25th Anniversary of Shrek!

Welcome to a SPECIAL EDITION of the Piece of Advice Newsletter!

Good Morning! Today we are looking into the 25th anniversary of an industry changing animated classic; Shrek! I was even lucky enough to ask a couple of questions to 6 crew members who worked on the film including Ken Bruce (storyboard artist), Becky Cassady (storyboard artist), Tom Hester (head sculptor), Terry Rossio (screenwriter), Edmund Fong (storyboard artist), and Roger S. H. Schulman (screenwriter)!

It’s hard to imagine now, but before “Shrek”, fairy tales in animation followed a familiar script; polished castles, clear heroes, and happy endings that played it safe. Then came a grumpy ogre with a Scottish accent, and everything shifted. What began as a loose adaptation of William Steig’s 1990 picture book turned into something far more unexpected: a film that poked fun at the very stories it came from, while still finding a way to belong among them.

The road to “Shrek” wasn’t smooth. At DreamWorks Animation, the project went through major creative changes, including a complete overhaul of its visual style and tone. Early versions leaned darker and more traditional, but the studio eventually embraced a sharper, more comedic voice. A turning point came with the casting of Mike Myers, who famously re-recorded much of Shrek’s dialogue to give the character his now-iconic accent. Alongside him, Eddie Murphy brought rapid-fire energy to Donkey, and Cameron Diaz grounded Fiona with warmth and wit. Behind the scenes, the film also pushed early 3D animation forward, blending detailed environments with expressive character work that helped sell both the humor and the heart.

What made “Shrek” land so strongly was its balance. It was irreverent without being empty, constantly winking at the audience while still telling a story that felt sincere. It took familiar fairy tale elements; princesses, dragons, noble quests; and flipped them just enough to feel fresh. The humor worked for kids, but it also carried a layer of satire aimed at older viewers, especially in how it playfully jabbed at traditional animation tropes. And beneath all of that, it told a simple story about identity and acceptance, giving the film an emotional core that kept it from becoming just a parody.

The legacy of “Shrek” is easy to see, even years later. It helped redefine what mainstream animated films could sound like, look like, and say, influencing everything from pop culture humor to the rise of more self-aware storytelling in family films. It also marked a turning point for its studio, putting DreamWorks on the map as a real competitor in animation. But more than that, Shrek lingers because of how it made audiences feel; invited in on the joke, yet still moved by the story. And it leaves behind a question worth sitting with: when something challenges the rules of a genre so completely, does it break the mold; or quietly become the new one?

Bonus Question:

Giancarlo: What was it like working on “Shrek”?

Ken Bruce: It was probably the most fun I had in my career. I was in the story department and was able to develop the story with a small group of colleagues over two years. We spend most of the day laughing and carrying on. I’d like to think that joyful energy made its way into the film.

We changed the work space about three times over the two years, and the directors changed a couple times. The story changed many many times, but by the end of our work we realized what we’d started with worked better than what we’d ended up with, and used many of our first ideas.

Becky Cassady: Working on "Shrek" was an amazing experience! I was still early in my career with "Shrek" being the third film I worked on. There was lots of hard work and the schedule could be challenging at times but it was also loads of fun with an incredibly creative and supportive crew.

Tom Hester: I’m very proud to have worked on the first three Shrek films. Designing the lead characters was an amazing experience and I am grateful for and acknowledge the very unusual opportunity to have been allowed to design the characters using traditional sculpture. Although the characters were somewhat cartoony, I tried to give them a believable real world anatomy.

Terry Rossio: Making Shrek was hard. It took seven producers, five directors, five years, and many false starts. The initial technology didn’t work (it was made while CGI was being invented). The most difficult part of the story was figuring out why Shrek would leave the swamp. We wanted a “comic” hero which means a “reluctant” hero. The breakthrough was figuring out putting the displaced fairy tale creatures in his swamp!

Edmund Fong: It was a special time because DreamWorks was my first job. The studio was brand new so there was a lot of energy buzzing through the campus. It was incredible (and overwhelming) to be surrounded by such amazingly talented and inspiring artists from all over the world.

Roger S.H. Schulman: Working on Shrek was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Although there was no way to know how successful it would turn out to be, there was definitely a sense that we were doing something special, maybe even a breakthrough. The edgy tone combined with real heart hit different. Using famous screen actors for voices — and giving them star billing—felt new as well. In the end, every element came together to create a movie that was greater than the sum of its parts. And I got to ride on Jeffrey Katzenberg’s plane!

Piece Of Advice:

Giancarlo: What is this best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Ken Bruce: Well, many great bits of advice:

Have an IDEA before you begin an artistic endeavor.

Don’t worry about the past or the future. Focus on the present.

Be curious. Find joy in the little things!

Finish what you began.

Celebrate your mistakes. You will never learn anything if you don’t fail.

Becky Cassady: There are two pieces of advice I've been incredibly grateful for. One is, "Live below your means (best you can) and stay out of debt." The other is, "Education is an ongoing process. Always stay open to learning from each experience".

Tom Hester: The best advice I have ever received was, in my art, to listen to my gut and follow what moves me, rather than try too hard to please others. It can certainly be a challenge when trying to keep producers and directors happy.

Terry Rossio: Realize that whatever you choose to do in life, you will be good at it. It’s inevitable. If you put in the time and effort, you will become proficient, so don’t worry about that. Worry about choosing something you love to do. Time and effort will take care of the rest.

Edmund Fong: Work hard and don’t get attached to your drawings!

Roger S.H. Schulman: The advice was clear but unspoken: if you are treated well, the best way to show your gratitude is by treating someone else just as well. I’ve had a lot breaks in my career due to the kindness and generosity of talented, successful people, and I’ve found that paying it forward has made me a happier person. 

Thank you for reading! Have an amazing day and we will catch you again soon!

-Giancarlo