Shrek Retold
DirectorGrant Duffrin
Producer
  • Christopher Carlone
  • Nolan Cooney
  • Justin Silverman
  • Bryan Stickley
  • Lee Terwilliger
EditingGrant Duffrin
Studio3GI Industries
Distributor3GI Industries (YouTube and Blu-ray)
Autumn Sounds
(VHS)
ReleasedNovember 29, 2018
Runtime90 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Shrek Retold is a fan-made reanimated collab and remake film based on the 2001 film Shrek, in turn based on the 1990 children's book by William Steig. Released on November 29, 2018, to YouTube, the project was led by YouTuber Grant Duffrin ("3GI"), best known for hosting an annual Shrek festival in Milwaukee from 2014 to 2023.[1][2][3] It features the work of over 200 creators, each contributing to a portion of the recreation.

Premise

See also: Shrek § Plot

Shrek Retold follows the plot of the original film with only some deviations.[4] The main difference between Shrek Retold and the original is in its reinterpretation; as a collaborative effort with over 200 contributors,[5][2][6][7] the art style, voice acting, and music change from scene to scene, often being wildly different from the original.[8][1] Unlike the original Shrek which is entirely 3D animated, Shrek Retold features 2D and 3D animation animation, live action, stop-motion and other mediums.[9] The film's contributors include many on internet personalities and actors, such as David Liebe Hart,[10] Michael Cusack,[11] Anthony Fantano,[12] Jamie Loftus, and SiIvaGunner.[‡ 1]

Production and release

I have no idea if it's possible to like something ironically. It's like, could you enjoy ice cream ironically? Could you eat ice cream as a joke?

— Grant Duffrin, interview with Quartz[13]

Shrek Retold was produced as collaborative, but segmented effort; director Grant Duffrin split the film into different scenes of varying length, and each scene was recreated by a contributor.[8] In an interview with Quartz, Duffrin stated his love of Shrek was genuine, contrary to the "ironic" Shrek internet memes of the time.[13] Shortly prior to release, a trailer for the film was uploaded to the 3GI channel which received significant news coverage.[6][7][1][‡ 1] The film premiered on YouTube to a live audience on November 29, 2018, and has since remained on the site.[14][‡ 2] On November 29, 2019, it was announced that the film would be available for purchase on a film poster, VHS and as a free digital download.[‡ 3] A Blu-ray release was later announced on March 1, 2022.[15]

Soundtrack

Shrek Retold (Official Soundtrack)
Soundtrack
ArtistVarious Artists
ReleasedNovember 29, 2018
LabelAutumn Sounds

The soundtrack was released on streaming services and cassette for the film's first anniversary on November 29, 2019. It features covers of songs featured in the original Shrek's soundtrack and additional original songs written specifically for the project.

Reception

Shrek Retold was received well by critics, who mainly praised its impressive scope for a fan film project and its bizarre content.[2][16][14]

Future

Originally, on April 1, 2019, 3GI posted an April Fools video titled Shrek 2 Retold in which the project director discussed the creation of Shrek Retold.[‡ 4] During Shrekfest 2019, it was announced that Shrek 2 Retold was no longer just a joke and is actually happening via an animated announcement trailer.[17][unreliable source?] On April 22, 2021, as a celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the original film, 3GI posted an official teaser trailer of Shrek 2 Retold.[‡ 5][‡ 6] The film premiered at the tenth Shrekfest via an in-person screening at the Oriental Theatre on September 3, 2023.[‡ 7] A trailer was released on May 19, 2024, announcing the film will be released on September 28 of that year, as well as announcing a number of contributors, including Justin Long, Zach Hadel, Lucas Cruikshank, Tay Zonday, Justin & Travis McElroy, Jake and Amir, Joe Pera, Jaiden Animations, Richard Steven Horvitz, Matt Bennett, Noah Munck, Dax Flame, Kevin McDonald, jacksfilms, Tom Fulp, James Rolfe, LAKE, Steve Zaragoza, Shoenice, Mega64, Jerma985, Bill Wurtz, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, and the two posthumous appearances from Gilbert Gottfried and Will Cullen Hart.[‡ 8] On September 20, 2024, the film was delayed indefinitely.[‡ 9] As of January 29, 2026, the film is still in progress.[‡ 10]

