SHREK
ANALYSIS
Shrek’s Character – The beginning
• The film opens like a traditional fairy story,
using the well-known beginning 'Once upon a
time there was a lovely princess … '.
• This is interrupted by a hand snapping the
book shut. Shrek appears.
• Modern rap music suggests that this film will
not be a conventional fairy story.
Shrek’s Character – The storybook
characters arrive
• Shrek threatens them, saying ogres will ‘shave
your liver, squeeze the jelly from your eyes'.
• He tries to frighten them – saying ogres are
‘much worse’ than giants.
• People run away screaming.
Shrek’s Character – Donkey and
Shrek meet
• Shrek roars at him, tries to intimidate Donkey.
• Donkey is not frightened: 'You need some
Tic-Tacs' – Shrek ridiculed about his bad
breath.
• Donkey is persistent and continues to question
Shrek.
• Shrek shouts 'What am I?' to emphasise to
Donkey that he’s an ogre, but fails to impress.
Shrek’s Character – Donkey and
Shrek meet
• Donkey continues to irritate Shrek, bouncing
on his chair, peering through the window.
• Shrek fails to stop Donkey – suggests that he
isn't a terrifying ogre.
• Mice running over his table and up on his
shoulder. Comedy as he fails to catch them.
Shouts ‘I'm a terrifying ogre, what do I have to
do to get a little privacy?'.
Shrek’s Character – visit to Duloc
• Donkey often argues with Shrek. Says that
Shrek should 'pull some ogre stuff' to sort out
Lord Farquaad.
• Donkey tells Shrek that he is too soft, that the
swamp belongs to him anyway.
• Shrek asks Donkey if he should 'decapitate an
entire village [ … ] cut open their spleens … ‘.
Shrek’s Character – visit to Dulco
• Viewers feel that Shrek isn't capable of doing
this even if he wanted to. Donkey argues with
Shrek. Shrek not even vaguely frightening.
• Instead of accepting the challenge with Lord
Farquaad's knights, Shrek offers to 'settle it
over a pint'.
Shrek’s Character – rescue of
Princess Fiona
• Shrek shakes her violently: 'Wake up now, let's
go'.
• She is disappointed that there is no 'romantic
moment'.
• Initially Shrek tries to behave in a threatening
manner.
Lord Farquaad’s evil side
• Watches torture of the Gingerbread Man.
Laughs and taunts him: 'Run, run, run as fast
as you can …’. Tries to pull Gingerbread
Man's buttons off. Throws Gingerbread Man
in the bin. Gingerbread Man screams.
Lord Farquaad’s evil side
• Parody of 'Blind Date': Lord Farquaad has
three beautiful women to choose from.
• Lord Farquaad comes for the Princess –
language very formal: 'Beautiful, fair, flawless
Fiona, will you be the perfect bride for the
perfect groom?'.
Lord Farquaad’s evil side
• End – Lord Farquaad orders the knights to
'Get that out of my sight'. Tells knights to
arrest Fiona when he sees her after sunset.
Still proclaims himself as King, even though
the marriage has been abandoned.
•
Camera Shots
• When Shrek scares the storybook characters
away there is a close up shot of his mouth – to
give the impression that he is going to eat
them. Darkness creates further unease.
• Again when the storybook characters arrive
with orders from Lord Farquaad telling Shrek
that he needs to move out of the swamp, the
low-angle shot makes Shrek appear
threatening as he looks down, towering over
these characters. They run away.
Camera Shots
• Tension is built as Lord Farquaad is
introduced – his guard is wearing a balaclava,
and the first shot we see of Lord Farquaad is
of his hands (not his face) – he is putting on a
pair of gloves as if he means business.
• His elevated position is emphasised when the
camera moves from ground level upwards to
reveal his tower. The high angle shot makes
Shrek and Donkey seem more vulnerable.
Camera Shots
• Low angle shots are used effectively to show
Lord Farquaad looking down on Shrek and his
subjects.
• Mid angle shots are used when Shrek and
Donkey are relaxing together, and when Shrek
has cooked Princess Fiona a meal. Such shots
are helpful as they show characters socialising
with each other. They are on an equal footing.
Camera Shots
• Close up shots are also useful for focusing the
viewer's attention on the characters' emotions.
Both Princess Fiona and Shrek can reveal their
true happiness through close ups of them
smiling. The camera moves from one to the
other and back again.
Camera Shots
• Sometimes the character's back is shown
rather than their face. This serves to highlight
their isolation from the rest of the characters.
One such example is where Shrek sits on the
edge of the cliff with his back to the camera
when Princess Fiona goes off to bed. He also
turns his back on the fire. Later on he turns
his back on Donkey to signal the end of their
friendship.
Presentational Devices- Setting
• – partly set in Shrek's swamp – traditional /
expected home of an ogre. Yet Donkey
follows Shrek into it and even attempts to set
up home there. Not as unwelcoming as it
should be.
• Lord Farquaad's castle – torture of
Gingerbread man, hooded figures, tries to
defeat Shrek in the courtyard. Violence,
secrecy – should be a place of splendour.
•
Presentational Devices - Lighting
• When the Princess leaves Shrek at dusk he
feels alone. His isolation is emphasised by
him sitting away from the fire with his back to
the camera. He is staring into the black of
night, looking at the moon.
Presentational Devices - Lighting
• After Shrek has met the Princess he is often
pictured by the sunset. Shrek and the Princess
walk together through the woods – sunny day
– birds chirping – Princess singing –
contentment.
Presentational Devices - Lighting
• End brilliant light – suggests goodness /
magical fairytale ending.
Presentational Devices – Music and
Sound Effects
• When we first meet Lord Farquaad and the
hooded figure there is marching music – tense
– suggests battle.
• When Shrek enters the arena there is organ
music – suggests the importance of Shrek's
tournament and the importance of the Lord.
• Shrek misinterprets the conversation that he
overhears between Donkey and the Princess.
The slow music reflects his unhappiness.
Presentational Devices – Music and
Sound Effects
• When Shrek goes home there is a song about
broken dreams and promises. Even Donkey
and the dragon are crying.
•
Presentational Devices - Importance
of Donkey
• Follows Shrek back to swamp. Ignores
'Beware of ogre' sign.
• Refuses to heed Shrek's advice to leave him
alone.
• Lightens atmosphere at tournament – rolls
barrels into knights – makes scene funny.
Presentational Devices - Importance
of Donkey
• When Donkey returns after finding flowers he
looks at Shrek and Princess smiling at each
other and says ‘My, isn't this romantic'.
• Acts as Shrek's advisor. Shrek listens to him
when he is having difficulties.