History Awesome / Shrek

!!''Film Examples''
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/riding_a_dragon.PNG]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Yesterday's enemy becomes today's friend. [[WesternAnimation/Shrek2 And then wife.]]]]
* The opening scene alone is awesome in its own right for just how iconic it is and for [[EstablishingSeriesMoment perfectly and quickly establishing the tone and humor throughout the entire franchise.]]
* Shrek is about to go straight to [=DuLoc=] and make Farquaad give him his swamp back, but he needs a guide. However, no one is willing to deal with the man who forced them out of house and home... ''except Donkey.''
* Shrek and Donkey win over [=DuLoc=]'s spectators (and the home audience) with a [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown no-holds-barred]] ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnql4vU28Ns smackdown]]'' on Farquaad's knights. All while Music/JoanJett's [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic "Bad Reputation"]] plays in the background.
* Shrek stops Dragon chasing him, Fiona and Donkey out of the castle with a sword and good planning. By leading the collared Dragon through a series of criss-crossing pillars, then stabbing a sword through one of the crosses made by the collar's chains. When Dragon tries to fly after them, the sword gets caught between the two points and acts as an anchor, stopping her.
* Fiona interrupts Robin Hood's song with a flying kick to the head, then {{Curb Stomp}}s the Merry Men.
* The simple fact that Donkey goes back to Shrek's swamp and fights with him about how [[WhatTheHellHero he's pushed everyone away.]] He even gets physical with Shrek as they wrestle with a stick, and going so far as to yell in Shrek's face. Considering Shrek is a creature whom could likely easily maim or even eat a creature like Donkey, it's suffice to say the latter has balls.
** Following that, Donkey reveals to Shrek that he has Dragon on their side and has her fly them to [=DuLoc=]. That's right: Donkey tamed a fire-breathing lizard by ''becoming its boyfriend.''
-->'''Shrek:''' "So, um... what ''did'' Fiona say about me?\\
'''Donkey:''' What're you askin' me, for? Why don't you just go ask her?\\
'''Shrek:''' [[OhCrap The wedding! We'll never make it in time!]]\\
'''Donkey:''' Ha ha ha, never fear! For where there's a will, there's a way, and I have a way! ''(whistles for Dragon)''\\
''Dragon comes flying into the swamp, much to Shrek's surprise''\\
'''Shrek:''' Donkey?!\\
'''Donkey:''' Hahaha! I guess it's just my animal magnetism!
* A quick example: Shrek arrives just in time at Fiona and Farquaad's wedding, but upon the revelation that Fiona is an ogress, Farquaad orders his men to have her imprisoned and Shrek killed. All seems lost... until Shrek whistles to summon Dragon, [[BigDamnHeroes who then bursts in through the church's stained-glass window]], [[JustDesserts and eats Farquaad]]. People in the theater even cheered at his well-deserved death.
** This immediately gets compounded by Donkey announcing "[[IveGotAnXAndImNotAfraidToUseIt I've got a dragon here and I'm not afraid to use it! I'M A DONKEY ON THE EDGE!!!]]" A content Dragon then belches out Farquaad's crown.

[[caption-width-right:350:Yesterday's enemy becomes today's friend.]]

!!''Meta Examples''
* A RealLife example: The amount of success the first film received wasn't just at the box-office, but also involved Creator/EddieMurphy being nominated for a [=BAFTA=], and the screenplay winning one, becoming the first American animated film since ''WesternAnimation/PeterPan'' to play in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, and winning the inaugural UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for Best Animated Feature with the screenplay gaining a nomination. All of this happened for a FracturedFairyTale about an ogre and a donkey! This not only made Creator/DreamWorks a powerful player in the animation feature industry, but made it possible for non-Disney studios to also compete in the field. Eventually, in 2020, it was even inducted into the UsefulNotes/NationalFilmRegistry - and became the first full-length animated film not released by Disney to do so. And keep in mind, that last instance was ''after'' the franchise had retroactively entered "WatchItForTheMeme" status due to its [[WesternAnimation/ShrekTheThird third outing's]] lukewarm reception; it's been a long time coming, but ''Shrek'' is finally acknowledged as a cinematic icon.

** This immediately gets compounded by Donkey announcing "[[IveGotAnXAndImNotAfraidToUseIt I've got a dragon here and I'm not afraid to use it! I'M A DONKEY ON THE EDGE!!!!]]" A content-looking Dragon then burps out Farquaad's crown.

* Shrek and Donkey win over [=DuLoc=]'s spectators (and the home audience) with a [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown no-holds-barred]] ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?hnql4vU28Ns smackdown]]'' on Farquaad's knights. All while Music/JoanJett's [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic "Bad Reputation"]] plays in the background.

* Shrek and Donkey win over [=DuLoc=]'s spectators (and the home audience) with a [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown no-holds-barred]] ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSVJARlAdmc smackdown]]'' on Farquaad's knights. All while Music/JoanJett's [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic "Bad Reputation"]] plays in the background.

* The opening scene alone is awesome in its own right for just how iconic it is and for perfectly and quickly establishing the tone and humor throughout the entire franchise.

* A quick example: Shrek arrives just in time at Fiona and Farquaad's wedding, but upon the revelation that Fiona is an ogress, Farquaad orders his men to have her imprisoned and Shrek killed. All seems lost... until Shrek whistles to call out Dragon, [[BigDamnHeroes who then bursts in through the church's stained-glass window]], [[JustDesserts and eats Farquaad]]. People in the theater even cheered at his well-deserved death.

* A quick example: Shrek arrives just in time at Fiona and Farquaad's wedding, but upon the revelation that Fiona is an ogress, Farquaad orders his men to have her imprisoned and Shrek killed. All seems lost... until Shrek whistles to call out Dragon [[BigDamnHeroes who then bursts in through the church's stained-glass window]], [[JustDesserts and eats Farquaad]]. People in the theater even cheered at his well-deserved death.

