WEBMay 18, 2001 · Overview. It ain't easy bein' green -- especially if you're a likable (albeit smelly) ogre named Shrek. On a mission to retrieve a gorgeous princess from the clutches of a fire-breathing dragon, Shrek teams up with an unlikely compatriot -- a wisecracking donkey. Vicky Jenson. Director. Andrew Adamson. Director. William Steig. Novel. Ted …