National Film Vault

FILM NOTES

DreamWorks Animation released Shrek in May 2001, marking a turning point for computer-animated feature films and offering a sharp, self-aware counterpoint to the fairy-tale conventions that had defined the genre. Directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, the film became a cultural landmark and the inaugural winner of the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, cementing DreamWorks as a serious force alongside Pixar.

This 35mm cell, titled Shrek in His Swamp, captures the ogre Shrek in the natural habitat that defines his solitary existence. Photographed from a low angle against the dense vegetation and rocky terrain surrounding his outhouse dwelling, the three adjacent frames preserve a quiet, character-establishing moment from early in the film, offering collectors a grounded and intimate look at the production's visual world.