From The Bible, Through Fantasy, To Animation: The Connection Between Og, Ogre… And Scary Shrek

On the surface, there aren’t many similarities between horror films and animated films. However, as someone who watches both genres (well, I’m a father of two girls), they may be closer than you think. Both can take monsters or other mythological creatures and give them a “makeover,” that is, present them as monstrous and menacing (horror films) or even as friendly and lovable (animation). For example, we saw this in Yeti the Abominable Snowman, which we recently reviewed on the site. The character of Ogre, the legendary monster who was one of the main inspirations for the green giant from DreamWorks’ animated hits, Shrek, expresses this point perfectly. All of this may have a connection to Og’s biblical character.

On the one hand, we talk about – whether in mythological, biblical, or cinematic representation – a substantial monstrous creature who terrorizes his surroundings, associated with violence and horror. On the other hand, it inspired one of the most beloved characters in popular culture, Shrek. The Shrek films presented, for example, that although he is feared and ostracized, he is a creature with the potential to be genuinely lovable.

So what are the main characteristics of Og the Giant, and Ogre the Monster in their various representations? To what extent did he inspire the character of Shrek (spoiler: a significant inspiration, but there is a real person on whom the character is based)? And where can we be afraid of the giant monster outside the big screen?

We gathered some weird facts about Shrek, some even scary, getting you into a world far from being a fairytale.

The Giant Who Survived The Flood: Meet Og, King Of Bashan

You can find several central representations of Og, with their different meanings. In Jewish tradition, we are talking about Og, the Amorite King of Bashan, that is, the region of the land located beyond the Jordan, At a time when the Israelites were still wandering in the desert.

Og is one of the mysterious figures in the Bible. He was the only person besides Noah and his family who managed to survive the flood but came out with his hand on his bottom in Og’s war against Moses and his army. This figure raises many questions, some of which have only been answered in various midrashim.

The answer to the question of who killed Og king of Bashan, for example, seems in some midrashim as if it came out of an epic Hollywood movie in the style of “The Lord of the Rings”: a war in which Og wanted to bring down a mountain on the Israelites and raised it, countless ants were summoned to the mountain by God to gnaw at it from the inside, the mountain falling on the neck of the “monster” which caused its teeth to suddenly grow so that it could not free itself from the mountain, and the photo finish – Moses who jumped high with the staff, hit Og’s ankles and caused him to fall and die. According to some interpretations, Og’s famous giant teeth, which contributed to the construction of his myth as a cruel monster, are what ultimately caused his death.

How Tall Was Og In The Bible?

More concerning is that Og was a giant, according to the various descriptions. In the Book of Deuteronomy and afterward, in the books of Numbers and Joshua, he is described as the last of the Rephaim, a race of giants who lived beyond the Jordan. Deuteronomy 3:11 says: “For only Og the king of Bashan was left of the remnant of the Rephaim. Behold, his bed was a bed of iron. Is it not in Rabbah of the Ammonites? Nine cubits was its length, and four cubits its breadth, according to the common cubit.).” The main question is how accurate this height – between 4.10 and 5.22 meters, if we make a relatively simple conversion – is.

Many believe that Og was indeed a giant (after all, we have already encountered the figure of Goliath in the Bible, who, according to some interpretations, reached almost three meters in height). According to Maimonides and Abraham Ibn Ezra, his height was about twice that of an “average” person. The impressive height may answer how Og survived the flood: the water reached only the lower part of his body.

Others claim that this description of “nine cubits long and four cubits wide” does not refer to his physical dimensions. There are interpretations according to which the verse refers to the dimensions of Og’s cradle (“iron cradle”), on which he lay as a baby. In 1918, a Dolmen (an ancient prehistoric megalithic structure built of large stones and usually associated with burial) was found near Rabbah of Ammon, today the capital of the Kingdom of Jordan. The dimensions of the Dolmen are very similar to the verse, and it is made of basalt stone (which may also explain the expression “iron cradle”).

The Fantasy of Ogre

From the Bible, we move to a completely different world: the world of fantasy. There, we meet the character of “Ogre,” with the name being one of the translations of this monstrous creature, which we can find in quite a few books (for example, “Dragon Spear” by Jessica Day George), stories, computer games, and television shows. In the fighting game “Tekken 3” from 1994, for example, there is a character of a giant green monster named “Ogre,” who also breathes fire. We have also seen a representation of Ogre in role-playing games such as “Dungeons and Dragons.” And, of course, there is the theme of Shrek, which we will expand on later.

So, what is the common denominator of the various representations of the monster Ogre? Usually, the “ogres” are depicted as having particularly huge consonants. They are also scary, partly because of their cruelty, which can make them eliminate anyone who dares to reach the place they are guarding at a particular time.

