Synopsis

Newly married Shrek and Fiona travel to the kingdom of Far Far Away to meet Fiona's parents, who are shocked by their daughter's choice of husband. While royal expectations, a vengeful Fairy Godmother, and the ambitious Prince Charming threaten their happiness, Shrek must decide whether true love requires him to change. Along the way, he gains an unlikely ally in Puss in Boots.

Factoids & Trivia

• DreamWorks began production on Shrek 2 in 2001, before the first Shrek had been completed.

• The sequel expanded the series' visual technology with improved systems for skin, hair, clothing, lighting, crowds, smoke, magic, and liquid effects. Puss in Boots' fur, belt, and feathered hat required additional production tools.

• Shrek 2 premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 15, 2004, and competed for the Palme d'Or. It opened theatrically in the United States on May 19, 2004.

• The film received two Academy Award nominations: Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for Counting Crows' "Accidentally in Love."

• Jennifer Saunders' performance of "Holding Out for a Hero" became one of the film's most recognizable musical sequences. The scene combines a fairy-tale rescue climax with the exaggerated staging of a pop concert.

• Shrek 2 became a major commercial success, earning approximately $934 million worldwide and ranking among the highest-grossing animated films of its era.

• The film introduced Puss in Boots, who became one of the franchise's most enduring characters and later received his own feature-film spin-offs.