“Somebody once told me the world was going to roll me,” says Smash Mouth in the intro moments of the 2001s Shrek. And just like the big band prophesied, the film shattered all established rules of animation. The film was gross, pointed, aimed at adults, and set the stage for American animation for the next decade. Shrek premiered in Cannes. Shrek won the first Oscar for best animated feature. Shrek was inducted into the Library of Congress as a notable historical work. Then there are the Shrek memes.
Like it or not, there is no denying that Shrek has had a gigantic impact on the state of entertainment. On the 20th anniversary of the movie’s theatrical release, Polygon looks back on our favorite ogre and his legacy. Why did Fiona hit so hard in 2001? What the hell is wrong with Justin Timberlake’s weird appearances in the films? Why can’t we stop thinking about gingerbread man drowning in milk? And how old is
So sit back in your mud hot tub and light some wax candles because we’re going to get Shhhhrrrreeeekkkked.