In some descriptions, the Ogres are criminals who engage in acts of looting, and on top of that, they are also creatures you wouldn’t want your parents to know: they can be arrogant and stupid (in many cases, it goes together).

Is There A Connection Between Og And Ogre?

We can’t find a definite answer to this question. Some scholars speculate that the biblical Og could have influenced later European myths of giants and monstrous beings, contributing to Ogres’ concept. Medieval and Renaissance literature often borrowed biblical and classical figures, and since Og was known as a fearsome giant, his legend might have merged with European folklore over time.

However, this connection isn’t definitive—there’s no direct evidence that Ogre was named after Og. But given their similarities (both being giant, monstrous figures), it’s no science fiction that Og’s legend played a role in shaping the idea of ogres, either directly or through folk traditions that carried stories of ancient giants across cultures.

A Makeover: Shrek Turns Ogre Into A Beloved Monster

The character of Shrek took the monstrous image of Ogre and transformed him (almost) entirely, as is the case in many animated films aimed at young audiences. On the one hand, the character’s starting point doesn’t seem particularly optimistic.

In German and Yiddish, the meaning of the word “Shrek” means “fear” or “horror”. Physically, Shrek maintains the rather frightening appearance associated with the mythological character of Ogre (with a few additions): he is huge, his body is large and bulky, his skin is green, and his ears resemble something like a trumpet. Shrek is mistreated by the human environment, who see him as a scary and threatening monster that will murder innocent people if only they give it a chance. Our Shrek lives in a swamp, takes a shower with mud, and has a broad diet, including plants (like onions, squash, and different fruits) and animals (rats, turkeys, slugs, and more).

The films teach us something about judging people – or monsters – based on appearance. The presentation of Shrek’s character is rather complex. Although Shrek is scary and rude, his character stands out for his humanity (sometimes even more than humans). Of course, the monstrous giant is fearless in his quest to rescue a princess trapped in a tower alongside a donkey who likes to talk or whatever these films are about.

Meet Real Life Shrek Inspiration

It is important to note that the character of Shrek is not only based on the myth of Og but also on a real person who lived in the early 20th century (1903-1954). Maurice Tillet was a famous wrestler at the beginning of entertainment wrestling, who earned nicknames such as “The French Angel” or “The Ring Slayer.” He achieved impressive success in the ring, thanks in part to moves like the “bear hug” that became his trademark, but his size probably played a role here – and not necessarily in a positive way.

Maurice Tillet was an educated man who spoke 14 languages and dreamed of becoming a poet or actor before turning to wrestling. All dreams were cut short in the 1920s when he developed Acromelia. This rare disease – today, about 40-70 patients per million people are estimated – usually breaks out around 30. It is a hormonal disorder that causes abnormal growth of bones and soft tissues, especially in the face, hands, and feet.

Tillet saw his body changing before his eyes. He became an object of ridicule and decided to leave the town where he lived. In 1939, he emigrated to the United States. Like other people whose appearance didn’t meet the standards, he found himself in the wrestling ring. In 1944, he even won the American Wrestling Association (AWA) World Championship.

The problem is that his body defeated him in the end, too. Success was replaced by ostracism and fame by loneliness, which befits a man shunned and feared by his surroundings. For the sensitive and intelligent Tillet, this was the straw that broke the camel’s back, at least mentally. At the age of 50, he died of heart disease – a well-known complication of the disease.

After his death, several plaster masks of his face were made, with his permission and at the initiative of one of his few friends. They found their place in two museums and the office of businessman Patrick Kelly, his good friend. The facial features in the mask show the physical resemblance between Tillet (“man who looks like Shrek”) and the character of Shrek, and the movies make the connection even more tense. Shrek, like Tillet, is judged by his appearance, although his personality is complex. The story teaches us something about accepting differences, especially that we should not judge people by their appearance, etc.

Here is a 10-minute video that presents the tragic story of “The French Angel.

Shrek Makes Ogre A Legendary Icon

The character of Shrek introduced the world to the mythological monster Ogre, or at least raised awareness of it. The film’s enormous success, which is based on the book “Shrek” by a comic book artist named Williams Steig, contributed to this.

The franchise has four films so far – “Shrek” (2001), “Shrek 2” (2004), “Shrek the Third” (2007), and “Shrek Forever After” (2010) – and two spin-off films about the cat character: “Puss in Boots” (2011) and “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish;” (2022). All Shrek films have so far grossed more than $2 billion worldwide, but that’s not the end of the story. In 2026, we’re due to get “Shrek 5”, followed by a spin-off film about the character of Donkey

Shrek has become such a big icon that he received a star named after him on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010. Getting a star is a relatively rare achievement for a fictional character – especially if that character is a big green and ugly monster.