* A quick example: Shrek arrives just in time at Fiona and Farquaad's wedding, but upon the revelation that Fiona is an ogress, Farquaad orders his men to have her imprisoned and Shrek killed. All seems lost... [[BigDamnHeroes then Dragon bursts in through the church's stained-glass window]], [[JustDesserts and eats Farquaad]]. People in the theater even cheered at his well-deserved death.

* Shrek is about to go straight to [=DuLoc=] and make Farquaad give him his swamp back, but he needs a guide. However, no one is willing to deal with the man who forced them out of house and home... ''except for Donkey.''

* Shrek and Donkey win over [=DuLoc's=] spectators (and the home audience) with a [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown no-holds-barred]] ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSVJARlAdmc smackdown]]'' on Farquaad's knights. All while Music/JoanJett's [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic "Bad Reputation"]] plays in the background.

* A quick example: Shrek arrives just in time at Fiona and Farquaad's wedding, but upon the revelation that Fiona is an ogress, Farquaad orders his men to have her imprisoned and Shrek killed. All seems lost... [[BigDamnHeroes then Dragon bursts in through the church's stained-glass window]], [[JustDesserts and devours Farquaad]]. People in the theater even cheered at his well-deserved death.

* A RealLife example: The amount of success the first film received wasn't just at the box-office, but also involved Creator/EddieMurphy being nominated for a [=BAFTA=], and the screenplay winning one (even Creator/RobinWilliams in ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'' can’t claim that), becoming the first American animated film since ''WesternAnimation/PeterPan'' to play in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, and winning the inaugural UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for Best Animated Feature with the screenplay gaining a nomination. All of this happened for a FracturedFairyTale about an ogre and a donkey! This not only made Creator/DreamWorks a powerful player in the animation feature industry, but made it possible for non-Disney studios to also compete in the field. Eventually, in 2020, it was even inducted into the UsefulNotes/NationalFilmRegistry - and became the first full-length animated film not released by Disney to do so. And keep in mind, that last instance was ''after'' the franchise had retroactively entered "WatchItForTheMeme" status due to its [[WesternAnimation/ShrekTheThird third outing's]] lukewarm reception; it's been a long time coming, but ''Shrek'' is finally acknowledged as a cinematic icon.

* A RealLife example: The amount of success the first film received wasn't just at the box-office, but also involved Creator/EddieMurphy being nominated for a [=BAFTA=], and the screenplay winning one (even Creator/RobinWilliams in ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'' can’t claim that), becoming the first American animated film since ''WesternAnimation/PeterPan'' to play in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, and winning the inaugural UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for Best Animated Feature with the screenplay gaining a nomination. All of this happened for a FracturedFairyTale about an ogre and a donkey! This not only made Creator/DreamWorks a powerful player in the animation feature industry, but made it possible for non-Disney studios to also compete in the field. Eventually, in 2020, it was even inducted into the UsefulNotes/NationalFilmRegistry - and became the first full-length animated film not released by Disney to do so. And keep in mind, that last instance was ''after'' the franchise had retroactively entered "WatchItForTheMeme" status due to its [[WesternAnimation/ShrekTheThird third outing]]; it's been a long time coming, but ''Shrek'' is finally acknowledged as a cinematic icon.

* A RealLife example: The amount of success the first film received wasn't just at the box-office, but also involved Creator/EddieMurphy being nominated for a [=BAFTA=], and the screenplay winning one (even Creator/RobinWilliams in ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'' can’t claim that), becoming the first American animated film since ''WesternAnimation/PeterPan'' to play in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, and winning the inaugural UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for Best Animated Feature with the screenplay gaining a nomination. All of this happened for a FracturedFairyTale about an ogre and a donkey! This not only made Creator/DreamWorks a powerful player in the animation feature industry, but made it possible for non-Disney studios to also compete in the field. Eventually, in 2020, it was even inducted into the UsefulNotes/NationalFilmRegistry - and became the first full-length animated film not released by Disney to do so.

* A RealLife example: The amount of success the first film received wasn't just at the box-office, but also involved Creator/EddieMurphy being nominated for a [=BAFTA=], and the screenplay winning one (even Creator/RobinWilliams in ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'' can’t claim that), becoming the first American animated film since ''WesternAnimation/PeterPan'' to play in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, and winning the inaugural UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for Best Animated Feature with the screenplay gaining a nomination. All of this happened for a FracturedFairyTale about an ogre and a donkey! This not only made Creator/DreamWorks a powerful player in the animation feature industry, but made it possible for non-Disney studios to also compete in the field.
** [[UptoEleven Taken Up to Eleven]] that '''''Shrek''''' even got inducted into National Film Registry in 2020, the first full-length animated film not released by Disney to do so.

** [[UptoEleven Taken Up to Eleven]] that '''''Shrek''''' even got inducted into National Film Registry in 2020.

* Shrek and Donkey win over [=DuLoc's=] spectators (and the home audience) with a [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown no-holds-barred]] ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSVJARlAdmc smackdown]]'' on Farquaad's knights.
** All while Music/JoanJett's [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic "Bad Reputation"]] plays in the background.

* A quick example: Shrek arrives just in time at Fiona and Farquaad's wedding, but upon the revelation that Fiona is an ogress, Farquaad orders his men to have her imprisoned and Shrek killed. All seems lost... [[BigDamnHeroes then Dragon bursts in through the church's stain-glass window]], [[JustDesserts and devours Farquaad]]. People in the theater even cheered at his well-deserved death.

** All while [[Music/JoanJett Joan Jett's]] [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic Bad Reputation]] plays in the background.