenberg said the change was worth redoing about $4 million of animation.

In Shrek the Third, who does Shrek seek out as the next heir to the throne?

Harold names his nephew Arthur Pendragon, Artie, as heir; Shrek sails off to fetch the awkward teenager from a boarding school where Lancelot bullies him.

How much did Shrek 2 gross at the worldwide box office, making it the highest-grossing film of 2004?

Shrek 2 grossed about $934 million worldwide, the top film of 2004, and remained the highest-grossing animated film until Toy Story 3 overtook it in 2010.

Who hires the swashbuckling mercenary Puss in Boots to assassinate Shrek in Shrek 2?

Harold acts under threat of losing his own happy ending; Puss switches sides as soon as Shrek spares him.

What is the name of the giant gingerbread man who storms the castle in Shrek 2?

Mongo is the giant gingerbread man who storms Far Far Away's castle in Shrek 2 and sinks into the moat, telling his little friend 'Be good' as he goes.

Shrek Forever After borrows its "world where you were never born" premise from which classic film?

It's a Wonderful Life was the Frank Capra story director Mike Mitchell set out to homage rather than parody, with Shrek no longer the ogre he was at the start of the first film.

What animal does Shrek roast over the campfire for Fiona in the first film?

Shrek serves Fiona weed rat, 'rotisserie style', at their campfire; she surprises him by enjoying it, an early hint that she is an ogre too.

What is the name of Rumpelstiltskin's giant pet goose in the Shrek series?

Rumpelstiltskin's enormous pet goose is named Fifi; she serves as his mount and bodyguard in the alternate Far Far Away where ogres are hunted.

Which actor was originally cast to voice Shrek before Mike Myers took over the role?

Chris Farley recorded nearly all of Shrek's dialogue before his death in December 1997. Mike Myers was then cast as a replacement and gave Shrek his iconic Scottish accent.

Who played Shrek in the original Broadway cast of Shrek the Musical?

Brian d'Arcy James originated Shrek on Broadway in December 2008, opposite Sutton Foster as Fiona, and earned a Tony nomination for Best Actor in a Musical.

In Shrek 2, what does the Fairy Godmother's factory produce?

The Fairy Godmother's factory mass-produces potions; she turns Shrek away at the door, insisting ogres do not get happy endings, so the trio break in and steal one.

What is the Yiddish origin of the name 'Shrek'?

Shrek comes from the Yiddish word for fear or terror, related to the German 'Schreck'; author William Steig, born to Polish-Jewish immigrants, chose it deliberately.

Which talk-show host voices Doris, the Ugly Stepsister, in Shrek 2?

Larry King voices Doris, the gravel-voiced Ugly Stepsister who tends bar for the villains and switches to the heroes' side in Shrek the Third.

In the Shrek franchise, what is Puss in Boots's signature trick for disarming enemies?

Puss disarms foes with a pleading wide-eyed stare, his huge watery 'cute eyes', which stop the castle guards in Shrek 2 and even work on Shrek himself.

Who composed the music for Shrek the Musical?

Jeanine Tesori composed the score for Shrek the Musical, with book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire; Tesori later won a Tony for Fun Home.

Which Proclaimers song plays as Shrek and Donkey set off to rescue Fiona?

The Proclaimers' "I'm on My Way" (1988) plays as Shrek and Donkey set off for the dragon's keep; its line 'from misery to happiness today' fits the ogre's arc.

When Spielberg bought the rights to Shrek! in 1991, which actor did he want for the ogre?

Spielberg's 1991 plan was a traditionally animated film with Bill Murray as Shrek and Steve Martin as Donkey; the rights passed to DreamWorks after its 1994 founding.

In the first film's opening montage, what does Shrek bathe in?

Shrek's morning routine opens the first film: he showers and soaks in mud, then brushes his teeth with bug slime before painting a warning sign.

Who voices Donkey in the Shrek films?

Eddie Murphy voices Donkey throughout the Shrek franchise. His improvised dialogue and comedic timing made Donkey one of the most beloved animated sidekicks.

Which song was planned to replace the "All Star" placeholder over Shrek's opening?

Self's Matt Mahaffey wrote "Stay Home" as the intended opening song, but test audiences liked the "All Star" placeholder so much that it stayed and Self's track moved elsewhere.

Which layered dessert does Donkey insist everybody likes during the onion debate?

Donkey proposes parfaits, insisting nobody ever turns one down and that they may be the most delicious thing on the whole planet.

Why does Lord Farquaad want to marry Princess Fiona in the first Shrek film?

Farquaad wants to become a king: his realm has a lord but no king, so he needs a princess bride to complete his 'perfect' kingdom.

What does Donkey say he is making 'in the morning' on his first night at Shrek's?

Settling in for the night, Donkey announces 'In the morning, I'm making waffles!', one of the first film's most quoted lines.

Shrek competed for the top prize at which 2001 film festival?

Shrek played in the main competition at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival, a rare slot for an animated feature; that year's Palme d'Or went to Nanni Moretti's The Son's Room.

