Donkey
The Loquacious Sidekick
Donkey, the ever-annoying and talkative companion from the "Shrek" franchise, stands as a prime example of the comedic sidekick trope. Throughout the four Shrek films, Donkey's relentless cheerfulness and optimism perfectly balanced the gloomy and stoic nature of the titular ogre.
Voiced by Eddie Murphy in the original English version and Vadim Yuryevich Andreyev in the official Russian translation, Donkey made his debut in the first "Shrek" movie. Abandoned by a former owner, he attempted to sell himself to Lord Farquaad's knights. However, he refused to display his talking ability until he was accidentally dusted with magic, proving the truth of the old woman's claims.
A Journey of Redemption
After a brief escape from the knights, Donkey's path crossed with Shrek's. Instantly proclaiming himself a friend to the green ogre, Donkey pursued him relentlessly despite Shrek's initial coolness. Together, they embarked on a quest to rescue Princess Fiona from a tower guarded by a fire-breathing dragon.
During this "rescue mission," Donkey's previously annoying and useless demeanor surprisingly played a significant role. The dragon turned out to be female, and Donkey's charm proved more than enough to distract her. On their return, Donkey befriended Fiona, even learning the secret of her curse. Unfortunately, he was unable to inform Shrek of this secret, as the ogre misinterpreted an overheard conversation and became estranged from both Fiona and Donkey.
An Unlikely Family
By the second "Shrek" film, Donkey and the dragon's romance blossomed, to Donkey's amused bewilderment. He joined Shrek and Fiona on a trip to Far Far Away Kingdom to meet her parents. A magical potion transformed Donkey into a handsome steed, allowing him to foil Fairy Godmother's schemes.
When the spell was broken, Donkey reluctantly returned to his donkey form. However, his disappointment was short-lived as he soon discovered he had become the father of three extraordinary dragon-donkey hybrids. Despite the additional responsibilities of fatherhood, Donkey remained Shrek's closest confidant and never lost his relentless annoyance.
A Tale of Mishaps
Accompanying Shrek and Puss in Boots, Donkey embarked on a quest to find Arthur Pendragon, Fiona's cousin and the rightful heir to the vacant throne of Far Far Away Kingdom. However, a mishap by the scatterbrained wizard Merlin resulted in Donkey and Puss accidentally switching bodies. It took them some time to adjust to their new forms, but they eventually succeeded.
After their triumph over the evil Prince Charming, Merlin restored their original bodies, though he accidentally swapped their tails. This minor inconvenience resolved itself during the next scene.
A Test of Loyalty
Donkey and his rambunctious children played a significant role in derailing Shrek's planned birthday party at the beginning of the fourth "Shrek" film. Donkey inadvertently triggered Shrek's rage, leading him to make an impulsive contract with the villainous Rumplestiltskin.
In the alternate reality created by the contract, Donkey briefly "worked" for the local witches, who used him as a beast of burden and makeshift car radio. Escaping Rumplestiltskin, Shrek reconnected with Donkey, realizing his true worth. It turned out that the "alternate" Donkey possessed surprising intelligence and ingenuity, managing to find a loophole in Rumplestiltskin's contract.
Later, Donkey, alongside Puss in Boots, rescued Fiona from the Pied Piper and participated in the assault on Rumplestiltskin's castle. Through their adventures, Donkey proved himself to be a loyal and indispensable companion, always bringing a touch of cheer and annoyance to the world around him.
