National Film Vault

FILM NOTES

DreamWorks Animation released Shrek in May 2001, marking a turning point for computer-animated features outside of Pixar. Directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, the film earned the first-ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and demonstrated that irreverent, layered storytelling could find enormous audiences. Shot on 35mm release prints for theatrical distribution, original film cells from the production carry genuine historical weight from that pivotal moment in animation history.

This cell, titled Shrek, captures three consecutive frames from a single scene showing Shrek standing on a wooden dock or boat deck against an open blue sky, a small object held in his hand. The tight framing and near-identical composition across all three frames offer a rare glimpse into the rhythm of the character's movement as it existed on a physical theatrical print.