What does Fiona ask Shrek to remove right after he rescues her from the tower?

Fiona expects a handsome knight and insists Shrek remove his helmet so she can see her rescuer's face, only to find an ogre.

What is the name of the villains' tavern in Shrek 2 and Shrek the Third?

The Poison Apple is the seedy tavern where Shrek 2's villains drink and where Prince Charming recruits his army of fairy-tale baddies in Shrek the Third.

Besides its Oscar, which BAFTA did the original Shrek win?

Shrek won the BAFTA for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 2002 awards, credited to Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Joe Stillman and Roger S.H. Schulman.

Which song does Donkey start singing as he and Shrek set off, before Shrek stops him?

Donkey launches into Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again" as the pair leave the swamp; Shrek cuts him off ('What did I say about singing?') and lets him hum instead.

What is the name of Lord Farquaad's kingdom?

Lord Farquaad rules Duloc, a spotless theme-park-like realm with a towering castle; Shrek wonders aloud whether the short lord is 'compensating for something'.

Who looks after Shrek's swamp while he and Fiona travel to meet her parents in Shrek 2?

The fairy tale creatures mind the swamp: the Gingerbread Man, Pinocchio, the Three Pigs and the Wolf are lounging in Shrek's house when they see him arrested on the Magic Mirror.

In the 2011 film Puss in Boots, what crime put Puss on the run from the law?

Puss fled San Ricardo after a failed bank robbery that his childhood friend Humpty Alexander Dumpty tricked him into as a teenager, leaving Puss branded an outlaw.

In the 2001 film, at whose wedding reception does Donkey belt out "I'm a Believer"?

Donkey leads "I'm a Believer" at the swamp party after Shrek and Fiona's wedding, then flies off with Dragon as the pair begin their own romance.

Who voices Lord Farquaad in the first Shrek film?

Lithgow shares top billing with Myers, Murphy and Diaz for a villain who is all pomp and very little height.

What is the main villain's plan in Shrek 2?

She wants to marry Fiona off to her own son, Prince Charming, and leans on King Harold, who owes her his own happy ending, to get Shrek out of the picture.

What does the Happily Ever After potion do to Shrek and Fiona in Shrek 2?

The change only lasts until midnight unless sealed with a kiss, which sets up the film's climax.

Who voices the Fairy Godmother in Shrek 2?

British comedian Jennifer Saunders voices the Fairy Godmother. Her show-stopping performance of 'Holding Out for a Hero' at the climax is a franchise highlight.

What does Puss stop to cough up during his first fight with Shrek in Shrek 2?

Mid-fight in Shrek 2, Puss breaks off to hack up a hairball; the disgusted ogre grabs him by the scruff, and Puss begs for mercy and pledges his loyalty.

Which fairy tale character does King Harold turn out to be in Shrek 2?

King Harold turns out to be the Frog Prince: when the Fairy Godmother's blast rebounds off his armour he reverts to a frog, and Lillian accepts him 'warts and all'.

Whose 1984 hit does the Fairy Godmother cover during the climax of Shrek 2?

The Fairy Godmother covers Bonnie Tyler's 1984 hit "Holding Out for a Hero" at the climax; the performer sang it herself and the sequence became one of the franchise's most replayed.

Which classic film character does Puss in Boots parody?

Puss in Boots is a parody of Zorro, complete with a hat, cape, sword, and Antonio Banderas's voice (Banderas played Zorro in the 1998 film The Mask of Zorro).

What does Shrek bellow when he discovers the fairy tale creatures camped on his land?

Shrek bellows 'What are you doing in my swamp?!' at the campers; the popular meme version 'Get out of my swamp' is a misquote.

In Shrek Forever After's alternate timeline, what has become of Puss in Boots?

In Rumpelstiltskin's timeline Puss has grown fat and pampered as Fiona's house cat, retired from swashbuckling and admitting he has 'let himself go'.

In Shrek the Third, what is the name of the boarding school where Shrek finds the teenage heir?

Shrek finds Artie at Worcestershire Academy, 'like the sauce' as Donkey puts it, a medieval boarding school where the scrawny teenager is bullied.

Who voices Arthur (Artie) in Shrek the Third?

Justin Timberlake as Arthur and Eric Idle as Merlin were the main additions to a returning cast led by Myers, Murphy, Diaz and Banderas.

What does the Happily Ever After potion turn Donkey into in Shrek 2?

The potion turns Donkey into a white stallion, to his delight ('I'm a stallion, baby!'); he is crestfallen when midnight turns him back.

How many children does Donkey have in the Shrek franchise?

Donkey and Dragon have six dronkeys, fire-breathing dragon-donkey hybrids who first appear at the end of Shrek 2 and return in Shrek the Third and Shrek Forever After.

Which song from Shrek 2 earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song?

Counting Crows' "Accidentally in Love", which opens Shrek 2 over the honeymoon montage, was nominated for Best Original Song at the 2005 Oscars.

The plot of Shrek 2 was inspired by which 1967 film?

