Shrek 4-D

Shrek 4-D
General statistics
Attraction type 3-D film
Manufacturer PDI/DreamWorks
Designer Simon J. Smith
Theme Shrek
Duration 16 minutes
Height requirements No hand held infants
Pre-Show Host Magic Mirror on the Wall
Universal Express available at Universal Parks[9]
Wheelchair accessible
Must transfer from wheelchair
Assistive listening available
Shrek 4-D
Directed by Simon J. Smith
Produced by Jeffrey Katzenberg
David Lipman
Written by William Steig (characters)
David Lipman
Starring Mike Myers
Eddie Murphy
Cameron Diaz
John Lithgow
Music by Harry Gregson-Williams
Edited by Michelle Belforte
Production
company
Distributed by Universal Studios
Release dates
  • 2003
Running time
 12 minutes
Country United States
Language English

Shrek 4-D (also known as Shrek 3-D for the DVD release, The Ghost of Lord Farquaad) is a 4D film at various theme parks around the world. Universal Parks & Resorts is the main licensee of the film which is currently shown at their parks in Hollywood,[10] Florida,[9] Japan,[11] and Singapore.[12] Outside of the Universal parks, the movie was shown at Movie Park Germany[8] in Germany from May 2008 until July 2011, and Warner Bros. Movie World in Australia from September 2005 until August 2010.[5][6][13] A spin-off attraction titled Donkey's Photo Finish is located at the Florida venue while Meet Shrek and Donkey is located at the Hollywood venue. In Universal Studios Japan, the attraction is shown in the same theater as Sesame Street 4-D Movie Magic, with the Shrek 4-D film shown for the first half of the day, and the Sesame Street film shown for the second half of the day.

Cast

English cast

History

Entrance to Shrek's 4-D Adventure at Universal Studios Japan.

Amusement park integration

Universal Parks & Resorts have implemented the movie into four of their amusement parks with plans to integrate it into a fifth. The first park to show the film was Universal Studios Hollywood on May 23, 2003.[2] This was followed by Universal Studios Florida and Japan in June.[1] In 2010, the attraction opened with Universal Studios Singapore in the Shrek-themed Far Far Away themed area. Outside of the Universal Parks, the film has only been shown at two theme parks. Movie Park Germany began showing the film on May 27, 2008 (which was shown in German), with Warner Bros. Movie World starting on September 17, 2005.[4]

Warner Bros. Movie World was the first to close Shrek 4D Adventure. An announcement at the start of August 2010 detailed that the attraction would be closing at the end of the month. The final showing was on August 29, 2010.[5][6] Movie Park Germany was the second to close Shrek 4-D with the final showing on July 4, 2011 to be replaced by Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs - The 4-D Experience, which it opens on March 31, 2012.

Universal Studios Hollywood's Shrek 4-D queue has been used for many years to make mazes for Universal's Halloween Horror Nights event. In 2006, The Asylum operated in the queue.[14] This was followed by A Nightmare on Elm Street themed mazes for 2007, 2008, and 2010.[15][16] In 2009 My Bloody Valentine: Be Mine 4 Ever operated in the queue.[17] The final mazes used in this venue were both themed to La Llorona in 2011 and 2012.

Other releases

The attraction (2-D and 3-D) was released on DVD with the original Shrek film as Shrek 3-D.[18] The release included pairs of two-color 3-D glasses. The DVD included an anaglyph 3-D version along with a conventional version without 3-D effects. The DVD release also included a preview of Shrek 2.

On May 13, 2007, the film was shown on Nickelodeon as Shrek's Never Before Seen Adventure,[18] with the 3-D effects removed.

In October 2011, the film was released on Netflix under the title The Ghost of Lord Farquaad as a part of DreamWorks Spooky Stories.[19][20]

A comic adaptation of the film was featured as issue #1 of the Shrek comic book mini-series published by Dark Horse Comics.

