National Film Vault

FILM NOTES

DreamWorks Animation released Shrek in May 2001, positioning it as a direct challenge to Disney's dominance of feature animation. Directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, the film became a cultural landmark, winning the inaugural Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and demonstrating that computer-generated storytelling could carry genuine wit and emotional weight alongside its technical ambition.

This cell, titled Dragon, captures three near-consecutive frames of the fearsome castle guardian mid-roar, her jaws open wide against a deep purple background consistent with the dungeon interior. The red scaling and dramatic lighting reflect the care DreamWorks animators brought to secondary characters, making Dragon a memorable presence well beyond her role as obstacle.