National Film RegistryLibrary of Congress · Inducted 2020
“Even by DreamWorks standards, the charm and magic of "Shrek" seemed extraordinary upon its initial release almost 20 years ago — and its power has yet to diminish in the intervening years.”
Selected for preservation as culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.
Directed by
Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson
Studio
DreamWorks · DreamWorks Animation · Pacific Data Images · 90 min
Box office
$488.4M worldwide on a $60M budget
Honors
Academy Awards — 1 win, 2 nominationsAnnie Awards — 1 winBritish Academy Film Awards — 1 winCritics' Choice Movie Award — 1 winAll 4 wins · 3 nominations on record
Academy Awards: Best Animated Feature
Annie Awards: Best Animated Feature
British Academy Film Awards: BAFTA's Children & Young People Award - Feature Film
Critics' Choice Movie Award: Best Animated Feature
Scholarship
Named in the title of 17 peer-reviewed works
Examples
Sources: Wikidata · Library of Congress · OpenAlex. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
Shrek arrived from DreamWorks Animation in 2001 and reshaped what an animated feature could be, trading fairy tale reverence for irreverence while still delivering genuine warmth. It became a cultural landmark, winning the first Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and proving that computer animation could carry adult wit alongside broad family appeal. The film's success launched a franchise and cemented Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz's voice work as touchstones of early 2000s cinema, while its soundtrack and humor left a lasting mark on pop culture.
This cell centers on Fiona alongside Shrek, a pairing collectors prize for representing the film's central relationship, the unlikely bond between an ogre and a princess unraveling expectations about beauty and belonging. Fiona's presence anchors the emotional core of the story, her arc tied directly to Shrek's own journey toward acceptance. A cell naming these two together speaks to a shared scene, a moment of connection or exchange that advances their evolving dynamic, making this a piece prized for capturing the heart of the narrative rather than a purely comedic beat.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm theatrical release print of Shrek (2001).
Gauge
35mm, confirmed by four perforations per frame on both edges; the strip holds three frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges; spacing appears even and the punched edges appear clean with no torn or missing perforations visible.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible along one edge, with what appears to be a Dolby Digital data-block strip in the inter-perforation gaps on the same side, and a DTS timecode line also appears present, consistent with a tri-format release print.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture at sufficient resolution to quote any text or key numbers.
Base & colour
The base shows a light cyan-blue tint typical of estar safety stock; the dye image appears neutral with no visible red shift or fading.
Projection history
No splices, cue marks or prominent scratches are visible in this capture.
Picture
Positive colour image; the three frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single shot and the animated characters visible are consistent with the DreamWorks animated feature on record.
Era check
The cyan-tinted polyester base, tri-format soundtrack configuration (variable-area optical, Dolby Digital inter-perforation blocks, and DTS timecode) are all consistent with a theatrical release print from the early 2000s.
Read from the original intake capture shown below. Observations only — film is authenticated, not graded.
This original motion picture film element has been examined and authenticated by Crown Grading in partnership with National Film Vault, and encapsulated for archival preservation.
Why so little survivesRelease prints were leased to theaters, not sold. When the run ended they went back to the distributor to be destroyed, and most were. What collectors hold today came from the prints that escaped that order, and no new 35mm prints of these films are being struck.
CROWN SERIAL 000063213
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
