Key Takeaways
- DreamWorks Animation rose to fame with hits like Shrek, Madagascar, and Easy methods to Prepare Your Dragon.
- The studio has produced a variety of authentic movies and sequels, together with the Trolls and Kung Fu Panda franchises.
- DreamWorks classics are nonetheless celebrated, with new entries like Kung Fu Panda 4, and Shrek 5 on the horizon.
DreamWorks Animation has been a mainstay on this planet of animation for the reason that late-’90s. With the discharge of the acclaimed The Wild Robotic, it is a good time to have a look again in any respect the good choices the studio has given children and households over the many years, from the Shrek and Easy methods to Prepare Your Dragon films, to the Trolls franchise, and extra.
The studio, initially based as a division of DreamWorks SKG by director Steven Spielberg and former Disney govt Jeffrey Katzenberg. Their first movie was the CG-animated film Antz in 1998, and so they adopted it up the identical yr with the beloved biblical epic The Prince of Egypt, which was made with a mixture of conventional hand-drawn and pc animation. It was the discharge of Shrek in 2001, that served because the studio’s blockbuster breakthrough, incomes practically $500 million on the field workplace, and profitable the primary ever Academy Award for Finest Animated Function, together with a nomination for Finest Tailored Screenplay.
Within the years that adopted, DreamWorks produced many authentic films, together with Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, Megamind, Easy methods to Prepare Your Dragon, The Croods, The Boss Child, Trolls, and The Unhealthy Guys, together with a slew of sequels, and the Shrek spin-off franchise Puss in Boots.
In fact, an important query is, the place are you able to stream all these DreamWorks classics? Fortunately, we have got you coated.
This listing will not be exhaustive however consists of the studios’ most iconic hits from the previous 25 years
1 Shrek
The franchise that turned DreamWorks into an animation juggernaut
The film had mother and father within the viewers laughing as a lot as their children.
DreamWorks bought its begin with movies like Antz and The Prince of Egypt, nevertheless it took a grumpy inexperienced ogre to cement the corporate as one of many high animation studios in America. The unique Shrek, that includes the voices of Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, and John Lithgow, was launched in Could 2001 and have become an instantaneous smash hit. A satirical tackle traditional Disney fairy tales, the film had mother and father within the viewers laughing as a lot as their children.
In 2004, DreamWorks returned to fortunately ever after in Shrek 2, the extremely acclaimed sequel. It opened to over $108 million in its first weekend on the field workplace, changing into on the time the second-biggest opening weekend ever, behind solely 2002’s Spider-Man. The movie finally went on to earn practically $1 billion worldwide. The sequel additionally launched moviegoers to Puss in Boots, as voiced by Antonio Banderas, the movie’s most beloved character, who would go on to guide his personal spin-off movies.
Three years later, Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey have been again for Shrek the Third. The movie additionally featured the voice of Justin Timberlake as Arthur Pendragon, with Monty Python legend Eric Idle as Merlin. Amid a plot by Prince Charming to take management of the dominion, Shrek finds himself uninterested in ruling and tries to get Fiona’s teenage cousin Artie to take his place. The movie was one other massive success, incomes over $800 million on the field workplace.
In 2010, DreamWorks closed the e-book on the Shrek collection (for now) with the fourth entry within the franchise, Shrek Without end After. A married ogre with children, Shrek begins eager for his outdated life and goes out looking for journey. One other massive success, incomes over $700 million on the field workplace, DreamWorks nonetheless saved the Shrek franchise on ice, till just lately, when the studio introduced Shrek 5 is on the way in which and anticipated to hit theaters in 2026.
