Shrek Forever After
DreamWork’s has long had a fantastic reputation when it comes to creating high calibre popular animation, and 2010 looks to be no exception with their latest remarkable creation How To Train Your Dragon due to hit cinemas on 31st March.
Unfortunately a breakdown of all their greatest films would probably take us years to write, so we are looking back over the past decade of DreamWorks’ sensations picking the tastiest morsels from each year for you to feast on...
2000: Chicken Run
Starting the new millennium with a bang, Chicken Run is a classic DreamWorks Animation and was actually nominated for the Best Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical Golden Globe in 2001.
The action starts when egg production begins to falter on the Yorkshire Tweedy Chicken Farm meaning that prospects don’t look good for chickens Ginger, Bunty and Babs.
Determined to escape, it looks as though the chickens’ prayers are answer when Rocky, an apparently flying chicken, lands in their coup...but can a circus Rooster really save the day or will the ladies end up being dead meat? Literally.
2001: Shrek
The first of the mighty Shrek franchise (the next instalment Shrek Forever After is due out July 2010!) became the first film ever to win an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
Along with the well known Ogre, Donkey and Princess the rest of the cast provides an original take on well known children’s myths with; Gingy, the ginger bread man - fiercely protective of his gummy drop buttons; the Germanic three little pigs and arrogant Monsieur Hood accompanied by his overly merry men.
Consistently mentioned when discussing the best children’s movies of all time, Shrek is beloved by young and old alike.
2002: Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Although nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards, this is perhaps one of the lesser known DreamWorks Animations, but is nonetheless remarkable for the lack of gimmicks and pure story telling.
Following the adventures of Spirit, a young mustang stallion who is captured by the US army during the Colonial war, the story captures the themes of love, loyalty and bravery in a way that doesn’t preach but is highly emotive to young viewers.
2003: Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas
A disaster at the US box office, Sinbad was the last traditionally animated DreamWorks film to be commissioned. Set mainly in the Ancient Greek city of Syracuse, Sinbad’s loyalty and honesty is tested when he is tricked by the Greek Goddess of Chaos - Eris.
With a voice cast that includes Brad Pitt, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michelle Pfeiffer in the starring roles it’s really a surprise that this charming Greek mythology tale didn’t do any better.
2004: Shark Tale
Gaining DreamWorks another nomination for best Animated Feature Film, Shark Tale provides a fantastic mix of children’s comedy animation with more subtle grown-up undertones.
Filled with references to classic gangster films like Godfather and Goodfellas (two of the characters are even voiced by Martin Scorsese and Michael Imperioli), this is a movie that even the most hardened of film critics will enjoy.
2005: Madagascar
With a number of award nominations as well as a few wins under its belt, Madagascar did well to be released before a similar DreamWorks film The Wild, which was actually in production before Madagascar!
With an impressive cast including the likes of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer and Jada Pinkett Smith it’s not really a surprise that they pushed Madagascar forward, and the reward was DreamWorks’ fifth highest grossing film ever.
The story follows a group of Zoo inmates, who, following a botched escape by one of their number, are released from captivity with some not finding that quite to their taste.
2006: Over The Hedge
Dubbed by some as a subtle criticism of consumerist America, and the blind advance of society at the expense of nature and the environment Over The Hedge’s apparently more sophisticated subtext lent itself well to critics making this one of DreamWork’s most critically well received films.
Bruce Willis’s RJ the Racoon is forced to trick a group of unsuspecting woodland creatures to help him replenish a bear’s food supply when he wakes Vincent the Bear from hibernation while stealing his food. Gradually coming to like his fellow helpers RJ is ultimately discovered, putting both his friendships and his life in jeopardy.
2007: Bee Movie
This DreamWorks Animation is famously the first ever motion-picture film to be written by Jerry Seinfeld, and was nominated for Best Animation Picture at the Golden Globe awards.
From the typical gangster references (Ray Liotta takes the stand in court and Barry takes pains to point out that Ray is not a 'Good-fella'), parodies of Larry King, to the toppling of the large Saddaam Hussein statue in Iraq Bee Movie is bursting with cultural references.
The story follows Barry B. Benson, your classic worker Bee who is horrified at the uncensored and brazen theft of Bee honey by humans, and fights for Bee rights but with some very unexpected results.
2008: Kung Fu Panda
Filmed in the spirit of Hong Kong action cinema that follows the hero's journey, Kung Fu Panda is DreamWorks third most successful animated movie to date.
