Shrek the Halls



Shrek the Halls is an American Christmas computer-animated comedy television special that premiered on the American television network ABC on Wednesday, November 28, 2007. The thirty minute Christmas special was directed by Gary Trousdale and produced by DreamWorks Animation. Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and Antonio Banderas reprised their roles from the feature films. This Christmas special takes place between Shrek the Third and Shrek Forever After. This television special was based on the children's book Shrek! by the writer William Steig, was published on October 17, 1990.

Plot
Shrek (Mike Myers) is quietly living in the swamp with his family when the Christmas season arrives. Under Donkey (Eddie Murphy)'s urging, Shrek reluctantly promises Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) a special Christmas surprise. Shrek goes to the local bookstore in Far, Far Away to try to find a present for Fiona, but since he does not know what Christmas is all about, the shopkeeper (Marissa Jaret Winokur) gives Shrek a copy of Christmas For Village Idiots, a step by step guide to celebrating the holiday. Shrek proceeds to follow the book's advice by decorating the house and getting a tree so he can spend a quiet Christmas Eve with his family, but Donkey brings the entire "family" to the swamp, spoiling Shrek's plans.

As Shrek tries to recite "A Visit from St. Nicholas", Gingy (Conrad Vernon), Donkey, and Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) interrupt and each tell their own Christmas story. Donkey tells of a Christmas parade passing by the swamp and licking an enormous waffle Santa, and absentmindedly starts licking Shrek's foot. Puss' version of the Santa Claus story ends with playing with the tassel on Santa's hat, while in reality he is playing with a bauble.

Gingy tells a horrifying story about how his girlfriend Suzy was eaten by Santa Claus. Donkey calls it ridiculous, and finds Shrek's Christmas for Village Idiots book. A fight breaks out over the book and Shrek's supper is destroyed. Shrek finally loses his temper and kicks his friends out of his house.

With their Christmas spirit ruined, Fiona is upset at Shrek's behavior and leaves with the ogre triplets. She catches up to their friends and explains to Donkey what Shrek had wanted for Christmas.

Shrek, remorseful at what he's done, catches up with the group and apologizes for his behavior. He then tells everyone this is also his first Christmas, since ogres don't celebrate anything. They return to the swamp and Shrek tells his own version of "The Night Before Christmas", featuring himself as Ogre Claus. Soon they hear bells and go outside to see Santa and his reindeer, although Gingy is still afraid of Santa Claus and runs back inside in fear. The special ends with Santa using his magic to put ogre ears on the moon.

Cast

 * Mike Myers as Shrek
 * Eddie Murphy as Donkey
 * Cameron Diaz as Princess Fiona
 * Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots
 * Conrad Vernon as Gingy
 * Cody Cameron as Pinocchio and The Three Little Pigs
 * Aron Warner as Big Bad Wolf
 * Christopher Knights as Three Blind Mice
 * Frank Welker as Dragon and Dronkeys
 * Miles Christopher Bakshi, Nina Zoe Bakshi, and Dante James Hauser as Farkle, Fergus, & Felicia
 * Marissa Jaret Winokur as Bookstore Clerk
 * Gary Trousdale as Santa

Production
Shrek the Halls was produced by DreamWorks Animation, concretely, at the PDI/DreamWorks studio. Gary Trousdale directed the special during the pre production, but he was later replaced by Mark Baldo. The film was produced by Teresa Cheng, Gina Shay and Aron Warner and was screenplayed by Bill Riling, Theresa Cullen, Gary Trousdale and Sean Bishop.

Broadcast
Shrek the Halls premiered on the American television network ABC, on November 28, 2007. In the United Kingdom, it premiered on December 24, 2007, on BBC One.

Ratings
The rating info is courtesy of Your Entertainment Now and ABC Medianet. It was repeated on BBC Three on December 23, 2011, along with Shrek: Once Upon a Time and Shrek.

United Kingdom Figures
* 6.32 million (BBC One viewers) + 0.60 million (BBC Three viewers) = 6.92. Both shown at the same time.

Home media
Shrek the Halls was released on DVD in the United States on November 4, 2008. It was originally available by itself, or in a bundle pack with Shrek the Third. It was released on iTunes on November 2, 2008. The special was released on Blu-ray and DVD on October 30, 2012, as part of compilation titled Dreamworks Holiday Classics. It was re released on DVD on October 1, 2013 along with Merry Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda Holiday, Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury, and The Croods. DreamWorks Holiday Classics, available on Amazon, features Donkey's Caroling Christmas-tacular and does not feature Shrek the Halls.

Music
The score of the special was composed by Harry Gregson-Williams. The special, like the films, also features the following Pop culture and Christmas songs:


 * "Summer Breeze"
 * "Jingle Bells" (sung by Eddie Murphy)
 * "Here We Come A-wassailing" (sung by I'm from Barcelona)
 * "Because We Can"
 * "Jingo (Gin Go La Ba)"
 * "Ride of the Valkyries"
 * "The Twelve Days of Christmas"
 * "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town"
 * "O Fortuna"
 * "Christmas Wrapping"
 * "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)"
 * "Don't Stop Believin'"
 * "Hello Ma Baby"
 * "Hallelujah Chorus"
 * "Deck the Halls"
 * "The Stars Shine in the Sky Tonight"

ICE!
In July 2011, as part of a strategic partnership between DreamWorks Animation and Gaylord Hotels, Shrek the Halls was presented as the theme of the ICE! exhibit at Gaylord's hotels in Texas and Florida. In this presentation, the plot of the film is told through a series of ice sculptures that visitors walk past.