By John Corrado

It’s hard to believe that it has been fifteen years since Shrek was released.  I was a kid when the film came out in 2001, and my first experience with it was on a VHS tape.  Now things have come full circle with a brand new Blu-ray to commemorate the fifteenth anniversary of this modern animated classic, which also happens to be a nostalgic childhood favourite for us young adults.

As we all know, the film follows an ogre named Shrek (Mike Myers) and his loudmouthed sidekick Donkey (Eddie Murphy), who have to rescue Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) to get his swamp back from the evil Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow).

The first ever winner of the newly minted Oscar for Best Animated Feature, and only the second animated film to pick up a screenplay nomination after Toy Story, the place of Shrek in the pop cultural landscape can’t be understated.  Although the characters became subject to a franchise of diminishing returns, and some of the reference heavy humour and song choices feel very much of the time, Shrek is a genuine staple of this past decade that still holds up.  This remains a boisterously entertaining and heartfelt animated film that gleefully upends classic fairy tales, and for those of us who grew up with it and are looking to upgrade their old copies, this new edition of Shrek comes easily recommended.

The Blu-ray also includes a commentary track with co-directors Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jensen and producer Aron Warner, deleted scenes and some featurettes, as well as a karaoke dance party and other music videos.  There’s also a digital download code for The Best of Shrek Shorts.

Shrek is a 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment release.  It’s 93 minutes and rated PG.