Shrek 2

Colour, 35 mm
USA, 2004, 92 min
Section: Out of competition

Synopsis

The animated family comedy Shrek (2001, dir. by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson) seems to have deserved a sequel. The protagonist is once again that green, ugly, good-hearted ogre Shrek. Like the last time around he is unable to find peace in his stinking swamp, far from people, fairy-tale creatures and every other annoying thing. Thanks to his courage and cleverness (and the help of his motor-mouth donkey friend) Shrek won the heart of Princess Fiona, and now he must carry out a task even more difficult than defeating a dragon: he must visit Fiona’s parents. The royal couple is of course looking forward to the return of their lost daughter and to meeting her liberator. They don’t suspect, however, that a curse has somewhat changed Fiona, nor that she’s chosen a husband who is a far cry from their ideal of what a son-in-law should be. In order to have things their way (i.e. eliminate Shrek), the king and queen cut a deal with Fairy Godmother, Prince Charming and the dauntless ogre killer – Puss in Boots. Based on characters created by William Steig.

About the director

Andrew Adamson (b. 1966, Auckland, New Zeland) co-directed the first Shrek (2001). He was also technical director of special effects on Toys (1992) and visual effects supervisor on Batman Forever (1995) and Batman and Robin (1997). At present he is billed as producer and director of the upcoming adaptation of the first part of C. S. Lewis’s fantasy saga The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Kelly Asbury (b. 1960, Beaumont, USA) worked on the first Shrek as one of the story artists, although his filmography also includes co-direction of the animated film Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002) and assistant art direction on the cult puppet movie The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). He also worked on the animated features Toy Story (1995), The Prince of Egypt (1998) and Chicken Run (2000).
Conrad Vernon (b. 1968, Lubbock, USA) worked with Andrew Adamson on the video PartShrek in the Swamp Karaoke Dance Party (2001).