Shrek has reached other realms over the years. In 2008, a Shrek musical based on the general plot of the first film began to be performed in Seattle and then on Broadway. The musical, with music by decorated Jeanine Tesori and an estimated budget of 24 million dollars, was nominated for the Tony Awards eight times, winning one award (Best Costume Design). It was a great success in terms of audience and came to many countries across the globe.

Is Shrek Scary? Yes, It Seems

The truth is that this article is not the first attempt to see Shrek as a scary creature. There even was a scary Shrek Movie. In 2010, a short television film, about 26 minutes long, was released called “Scared Shrekless,” a Halloween special aired on NBC. In the movie, Shrek decides, in the holiday atmosphere, to challenge his friends to a short scary story competition, the winner of which will be crowned the “King of Halloween.”

While the gang unfortunately learns that they have to spend the night in Lord Farquaad’s scary castle, we hear the Gingerbread Man narrate “The Bride of Ginger,” a parody of “The Bride of Frankenstein”; Donkey (voiced by Dean Edwards, replacing Eddie Murphy, who left the project) and Puss in Boots narrates “The Hotel in Boots,” a parody of Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho”; and Shrek himself, who narrates about the “Shreksorcist,“ which of course corresponds to “The Exorcist.“ The result is not too scary from the perspective of the average horror fan, but how can you say no to an animated film that puts a twist on Shrek and pays homage to some of the most critical horror works in history?

The film was released along with Shrek  Thriller Night, a short parody of Michael Jackson’s famous song (speaking of horror characters), as part of the Shrek Thrilling Tales DVD and DreamWorks Spooky Stories Blu-ray box set.

Okay, this article is getting scarier and creepier by the minute.

Over the years, other scary versions of Shrek have also appeared. We’ve seen scary Shrek costumes, computer games, and some fake videos and trailers, also available on YouTube. Here’s an excellent video made with the help of artificial intelligence tools:

You can already see where this might go someday. It’s possible that sometime in a few decades, when the film franchise passes into the public domain, we’ll also get horror versions of Shrek similar to what we see now with Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, Bambi, Cinderella, and many other bad movies.

Tourist Shrek Attractions

Shrek’s Adventure in London

We found several Shrek-inspired tourist attractions worldwide, some of which are very successful. Shrek’s Adventure London is an interactive journey in the heart of the English capital, quite close to the famous London Eye, which, as we learned, has some scary sides. The attraction opened in 2015 and offers a 75-80 minute journey through the world of Shrek, with attractions such as:

A ride in a simulator packed with effects (4D) called the “Magic Bus“ will take you to the kingdom of Far Far Away, during which you will meet other fairy tale characters such as Cinderella, Pinocchio, and Puss in Boots (as you may recall, Shrek met quite a few fairy tale characters in the films)

A visit in about 10 theatrical sets, with various adventures inspired by the films

A meeting with professional actors who play familiar characters from the world of Shrek

Multiple puzzles and tasks, such as preparing magical potions in Princess Fiona’s pharmacy, adventure in the dark forest with Donkey, visiting the gingerbread man’s bakery, and more

An encounter with Shrek in his swamp, including the opportunity to take a picture and talk to the green monster (well, actually an actor who plays him)

A souvenir shop with lots of Shrek and the gang items, such as dolls, souvenirs that combine London symbols with characters from the film, exclusive clothing items, sweets, snacks, and other surprises

Shrek Is Coming To Theme Parks

In theme and amusement parks worldwide, you will find several installations and attractions inspired by the film. Some of the Universal Studios theme parks offer “Shrek 4-D,” a Shrek adventure film in four dimensions, or rather, a movie with three-dimensional (3D) animation, providing experiences during viewing that turn it into four dimensions. The film is seen with special glasses, and effects such as movement and vibration of the chairs, lighting effects, air release, water spray, and even tickling of the legs to simulate spiders contribute to the experience.

Even before the 4D movie and in the queue, you will find some small “Shrek“ attractions. In several parks, we saw “spin-off“ facilities and activities inspired by characters from the film.

A World Of Shrek Products

While the number of products directly dedicated to the character is limited, an entire industry has developed around Shrek. The world of Shrek merchandise is as enormous as the green ogre himself and includes, among other things:

Shrek Costumes

Shrek Collectible, such as Shrek Funko Pops: There is even a Scary Shrek Funko

Shrek Action Figures, in some cases with moving parts and accessories

Shrek Lego Sets – building sets based on Shrek’s world, such as the egg or the castle of the Kingdom of Doloc

Shrek Puzzles – Two-dimensional and three-dimensional puzzles with varying degrees of difficulty

Shrek Fasion Line – A variety of Shrek clothes, such as shirts, hats, bags, and more

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