Question 1

True or false: The character of Shrek is based on a real person from 19th-century France.

Accepted Answer

False. Shrek is entirely fictional. The name comes from the German/Yiddish word 'Schreck,' meaning 'fright,' from William Steig's 1990 children's book.

Question 2

True or false: Eddie Murphy ad-libbed so many lines that Donkey's dialogue doubled in the final cut.

Accepted Answer

True. Murphy improvised extensively, and animators added scenes to match his riffs. He recorded over 90% of his lines as improvisation.

Question 3

True or false: The film features a real recording of a Smash Mouth concert in the opening sequence.

Accepted Answer

False. The opening montage uses the studio recording of 'All Star.' No live concert footage or audio from Smash Mouth appears in the film.

Question 4

True or false: DreamWorks originally wanted Shrek to be a 2D traditionally animated film.

Accepted Answer

False. DreamWorks always planned Shrek as a CGI film. The studio had just launched with 'Antz' and wanted to showcase their 3D animation capabilities.

Question 5

True or false: Shrek was the first film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

Accepted Answer

True. The category debuted in 2002, and Shrek won the inaugural Oscar, beating 'Monsters, Inc.' and 'Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius.'

Question 6

True or false: Shrek was originally voiced by Chris Farley before Mike Myers took over.

Accepted Answer

True. Chris Farley recorded nearly all of Shrek's dialogue but died in 1997. Mike Myers was hired and re-recorded the role, adding the Scottish accent.

Question 7

True or false: Princess Fiona’s transformation was originally meant to be permanent at the end.

Accepted Answer

False. In the book, Fiona remains an ogress. The film changed it to a happy ending where she stays ogre-sized, but the permanence was always intended.

Question 8

True or false: The Duloc song was performed by a cast member who had never sung professionally before.

Accepted Answer

True. The song 'Welcome to Duloc' was sung by actor Christopher Knights (also the voice of Three Blind Mice), who was not a professional singer.

Shrek Trivia Questions