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) inspired Shrek 2: director Andrew Adamson borrowed its meet-the-in-laws setup and swapped in an ogre son-in-law.

In the first film, Shrek's fight against Farquaad's knights is staged like what kind of contest?

Farquaad's tournament plays like a pro-wrestling match: Shrek body-slams knights in a roped arena while the crowd cheers and Donkey yells 'The chair! Give him the chair!'

What actor voices Prince Charming in Shrek 2 and Shrek the Third?

Everett plays the vain, handsome son of the Fairy Godmother, who becomes the lead villain in the third film.

In Shrek 2, what kind of carriage carries Shrek and Fiona to her parents' kingdom?

Shrek, Fiona and Donkey ride to Far Far Away in an onion-shaped carriage, a callback to Shrek's 'ogres are like onions' speech, with Donkey asking 'Are we there yet?'

How many of his nine lives has Puss used up as The Last Wish begins?

A doctor tallies Puss's deaths at the start of The Last Wish: eight of his nine lives are gone, which is why the Wolf, who is Death, can finally claim him.

Who voices the Wolf (Death) in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish?

Wagner Moura, the Brazilian actor best known as Pablo Escobar in Narcos, voices the Wolf, a bounty hunter who turns out to be Death himself.

What is the name of the Gingerbread Man character in the Shrek franchise?

The Gingerbread Man is affectionately known as Gingy. His interrogation scene with Lord Farquaad in the first film ('Do you know the Muffin Man?') is a fan favorite.

Which nursery-rhyme figure does the Gingerbread Man bring up to stall Farquaad's interrogation?

Gingy stalls with 'Do you know the Muffin Man?', and Farquaad, playing along, recites that he lives on Drury Lane before the exchange spirals into farce.

In 2020, the Library of Congress selected Shrek for which honour?

The Library of Congress added Shrek to the National Film Registry in December 2020, alongside The Dark Knight and The Blues Brothers, as culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.

For which BAFTA was Donkey's voice actor nominated for the first Shrek?

Eddie Murphy's Donkey earned a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 2002, a rare nod for a purely vocal performance.

Which pop hit do Donkey and Puss sing over the end credits of Shrek 2?

Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas, in character as Donkey and Puss, perform "Livin' la Vida Loca" over Shrek 2's end credits; the cover is on the soundtrack album.

On which US network did the Christmas special Shrek the Halls premiere in November 2007?

Shrek the Halls premiered on ABC on November 28, 2007; the half-hour special reunited Myers, Murphy, Diaz and Banderas and became a holiday-season regular.

Which company did DreamWorks hire to animate Shrek after motion-capture tests failed?

PDI used its own Fluid Animation System plus Maya for the cloth and for the hair of Fiona and Farquaad.

Which two directors joined Andrew Adamson at the helm of Shrek 2?

Asbury had been slated to co-direct the first film before leaving for Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron; Vernon also voices Gingy.

Fiona's slow-motion fight against Monsieur Hood and his Merry Men in Shrek parodies which 1999 film?

Fiona's bullet-time freeze and wire-work kicks parody The Matrix (1999), right down to the rotating mid-air pause as she hovers over the Merry Men.

Which princess betrays Fiona and her friends to Prince Charming in Shrek the Third?

Rapunzel betrays the princesses to Prince Charming in Shrek the Third, revealed as his lover when her famous hair turns out to be a wig over a bald head.

Which nursery-rhyme trio are among the fairy tale creatures dumped on Shrek's swamp?

The Three Blind Mice, complete with sunglasses and canes, are among the creatures Farquaad dumps on the swamp, and they keep turning up through the sequels.

How many princesses does the Magic Mirror offer Lord Farquaad to choose from?

The Magic Mirror offers three bachelorettes, Cinderella, Snow White and Fiona, and Farquaad picks Fiona, sight unseen of the dragon guarding her castle.

What was the production budget of the original Shrek?

Shrek cost about $60 million to make and returned roughly $484 million worldwide, finishing as the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2001.

What Shrek attraction opened at Universal Studios in 2003?

Shrek 4-D (also known as Shrek's 4-D Adventure) is a motion simulator ride that opened at Universal Studios Florida in 2003. It features 3D animation with physical effects like moving seats, water sprays, and air blasts.

Which cheerful Chihuahua tags along with Puss in The Last Wish?

Perrito, a relentlessly upbeat Chihuahua first met hiding in a cat disguise, attaches himself to Puss and Kitty Softpaws and becomes the film's comforting heart.

What does Pinocchio struggle with when interrogated in Shrek the Third?

He resorts to tangled double negatives ("It wouldn't be inaccurate to assume that I couldn't exactly not say...") to avoid an outright lie.

Which actor turned down the role of Shrek because he did not want to look like an ogre?

Cage later explained that how a drawn character looks says more about how children will see you than anything else.

Which comedian was originally cast as Princess Fiona opposite Chris Farley before being fired?

Garofalo later said she was never told why, guessing 'because I sound like a man sometimes'.