Once you see it for yourself, you’ll be a believer too…
Shrek enthusiasts are turning to the internet to discuss the ‘mystery of the Duloc woman’ featured in the first movie of the beloved series.
As we eagerly await the fifth installment, slated for release in 2026, we have this ‘mystery’ to ponder—the presence of an oddly realistic figure in the original 2001 film.
Among the cast of fantastical beings in Far Far Away, attentive Shrek fans have noted the existence of what seems to be a real woman’s photo lurking in the background of one scene.
The woman’s face appears in the first Shrek (DreamWorksPictures)
This curious image can be found in the original Shrek, during the moment when the swamp-protecting ogre (voiced by Mike Myers) and his ‘faithful companion’ Donkey (voiced by Eddie Murphy) approach Lord Farquaad’s castle in Duloc.
If you pause the film—whether on Netflix or the 2001 DVD—right as Shrek is about to enter the castle around 00:21:18, you can catch a glimpse of what appears to be a photograph of a human woman in a window at a ticket booth, strikingly out of character compared to the animated ensemble.
Unlike the recent season of Squid Game that incidentally caught a camera operator in the background, the animated nature of Shrek eliminates that possibility of an error.
A Reddit user has chimed in on the r/Shrek thread about the curiosity, stating it ‘immediately caught’ their attention and they believed they could provide unique insights since they ‘own the oldest physical version of Shrek’ they think exists.
They elaborated: “I examined this particular release tonight and discovered that the woman has been part of the film since its 2001 debut. This doesn’t reveal much, but it indicates that it’s not a Netflix alteration or an edit that occurred between 2002 and now.
“I’m sharing photo proof—another shot from my latest Blu-ray edition of the film along with a digitally altered frame from VUDU aiming to give a clearer view of the original image’s scale and color.
What’s your theory? (DreamWorks Pictures)
“It’s challenging to capture her in high quality. She’s behind a reflective window in the film, and the low resolution of anything other than Blu-ray complicates our ability to see our mysterious figure clearly.”
The user proposed a possible explanation for this ‘mystery,’ based on their research comparing photos of animators and crew members from the film, including their relatives.
And they’re not alone in their speculation.
Another Redditor remarked: “I suspect it’s an animator or a loved one, given the hidden detail, and it clearly doesn’t fit in with the scene.”
“I thought that too, but she looks like she’s crying,” another person added.
So, what’s your take on this?
Featured Image Credit: Universal Pictures
