SHREK SCRIPT Why screenwriters need to study the Shrek script Did you download the entire Shrek script PDF already? If not, do it now. We'll be referencing the Shrek script throughout this piece — and even if you stop reading right now, you'll still want the Shrek movie script for your "learning files." Trust us. Alright, let's dive in. The animated feature film Shrek was DreamWorks Animation’s fifth feature film, and it went on to win the first-ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. That was huge, but there was something even bigger at play. The first film was released in May of 2001, and it grossed $267,665,011. It was then followed by three sequels, plus a spinoff, and now the Shrek film franchise is valued at $3,510,794,482. The film took four and a half years to complete and was one of the first animated features to heavily rely on computer animation. Scripts that generate three billion dollars merit analysis because the single most important thing to a film studio is a return on their investment. You NEED to pay attention to why this script worked, and take lessons from it to inform your writing style.

Shrek script takeaway If you can write scripts that have a clear path to making money, you will have a career in screenwriting.

Writing to make money doesn’t presuppose your work can’t be creative and fresh. There is something to reimagining story structures and formulas by embracing them and then exposing their flaws. Read the Shrek full script and you'll see the appeal of this approach. DreamWorks used Shrek to turn themselves into the "bad boy" of children’s animation. Yes, that’s a bit of an oxymoron, but that’s what they did. The whole point of Shrek is to say ... “Disney has sold you an idyllic, storybook world that does not exist. Don’t worry, we’ll keep it real with you (hence the name, DreamWorks).” So, let’s round up all the fairy tale creatures we can find, and break down the Shrek script to find out what made this film such a success story.

SHREK PLOT Shrek’s Plot: 3 Acts Explained Shrek is the anti-fairy tale, but the structure of the Shrek script follows a classic fairy tale template. A hero is called to action, reluctantly accepts the journey, and returns home along with a new world order. Here's a summary and breakdown of the Shrek full script, act by act. ACT I Shrek is an ogre living in the swamp. He just wants peace and privacy. Lord Farquaad is a local government official rounding up “fairy tale trash” because they are “poisoning his perfect world.” A talking Donkey escapes and is saved by Shrek. Lord Farquaad wants to be King, but the Magic Mirror explains that he must first marry a princess — the beautiful (and cursed) Princess Fiona. Farquaad’s apartheid government is forcing “fairy tale creatures” to seek refuge in the swamp where Shrek lives. You may notice a common screenwriting tactic in the clip below. A screenwriter has a character in their script run through a quick summary of the current situation. At the beginning of the scene, Donkey becomes the amusing "explainer." He catches us up on the story. How does the Shrek script go further? The writers use Donkey's run-through as a springboard to convey insight about the characters.

Donkey's plot recap kicks off the famous "Ogres are like onions" scene in Shrek

Back to the story: Shrek wants the fairy tale creatures out of his swamp. He goes to the castle to file a complaint, but leaves as the Champion of DuLoc, and must now retrieve Princess Fiona in exchange for his swamp.

OGRES ARE LIKE ONIONS ogres are like onions how, exactly? As Shrek explains to Donkey, "There's a lot more to ogres than people think." Ogres are like onions. They have layers. There's more to both onions and ogres than meets the eye. In the Shrek script, the writers key into the complexity and depth of the main character with a humorous simile: Ogres are like onions. It's what makes Shrek different. It's what challenges our ogre expectations and makes Shrek unique. It's why we pay attention and invest in his story. A funny answer to the question every screenwriter needs to answer: "Why should we care?"

ACT II The second act of the Shrek script begins with Shrek and Donkey traveling to a volcano. They must fight a dragon before they are able to free Fiona. She has been waiting many years for a “Knight so bold” to rescue her. On the return journey, we quickly learn that Princess Fiona has a curse placed over her that leaves her human by day, but transforms her into an ogre by night. Only once Fiona can find “true love’s first kiss” will she “take love’s true form”.

Shrek (2001) - Rescuing Princess Fiona Scene

The next day, Shrek hands Fiona over to Farquaad, who gives Shrek the deed to the swamp. Shrek and Donkey have a falling out over a simple misunderstanding, and this leads to the ogre realizing that he has feelings for Princess Fiona. ACT III Shrek and Donkey fly off on a dragon toward the castle to stop the wedding. Shrek arrives just in time, and Fiona has an opportunity to show her transformation. Lord Farquaad orders that they both be captured. Shrek and Fiona fight off the guards, and the terrifying dragon swallows Farquaad in one gulp.

Shrek (2001) — True Love's True Kiss Scene

Shrek and Fiona kiss for the first time and the curse is lifted. She transforms into “love’s true form” which, in this case, is that of an ogre. Shrek tells her how she is beautiful regardless. At the end of the Shrek script, they go on to live happily ever after … DreamWorks does, that is.