For almost thirty years, DreamWorks Animation Studios has come out with some truly amazing stories. They don't always hit the mark and there are a couple of movies best left forgotten. However, most of its movies boast heart and sincerity if nothing else, and when DreamWorks does hit the mark, it hits hard. The heroes in these movies go on incredible adventures.
They gain confidence, forge relationships, develop new skills, and, of course, triumph over evil. However, they also learn valuable lessons. They learn how to value themselves, the good people in their lives, and the world around them. They learn to be brave, and loving, and to stand by what they believe in. As the viewer joins them on their journeys, they too are learning these lessons.
10 Be Humble But Don't Forget To Love Yourself, Too
Many characters in DreamWorks movies struggle with their self-confidence and worth. These include famous characters, like Shrek, Po, and Hiccup, but also lesser-known characters like Megamind, Jack Frost, and Sinbad. They might put on a show of confidence or even arrogance, but inside, they have a low opinion of their worth.
As these characters embark on their quests and build unlikely relationships, they learn to believe in themselves and their abilities. They learn that they are worth loving and that they can have better lives. Most importantly, they learn to balance humility and confidence. These characters stand as foils to truly egotistical characters like Prince Charming who believe that they are superior to others and take what they want at the expense of innocent people.
9 Opening Up Can Hurt, But The Results Are Worth It
Sometimes, protagonists who struggle with self-confidence also struggle with connecting to other people. Shrek has been ostracized for so long that when a person who actually likes him does come along, he tries to drive him away. Hiccup has a strained relationship with his father and Megamind has given up trying to make friends.
Part of their development involves them building relationships with other people. Unfortunately, this means risking the possibility of getting hurt, which they do. Nonetheless, they find a reason to keep pushing forward. In doing so, they find friends, family, and true love. Opening up and being vulnerable can be painful, but it can also lead to something beautiful.
8 Love Comes In Many Shapes & Sizes
DreamWorks movies are full of unlikely friendships and romances. No one believes that an ogre and a princess could fall in love. Shrek and Fiona do it anyway. Dragons are the Vikings' sworn enemies. Hiccup and Toothless build a friendship born from mercy and compassion. Lions eat zebras. Alex and Marty are closer to each other than they are to members of their respective species.
For these characters, love, whether it's for a parent, a friend, or a romantic partner, sees no boundaries and never appears when expected. Disney likes to make a big deal out of love. DreamWorks, however, is typically more effective at driving home its power and unpredictability and does so more often.
7 Family Is More Than DNA
DreamWorks movies are full of lost children who go on to find their birth families. Alex reunites with his parents in Africa. Po is found by his dad. Moses runs into his brother and sister. However, these characters and many others also have their found families. Alex has his buddies from the zoo. Po has his adopted father.
While there is a rare exception or two, the discovery of their birth families for these characters just means having a bigger family. Some characters, like Megamind, don't even find their birth families and that's okay. DreamWorks movies teach that family is built on love and respect and these families have love to share in spades.
6 New Ways & Old Ways Have Equal Worth
Many DreamWorks characters are innovators going against their elders, who believe that they must stick to their traditions and place in life. Po wants to become a kung fu master instead of running his dad's noodle shop. Hiccup befriends the dragons instead of killing them. In some cases, trying something new is the best thing to do.
However, this doesn't mean abandoning the old ways entirely. Oftentimes, the old ways still have something valuable to offer. Po never abandons his love of food and cooking, and Hiccup combines his intellect with good old-fashioned Viking stubbornness. New and old don't necessitate good or bad. Both can have something good to offer if one takes the time to learn.
5 There Is Power In Unlikely Places
In DreamWorks movies, heroes and villains come from unlikely places and the smallest things have power. Po is a waiter who becomes a kung fu master. Ginger is a chicken who becomes a revolutionary. Tulio and Miguel are conmen who become heroes. Bits of junk become an airplane. A duck feather causes a criminal's escape. Cooking provides wisdom.
Power, greatness, and goodness don't always come from the places people expect. Small things can cause the biggest change and what people think of others sometimes doesn't align with who they really are.
4 Prophecy Or No Prophecy, There's Always A Choice
Movies like Megamind and the Kung Fu Panda trilogy often emphasize the power of choice even if fate or prophecy is involved. Megamind believes he is destined for a life of villainy while the events of Kung Fu Panda are triggered by prophecies. However, choice plays a huge role in their lives and the lives of other DreamWorks characters.
Megamind and his nemesis, Metro Man, were pushed into their villain/hero roles by societal expectations. Once Metro Man started making choices for himself, it allowed Megamind to do the same. Characters in Kung Fu Panda, like Master Shifu and Lord Shen, end up fulfilling the prophecies through their own bad choices. Whatever fate decrees, choice is always important.
3 Treasure The Good Things In Life
The stories of characters like Shrek, Po, and Megamind are of underdogs who go on to improve their lives and earn the respect of their communities. However, part of that journey involves gaining a new appreciation for what they have.
Minion has always been Megamind's loyal friend and Po's adopted father is a source of unconditional love and support. In the fourth movie, Shrek longs for the freedom of his old life and becomes blind to the love he's gained. He makes a deal with the greedy Rumpelstiltskin only to lose everything he has. It's all right to make improvements, but not to take the good things in life for granted.
2 Courage Is A Powerful Thing
According to DreamWorks, the power of a loving relationship should never be underestimated. However, there is another force that is just as powerful: courage. DreamWorks characters have courage in spades, and it allows them to do incredible things. Shrek repeatedly finds the courage to keep building and rebuilding his relationship with Fiona.
Hiccup finds the courage to befriend a dragon despite the feud between dragons and Vikings. Moses and Ginger find the courage to free their people from oppression and lead them somewhere safe. Megamind finds the courage to fix his mistakes. Love may inspire courage, but courage does the brunt of the work.
1 Never Give Up
DreamWorks movies are full of characters in seemingly hopeless situations. Roddy is lost with seemingly no way home. Moses' people and Ginger's people are slaves to powerful masters. Shrek and Megamind are bound to the villain role by a judgmental society. Po constantly faces enemies who are more powerful than he and dragons and humans will never live in harmony.
Nonetheless, these heroes continue their impossible missions no matter how hard or heartbreaking they get. Occasionally, they realize that the thing they thought they had to do was the opposite of what they needed to do. Once they realize that, however, they don't stop until they've completed it. In doing so, their world becomes a better place and their communities lead better lives.