Unlike the voice-over tracks common in 1990s Russia (where a single narrator droned over the original English audio), Shrek received a full, multi-voice theatrical dub with pristine sound mixing. Meet the Iconic Russian Cast
If you're exploring different versions of the film, it’s worth noting that there are sometimes multiple dubs over the years, but the Mosfilm Sound Studio version released in 2001 is the one frequently considered the "official" and superior one.
While Kolgan's Shrek is the centerpiece, the success of the Russian dub is an ensemble effort. The casting directors matched the other characters with such precision that the entire voice cast became inseparable from the characters for Russian fans. Notably, when searching for the actor to voice Donkey, the team quickly settled on Vadim Andreev, who had already voiced Eddie Murphy three times previously, including in The Nutty Professor . russian shrek dub full
The success of any dub is a collaborative effort, and the Russian version of Shrek had top-tier talent involved in its creation. The dialogue translation was handled by , whose script needed to be both faithful to the original and witty enough to stand on its own. This translation was then brought to life under the creative direction of Yaroslava Turylyova , the woman whose fight for Alexey Kolgan defined the Shrek character for a generation. Their combined work is the foundation of the dub's legendary status.
The Russian dub of Shrek is widely considered one of the best in the world. Some fans even claim they were disappointed when they heard the original English version because Mike Myers' performance felt less fitting than Kolgan's. In contrast, while popular in its own right for using well-known actors like Jerzy Stuhr, the Polish dub is often compared differently, sometimes seen as more suitable for the animated genre itself rather than for surpassing the original performance. Unlike the voice-over tracks common in 1990s Russia
of the character. He captured the transition from Shrek’s cynical "Leave me alone" attitude to his vulnerable "Ogres have layers" moments with a warmth that resonated deeply with Russian audiences. 2. Donkey and the Art of the "Chatterbox"
Today, we’re diving into the legendary Russian dub of Shrek . It isn't just a translation; it is a complete cultural reimagining that arguably elevates the film to a higher plane of comedy. The casting directors matched the other characters with
For millennials and Gen Z individuals across Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan, this specific dub was a staple of their childhood VHS and DVD collections.
This has led to a surge in unofficial, pirate versions. In some cases, Russian hackers have even acquired high-quality digital copies of new films and hired professional Russian actors to create new dubs, known as "official pirated dubs," which are then released in theaters without permission from the studios. These versions, however, are not the original DreamWorks dub and exist in a legal void. For the classic Alexey Kolgan version, the only way to guarantee you are watching the legitimate dub is to purchase an official pre-2022 DVD or digital license.
Kolgan’s performance was so iconic that DreamWorks reportedly recognized it as the best international dub
(Вадим Андреев). Interestingly, while Andreyev provided the speaking voice, Alexey Kolgan performed the character's singing parts. Princess Fiona : Voiced by Zhanna Nikonova (Жанна Никонова). Lord Farquaad : Voiced by Vladimir Antonik (Владимир Антоник). The Dubbing Database Notable Translation & Localization Translating