In March 2020, Shrek Retold was followed up by Sonic Rebuilt, a similar recreation of Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie (1996). Unlike Shrek Retold, Sonic Rebuilt uses the soundtrack from its source OVA.[‡ 11]

See also

References

  1. ^ Neilan, Dan (November 19, 2018). "Shrek is getting the deranged, scene-by-scene remake it deserves". The A.V. Club. Archived December 2, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  2. ^ Kooser, Amanda (November 30, 2018). "200 people remade Shrek and now it's totally hallucinogenic". CNET. Archived November 30, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  3. ^ Kirby, Hannah (January 29, 2024). "Milwaukee's Shrekfest has come to an end. It was 'the ultimate celebration of love, laughter, and our favorite green ogre.'". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  4. ^ LaCerte, Marcie (2018-11-17). "How I became one of the animators of "Shrek Retold," a crowdsourced remake of "Shrek"". Quartz. Archived November 18, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  5. ^ Heisler, Yoni (2018-12-01). "200 'Shrek' fans created a spectacular shot-for-shot remake of the original film". BGR. Archived April 29, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  6. ^ Mufson, Beckett (2018-11-19). "More Than 200 Artists Remade 'Shrek' Scene-by-Scene and Boy It Looks Weird". Vice. Archived April 28, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  7. ^ Hernandez, Patricia (2018-11-16). "Over 200 artists got together to remake Shrek". The Verge. Archived May 13, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  8. ^ Stokel-Walker, Chris (2018-11-30). "How a ragtag bunch of Shrek fans remade the film scene by scene". Wired UK. ISSN 1357-0978. Archived September 4, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  9. ^ Lieu, Johnny (2018-11-19). "'Shrek Retold' is a bizarre fan-made remake of the classic animated film". Mashable. Archived February 18, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  10. ^ Lee, Anna (2019-02-28). "The problem with David Liebe Hart: Shrek Retold to be screened in Grass Valley". www.theunion.com. Archived March 1, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  11. ^ Britton, David (2018-11-19). "'Shrek Retold' is the fan remake that's going to blow your mind". The Daily Dot. Archived November 15, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  12. ^ Kacperski, Kamil (2018-11-20). "Zobaczcie zwiastun remake'u "Shreka" przygotowanego przez ponad 200 artystów" (in Polish). AntyRadio.pl. Archived April 24, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  13. ^ Quartz (2018-11-09). "Shrek fandom and its weird, crowdsourced, movie remake". YouTube. Archived May 18, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  14. ^ Sorto, Gabrielle (2018-11-30). "'Shrek Retold' is the bizarre fan remake you need to watch". The Daily Dot. Archived December 10, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  15. ^ "NEW SPONSOR PRIZE: Shrek Retold Blu-rays!". Patreon. March 28, 2022. Archived July 12, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  16. ^ Fisher, Kieran (2018-12-03). "'Shrek Retold' and the Magic of Positive Fandom". Film School Rejects. Archived April 23, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  17. ^ Conner The Pixie (September 10, 2019). "Crowd Reacts to Shrek 2 Retold Announcement Trailer". YouTube. Archived December 20, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  1. ^ 3GI (2018-11-15). "Shrek Retold - Official Trailer". YouTube. Archived November 21, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  2. ^ 3GI (2018-11-29). "Shrek Retold". YouTube. Archived May 29, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
  3. ^ 3GI (2019-11-29). "Shrek Retold VHS". YouTube. Archived May 18, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
  4. ^ Duffrin, Grant (April 2019). "Shrek 2 Retold (April Fools)". YouTube. Archived January 31, 2021 at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ^ "Shrek 2 Retold | Teaser Trailer". YouTube. Archived 2021-12-11 at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ^ "Shrek 2 Retold". Archived March 24, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. – via Twitter.
  7. ^ "Shrekfest". 3GI Industries. Archived August 1, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  8. ^ "Shrek 2 Retold Trailer". YouTube. May 19, 2024. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  9. ^ 3GI (2024-09-20). Shrek 2 Retold DELAYED! Here's why.... Retrieved 2024-09-21. – via YouTube.
  10. ^ 3GI (2026-01-29). Shrek 2 Retold: Keeping a Fan Film Alive. Retrieved 2026-01-30. – via YouTube.
  11. ^ 3GI (2020-03-06). "Sonic Rebuilt". YouTube. Archived April 2, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-06-07.