Associated
DreamWorks’ The Wild Robotic is giving me main Easy methods to Prepare Your Dragon vibes
I will admit it — the HTTYD films get an annual re-watch in my family. Certain, it is one of many best animated trilogies of all time, nevertheless it’s greater than that. They make you are feeling linked to each individuals and fantastical creatures, it doesn’t matter what age you might be. They’re the sort of film that oldsters are simply as excited to see on the silver display as their toddler sprinting via the movie show foyer is, particularly with the ab-inducing grownup jokes that fly proper over their radar. Nevertheless, it feels prefer it’s been years since we have been handled to a film that accomplishes this — we reminisce about movies like Shrek, The Emperor’s New Groove, and The Street to El Dorado, not just for the marks they left on us as children but in addition for the way we proceed to understand them as adults. Lately, few films handle to resonate with each children and adults like they used to. Inside Out 2 is a current exception, although I might argue it would not carry the identical whimsy as being thrust right into a brand-new world wit
2 Puss in Boots
Everybody’s favourite sword-fighting feline will get the highlight
With the Shrek franchise on pause, DreamWorks launched its first spin-off, 2011’s Puss in Boots. As soon as once more that includes the voice of Antonio Banderas as Puss, the adventurous kitty cat goes out on the hunt for fortune within the type of three golden eggs. That’s, if he can get there earlier than the murderous outlaws Jack and Jill discover the eggs first.
The surprisingly emotional movie, with its distinctive, painterly artwork model, gained over critics and audiences.
After 11 lengthy years, Puss lastly returned to the massive display within the sequel Puss in Boots: The Final Want. After studying he is gone via eight of his 9 cat lives, Puss faces an existential disaster, venturing out looking for the fabled Final Want, in order that he can restore his 9 lives. The surprisingly emotional movie, with its distinctive, painterly artwork model, gained over each critics and audiences.
3 Easy methods to Prepare Your Dragon
DreamWorks takes flight within the land of Vikings
Just some months after Avatar wowed audiences, in spring 2010, DreamWorks took 3D dragon using to the following degree with Easy methods to Prepare Your Dragon. The movie tells the story of Hiccup, a younger Viking voiced by Jay Baruchel, who manages to injure a uncommon Evening Fury dragon he calls Toothless, however then cannot undergo with killing him. As a substitute, the 2 develop into associates and uncover the key behind the age-old feud between dragons and Vikings.
DreamWorks took 3D dragon using to the following degree with Easy methods to Prepare Your Dragon.
5 years after the occasions of Easy methods to Prepare Your Dragon, the 2014 sequel sees Hiccup assembly his long-lost mom, Valka. On the identical time, Hiccup and Toothless should assist his neighborhood fend off a merciless dragon hunter who has set his sights on international domination.
The ultimate installment of the Easy methods to Prepare Your Dragon trilogy, Easy methods to Prepare Your Dragon: The Hidden World, was launched in theaters in 2019. Within the movie, Hiccup should come to phrases with Toothless dropping curiosity in him after bonding with a feminine Evening Fury dragon. In the meantime, Hiccup goes out looking for the dragon utopia referred to as the Hidden World, and faces the specter of dragon hunter Grimmel the Grisly. Although no extra sequels within the Easy methods to Prepare Your Dragon franchise are deliberate, the collection is getting a live-action adaptation scheduled for launch in 2025.
4 The Prince of Egypt
One of many best tales ever advised involves life like by no means earlier than
The Prince of Egypt has develop into a broadly beloved traditional, with households placing it on yearly round Passover and Easter.
Earlier than DreamWorks went all-in on pc animation, the studio was nonetheless within the enterprise of conventional, hand-drawn animation, and their first 2D launch was the biblical epic The Prince of Egypt. The movie featured the voices of Val Kilmer, Michelle Pfeiffer, Ralph Fiennes, Sandra Bullock, Jeff Goldblum, and extra. It additionally featured a fantastic soundtrack, together with the hit Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey duet “When You Imagine,” which gained Finest Authentic Music on the Oscars. Over time, The Prince of Egypt has develop into a broadly beloved traditional, with households placing it on yearly round Passover and Easter.
5 The Street to El Dorado
A literal New World of journey
In 2000, DreaamWorks launched their hand-drawn follow-up to The Prince of Egypt, the comedy-adventure movie The Street to El Dorado, starring Kevin Kline and Kenneth Branagh, and written by Aladdin scribes Terry Rossio and Ted Elliott, who would additionally go on to jot down Shrek and the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. The Street to El Dorado is a few pair of con males who arrive within the New World after getting maintain of a map claiming to indicate the situation of the legendary metropolis of gold. As soon as there, the inhabitants mistake the pair for gods, and hijinks ensue.