Also the 3D re-release short film shown before the 3D family films in 2009–2012 such as Puss in Boots, Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted and Kung Fu Panda 2 in the UK.

It was also released on August 28, 2012, as part of Shrek's Thrilling Tales.

The short was most recently released on a DVD sampler released with Kellogg's cereals in 2013.

Overview

Queue

In the Universal Studios parks, guests wait outside the building (housed in a soundstage) where they watch various clips from the first Shrek film running on a loop. The queue also includes multiple posters for fake advertisements for attractions in the Kingdom of Duloc. Guests then enter a dungeon in Duloc where the storyline for the attraction will be revealed.[21]

At Warner Bros. Movie World, the queue began outside the Roxy Theatre and wrapped around the left-hand side of the building into the alleyway. Guests were ushered into the pre-show room where they were given a pair of 3D glasses.[22] A similar set-up occurs at Movie Park Germany.

Pre-show

Participants are given their "OgreVision" 3-D Goggles as they enter a dungeon-like room with two giant television screens on either side. While loading the pre-show room attraction presenters commonly make jokes to encourage people to move closer to each other in order to fit the capacity audience in the room. The pre-show begins with the Three Little Pigs, Gingy, and Pinocchio revealing that Lord Farquaad has kidnapped them and is holding them in Castle Duloc's dungeon. The Magic Mirror begins to summarise the story of what happened before (i.e. the first Shrek film) by stating "A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away..." as a spoof on Star Wars. When he is chastised, he quickly responds, "Sorry...I've been feeling really spaced out lately...". After the Mirror finishes, Farquaad appears and states that he intends to torture the fairytale creatures as well as the audience in order to find Shrek and Fiona. The monitor screen later shows a spoof of the Indian Head test card or Test Card F with Lord Farquaad replacing the center sun cross or Carole Hersee`s image respectively. The Mirror then warns the audience about safety. In the Japan version, the Mirror tells the audience to put on their goggles. The cinema doors are then opened and guests take their seats in the theatre.[23]

Main show

The short film takes place right after the first Shrek film. In it, the spirit of Lord Farquaad returns from the dead to kidnap Princess Fiona. Therefore, it is up to Shrek and Donkey to rescue her. Upon Shrek and Donkey searching around the local graveyard, Farquaad sends a stone statue of Dragon from his tomb to go after them and kill them. Fortunately, the real Dragon arrives to the rescue, leading to a chase scene, ending with the stone dragon losing its wings against the walls of a hole and falling into the water below. Farquaad sends Fiona on a raft to fall over the waterfall (with Thelonious still on it, not realizing he was supposed to get off). Shrek and Donkey arrive to rescue her. In the end, all four of them fall over the waterfall, but are saved by Dragon, who then (under Donkey's orders) breathes fire at Farquaad, destroying him again.[24][25]

Although the animation is 3D, the ride is a 4D film, which incorporates physical effects including motion seats which tilt forward, backward, vibrate, and raise up and drop down during the show. Water sprayers are attached to the back of each seat, to spray the face of the rider sitting behind it. Water sprayers on the ceiling spray riders seated on the front row. Multiple lighting effects are used, such as projected images of a moving waterfall on the walls, or "magical" sparkles of flickering light. Air blasters on the front of every seat blow air against riders neck and head. Leg tickler are also used to simulate spiders crawling across the theater.[26][27][28] Stationary seats, which do not move during the film, are marked and available for those who want to watch the film without the motion or vibration. Every other effect is available for the stationary seat.

Spin-off attractions

A number of spin-off attractions operate alongside Shrek 4-D in various amusement parks.

In Universal Studios Florida, Donkey's Photo Finish is a meet and greet attraction that opened in 2003 alongside the film, replacing Stage 54. The attraction consists of guests walking up to an animatronic Donkey who mingles with them and makes fun of them. The guests have their picture taken with Donkey, and then move onto meeting Shrek and Princess Fiona, the latter of which talks to them. Guests then have their picture taken with Shrek and Fiona. These photos can then be purchased. The attraction temporarily closed in June 2012 to make way for Transformers: The Ride,[29] before reopening in a new location next to Monsters Cafe. A similar attraction is located at Universal Studios Hollywood named Meet Shrek and Donkey.

