Information reaching Kossyderrickent has it that 1995 original test animation for Shrek has been found and uploaded online.
Shrek has already become one of the most popular movie franchises of all time, competing on equal terms with productions from Disney and other major animated studios. Loosely based on the 1990 children’s novel written by William Steig, the story follows the adventures of a solitary ogre who enjoys living alone in a swamp in the middle of the forest. But his life changes completely when several fairy tale characters begin to take refuge in his sanctuary, while they are pursued by Lord Farquaad, who has driven them out of their kingdom.
Early test animation for Shrek has surfaced online after being thought lost for over 20 years. While the full movie was produced and released by DreamWorks Animation in 2001, a different version of the film was originally in development in 1995. This original version of the film starred Chris Farley as the titular character, who portrayed him using early motion capture technology.
To reestablish order in his life and regain his peace, Shrek reaches an agreement with Farquaad to rescue a princess trapped in the tower of a castle guarded by an imposing dragon. Together with Donkey, they will travel miles to rescue Princess Fiona, with whom Shrek falls madly in love. The romance between Fiona and Shrek grows in the following installments, and they come to form their own family, while the universe of the saga has expanded with other titles beyond their story with spinoffs, such as Puss in Boots.
The description of the video reveals the original idea for Shrek was a “dark edgy low budget film,” a far cry from the spoof of fairy tale stories the final product became. Farley’s original voice work also didn’t have the titular character use a Scottish accent, something Mike Myers would add in his performance. As evidenced by the new footage, Shrek’s design was also thinner, with an emphasis on his exaggerated facial expressions.
In the video description, the uploader explains they were involved in the original movie’s production design, indicating how they managed to post the footage. In the clip, Shrek can be seen dancing to “I Got You (I Feel Good)” by James Brown as he flings a knight into the air.