The film follows the emotional voyage Po the Giant Panda undertakes when wise Master Oogaway announces Po is the Dragon Warrior; the one who will ultimately defeat Tai Lung the Snow Leopard.
Visually stunning, the film once again manages to draw on mainstream themes that tug at the heart strings, while also remaining high brow enough to please the more refined movie goer.
2009: Monsters vs. Aliens
The first 3D DreamWorks animation Monsters vs. Aliens paved the way for all future DreamWorks motion picture releases. When Susan Murphy is hit by a meteorite and infected with quantonium on her wedding day, there are a few side affects - not least her suddenly growing to a massive size, getting renamed 'Ginormica' and being classified as a Monster!
Starring the voices of Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogan and Hugh Lorrie the film looks at the role of outsiders in saving our society, and the problems that can come from being “different”.
2010: How To Train Your Dragon
This enchanting take on the Vikings and their relationship with the local pests (i.e. a not very good one with dragons), is almost guaranteed to go down in DreamWorks history.
With a fantastic voice cast including Gerard Butler, Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera and Jonah Hill and some 3D animation that will dumbfound even the severest critic of this latest cinematic craze it’s heartfelt story and amazing graphics will please even the toughest skinned.
Shrek Forever After is out now.
DreamWork’s has long had a fantastic reputation when it comes to creating high calibre popular animation, and 2010 looks to be no exception with their latest remarkable creation How To Train Your Dragon due to hit cinemas on 31st March.
Unfortunately a breakdown of all their greatest films would probably take us years to write, so we are looking back over the past decade of DreamWorks’ sensations picking the tastiest morsels from each year for you to feast on...
2000: Chicken Run
Starting the new millennium with a bang, Chicken Run is a classic DreamWorks Animation and was actually nominated for the Best Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical Golden Globe in 2001.
The action starts when egg production begins to falter on the Yorkshire Tweedy Chicken Farm meaning that prospects don’t look good for chickens Ginger, Bunty and Babs.
Determined to escape, it looks as though the chickens’ prayers are answer when Rocky, an apparently flying chicken, lands in their coup...but can a circus Rooster really save the day or will the ladies end up being dead meat? Literally.
2001: Shrek
The first of the mighty Shrek franchise (the next instalment Shrek Forever After is due out July 2010!) became the first film ever to win an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
Along with the well known Ogre, Donkey and Princess the rest of the cast provides an original take on well known children’s myths with; Gingy, the ginger bread man - fiercely protective of his gummy drop buttons; the Germanic three little pigs and arrogant Monsieur Hood accompanied by his overly merry men.
Consistently mentioned when discussing the best children’s movies of all time, Shrek is beloved by young and old alike.
2002: Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Although nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards, this is perhaps one of the lesser known DreamWorks Animations, but is nonetheless remarkable for the lack of gimmicks and pure story telling.
Following the adventures of Spirit, a young mustang stallion who is captured by the US army during the Colonial war, the story captures the themes of love, loyalty and bravery in a way that doesn’t preach but is highly emotive to young viewers.
2003: Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas
A disaster at the US box office, Sinbad was the last traditionally animated DreamWorks film to be commissioned. Set mainly in the Ancient Greek city of Syracuse, Sinbad’s loyalty and honesty is tested when he is tricked by the Greek Goddess of Chaos - Eris.
With a voice cast that includes Brad Pitt, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michelle Pfeiffer in the starring roles it’s really a surprise that this charming Greek mythology tale didn’t do any better.
2004: Shark Tale
Gaining DreamWorks another nomination for best Animated Feature Film, Shark Tale provides a fantastic mix of children’s comedy animation with more subtle grown-up undertones.
Filled with references to classic gangster films like Godfather and Goodfellas (two of the characters are even voiced by Martin Scorsese and Michael Imperioli), this is a movie that even the most hardened of film critics will enjoy.
2005: Madagascar
With a number of award nominations as well as a few wins under its belt, Madagascar did well to be released before a similar DreamWorks film The Wild, which was actually in production before Madagascar!
With an impressive cast including the likes of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer and Jada Pinkett Smith it’s not really a surprise that they pushed Madagascar forward, and the reward was DreamWorks’ fifth highest grossing film ever.
The story follows a group of Zoo inmates, who, following a botched escape by one of their number, are released from captivity with some not finding that quite to their taste.
Tagged in Shrek How To Train Your Dragon