As discreet as an ant, a well-kept secret in one of ‘Shrek‘: an easter egg from another DreamWorks film went unnoticed even by the most attentive eyes of fans.
Among the many Easter eggs that are hidden in its scenes, there is one in particular that goes almost unnoticed: a tiny, almost ant-like appearance of the protagonist of ‘FormiguinhaZ‘, another animation from the producer.
Tribute to the film ‘Formiguinhaz’
‘Shrek’ is known for its pokes at Disney’s “happy ending” movies and visual gags, but one of the hardest-to-spot Easter eggs is a reference to another DreamWorks animated film. Located in the scene at Lord Farquaad’s citadel, this secret may escape the most distracted viewers.
Upon arriving at the location, at exactly 21 minutes and 30 seconds, a quick pause reveals a character from the animation ‘FormiguinhaZ’ (or FormigaZ), a DreamWorks film released in 1998. Z, the protagonist of ‘FormiguinhaZ’, appears as one of the cashiers, an appearance that many fans missed.
‘Z’ appears discreetly in a scene from ‘Shrek’ – Image: DreamWorks Animations/Reproduction
In ‘FormiguinhaZ’, the protagonist is a worker ant called Z who is tired of life in the anthill. After meeting the colony’s princess, Bala, Z decides to switch places with a soldier friend, Weaver, to visit her. Z and the princess embark on a journey outside the anthill towards Inesctopia, a utopia for insects.
The film is part of DreamWorks’ extensive catalogue, which currently has 38 feature films, from ‘FormiguinhaZ’ to more recent productions such as ‘Ruby Marinho Monstro, Adolescente’ (2023).
DreamWorks Animation LLC, the studio behind these animations, is known for its healthy rivalry with Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Founded in 1994 and acquired by Comcast in 2016, DreamWorks Animation has grown rapidly to become a powerhouse in the animation industry with a legacy of successful films.
His films have grossed billions of dollars at the global box office, won prestigious awards such as the Oscar, and established DreamWorks Animation as a leading name in the art of animation.
note: As the discovery of the Easter egg is extremely subtle, some fans may need a closer look and an extra dose of patience to capture it.
