National Film Vault

FILM NOTES

DreamWorks Animation released Shrek in May 2001, marking a turning point for computer-animated feature filmmaking outside of Pixar. Directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, the film earned the first-ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and became a defining cultural touchstone of the early 2000s. Its irreverent humor and layered storytelling broadened the audience for animated cinema considerably.

This cell, titled Shrek and Donkey, captures three consecutive 35mm frames from what appears to be a medieval or castle setting. The frames are oriented sideways on the strip, a common artifact of the printing process. Shrek is visible mid-gesture with his hand raised, with Donkey present in the same composition across all three frames.