Film Techniques Used in Shrek to Ensure the Broadest Possible Appeal To Viewers

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Film Techniques Used in Shrek to Ensure the Broadest Possible Appeal To Viewers

The animators of 'Shrek' use many film techniques to make certain of

the broadest possible appeal to viewers. For example, its constant

references to popular culture, its new style of animation, its wide

range of characters and most of all its humour.

'Shrek' was an award winning film in 2000, receiving an Oscar for

'Best Animated Film'. The popularity, both on the big screen and

DVD/VHS, is due to its wide audience appeal and the use of the latest

ground-breaking animation techniques.

One way the animators have ensured a broad audience appeal is through

the films characterisation. The four main characters; Fiona-the

princess, Shrek-the ogre, Donkey-Shreks companion, and Lord

Farquaad-the evil guy, each have different personalities and very

different characteristics. This makes the film interesting and

appealing on a number of levels.

Shrek, Donkey, Fiona and Farquaad each put across a different message

to the audience, and each viewer, young or old, will be able to relate

to at least one of the main characters.

The main character, of course, is Shrek. Shrek brings a lot of humour

to the film but also puts across one of the main messages of the film:

'don't judge a book by its cover.' Shrek is an ogre living on the

outskirts of a town called Duloc, where he is hated and wanted dead by

the people of the town, mainly because he is different from everybody

else and nobody understands or knows him. The film sees Shrek

befriended by an unwanted donkey that, unlike anyone Shrek has ever

encountered before, warms to him and is desperate to be friends ...

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...pular realistic effect.

I think the morals that come across in Shrek are its best points. They

make the film more than just a film. They give it something that

stands out from so many other films because we can all learn a little

from watching 'Shrek.' So many of us can relate and respond to the

messages we receive from the various different characters. These sorts

of things make the film worth while to view even if you are not a huge

fan of animated movies.

Overall 'Shrek' is an excellent film that goes to so many lengths to

ensure a broad audience appeal in over seven main ways, the best being

its varied characterisation and refreshing humour, and extreme

realistic effects so that you cannot help but find yourself getting

lost in the world of Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona at least once during the

animated fantasy.

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