Shrek was the first Shrek movie screened in competition at the Cannes Film Festival.
The 2001 film competed for the Palme d’Or, making it the first animated film selected for the festival’s main competition since Peter Pan in 1953. That selection helped signal that major animated features could receive serious recognition at prestigious international film festivals.
Shrek’s Cannes appearance came before its broad theatrical release and added cultural importance beyond its commercial success. The film combined fairy-tale parody, computer animation, pop music, and celebrity voice performances in a way that appealed to both children and adults.
Shrek did not win the Palme d’Or. Its later major award achievement was winning the inaugural Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, a separate honor from the Cannes competition.