In Universal Studios Singapore, Shrek 4-D exists within the larger Far Far Away themed area. Other attractions in the area include Donkey Live (an interactive live show using digital puppetry technology, which features Donkey entertaining and engaging guests in conversation in an intimate theater setting),[30] Enchanted Airways (a junior roller coaster that features trains modelled after Dragon),[31] and Magic Potion Spin (a miniature ferris wheel for children which is themed to be a part of a potion assembly line).[32]

During the attraction's time at Warner Bros. Movie World, a short-lived live show named Shrek Live was shown in the park's Show Stage.[33]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Shrek 4-D (Universal Studios Florida)". Database Entry. Parkz. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Shrek 4D (Universal Studios Hollywood)". Database Entry. Parkz. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Shrek 4-D Adventure (Universal Studios Singapore)". Database Entry. Parkz. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Shrek 4D (Warner Bros. Movie World)". Database Entry. Parkz. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Attractions Maintenance". MyFun. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "DreamWorks Shrek 4D Adventure". MyFun. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Journey to the Center of the Earth 4-D Adventure". MyFun. Retrieved September 19, 2010.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Attractions – Shrek 4-D Adventure". Movie Park Germany. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Shrek 4-D at Universal Studios". Universal Orlando. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Shrek 4-D". Universal Studios Hollywood. Retrieved 2015-02-24.
  11. ↑ "Shrek's 4-D Adventure". Universal Studios Japan. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  12. ↑ "Shrek 4-D Adventure". Resorts World Sentosa. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  13. ↑ "Shrek 4D Adventure". MyFun. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  14. ↑ "2006 Attractions". The Studio Tour. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  15. ↑ "2007 Mazes". The Studio Tour. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  16. ↑ "2008 Mazes". The Studio Tour. Retrieved August 1, 2010.
  17. ↑ "Halloween Horror Nights 2009 Updates – Mazes, Auditions & Tickets". Hollywood Gothique. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Shrek 4-D (2003) – Release dates". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  19. ↑ Roettgers, Janko (October 25, 2011). "First DreamWorks titles pop up on Netflix". GigaOm. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
  20. ↑ "DreamWorks Spooky Stories: The Ghost of...". FeedFliks. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
  21. ↑ PARANOjAnO. "Universal Studios Hollywood – Shrek". Video. YouTube. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  22. ↑ MrMyOmy. "Shrek4D". Video. YouTube. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  23. ↑ sfgamfreek. "shrek 4 d preshow universal studios florida". Video. YouTube. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  24. ↑ JustpureFUN. "SHREK 3D(1)". Video. YouTube. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  25. ↑ JustpureFUN. "SHREK 3D(2)". Video. YouTube. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  26. ↑ "4D Motion Seats". Photo Gallery. FX Illusions. Archived from the original on 2011-02-18. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  27. ↑ ecodev1. "Shrek 4 D at Universal part 1/2". Video. YouTube. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  28. ↑ ecodev1. "Shrek 4 D at Universal part 2/2". Video. YouTube. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  29. ↑ "Other Attractions | Donkey's Photo Finish – Closed For the New Transformers 3D Ride". Total Orlando. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  30. ↑ Donkey Live – Far Far Away – Universal Studios Singapore. Retrieved June 6, 2010 from the Official Site.
  31. ↑ Enchanted Airways – Far Far Away – Universal Studios Singapore. Retrieved June 6, 2010 from the Official Site.
  32. ↑ Magic Potion Spin – Far Far Away – Universal Studios Singapore. Retrieved June 6, 2010 from the Official Site.
  33. ↑ "Shrek Live (Warner Bros. Movie World)". Parkz. Retrieved December 23, 2012.

External links