6 Madagascar
It is a zoo on the market
Scorching off the success of Shrek 2, in 2005, DreamWorks launched the primary film of their subsequent massive franchise: Madagascar. The movie is a few group of zoo animals, very used to their pampered, domesticated lives, who discover themselves stranded on the island of Madagascar and should lastly come to phrases with their internal nature. The movie featured the voices of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, and Jada Pinkett Smith. It additionally launched the world to the hilarious penguins, whose antics offered a lot of the movie’s comedian reduction.
In 2008, the animals returned for Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, wherein the crew all find yourself within the African savanna, and Alex the lion is reunited together with his mother and father. The movie additionally added a lot of stars to its stacked voice solid, together with Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric the Entertainer, Bernie Mac, and Sherri Shepherd.
As a result of adventuring via Africa wasn’t sufficient, in 2012, everybody’s favourite escaped animals from the Central Park Zoo made their strategy to Europe for Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wished. Touring throughout the continent with a circus, the animals attempt to get again dwelling to New York, all whereas being chased by a nasty French animal management officer.
In 2014, the beloved penguins of Madagascar lastly bought their very own characteristic movie: Penguins of Madagascar. The franchise’s most hilarious creatures discover themselves in the midst of an action-spy comedy. They workforce up with the North Wind intelligence company to cease a large octopus named Dave from taking his revenge on the world’s penguins.
7 Kung Fu Panda
An historic martial artwork will get animated with the assistance of Jack Black and Jackie Chan
In 2008’s Kung Fu Panda, an lovable, bumbling panda named Po, voiced by Jack Black, learns he’s the prophesied kung fu hero referred to as the Dragon Warrior. However earlier than he can declare his mantle and defeat the evil snow leopard Tai Lung, Po should obtain his coaching from Grasp Shifu, voiced by Dustin Hoffman. He is additionally joined by a crew of kung fu-fighting animals voiced by Angelina Jolie, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, and the long-lasting Jackie Chan.
In 2011’s Kung Fu Panda 2, Po and the Livid 5 work collectively to cease the evil peacock Lord Shen, voiced by Gary Oldman, from conquering China, all whereas uncovering the secrets and techniques of Po’s previous. Michelle Yeoh additionally joined the solid because the sensible goat Soothsayer.
Launched in 2016, Kung Fu Panda 3 sees Po reunited together with his beginning father and discovering a secret panda village. Issues get shaken up, although, by Normal Kai, a spirit warrior intent on destroying Grasp Oogway’s legacy. Po should grasp the artwork of chi, and lead the pandas in a struggle towards Normal Kai.
In 2024’s Kung Fu Panda 4, Po is tasked with discovering and coaching his successor within the function of Dragon Warrior. He groups up with a fox bandit named Zhen, voiced by Awkwafina, to be able to cease The Chameleon, an evil sorceress, from stealing all of the powers from China’s kung fu masters.
8 Trolls
Spiky-haired dolls get new life on this collection of musical adventures
Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake star as Poppy and Department exit on an journey to cease the large troll-eating creatures, the Bergens, on this jukebox musical primarily based on the traditional kids’s Good Luck Trolls dolls. Timberlake’s tune Cannot Cease the Feeling! was nominated for Finest Authentic Music on the Oscars that yr.
The Trolls returned in 2020’s Trolls World Tour, wherein Poppy and Department should be a part of with different trolls to cease the Queen of the Rock tribe, Barb, who seeks to unite all trolls beneath the rock music style.
Poppy and Department returned as soon as once more in 2023’s Trolls Band Collectively. Collectively, they have to rescue Floyd, and reunite with Department’s brothers, years after their boy band BroZone disbanded. The film additionally featured the voices of artists like Child Cudi, Daveed Diggs, Camila Cabello, Troye Sivan, and a reunited NSYNC.