UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. and ORLANDO, Fla. and OSAKA, Japan, Jan. 15 -- The all-new multi-sensory "Shrek 4-D(TM)" attraction, a multi-media continuation of the "Shrek(R)" fairy tale, will be the first major attraction to be introduced simultaneously at Universal theme parks in Hollywood, Orlando and Japan.

The comic talents of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and John Lithgow will return to give voice to the swamp-dwelling ogre, Shrek, his faithful chatterbox companion, Donkey; his bride, Princess Fiona(TM); and the vengeful ghost of Lord Farquaad(TM) in an all-new animated saga that will pick up the story where the Oscar(R)-winning feature film "Shrek" left off.

In the new tale, there is trouble once again in the faraway Kingdom of Duloc(TM). The tale begins as Shrek, Princess Fiona and their companion, Donkey set off for a honeymoon at the enchanting Fairytale Falls. But the ghost of Lord Farquaad, intent on taking his fearsome revenge, interrupts the honeymooners' bliss. Soon, our fairy-tale heroes are face to face with ghostly foes and the audience is transported into the center of a thrilling adventure packed with such fast-paced sequences as an aerial dogfight between fire-breathing dragons and a steep plunge down a 300-foot deadly waterfall.

With 15 minutes of all-new 3-D animation, "Shrek 4-D" will bridge the narrative between "Shrek," "the greatest fairy-tale never told," and the upcoming sequel from DreamWorks Pictures. The "Shrek" saga continues with spectacular visuals and multiple special effects yet to be seen, heard and felt in a "4-D" attraction.

In announcing the new attraction, Tom Williams, chairman and CEO, Universal Parks & Resorts said: "Universal theme parks are committed to presenting attractions that break new ground in live entertainment and to working with the most creative minds in our industry. The new "Shrek 4-D" attraction is an example of the tremendous rewards to be realized from working with a creative powerhouse such as DreamWorks."

Guests will be ushered into a pre-show chamber where they'll be greeted by the late, vertically challenged Lord Farquaad himself, who, in his first posthumous appearance, will inform guests of his ghostly scheme to haunt Shrek, Princess Fiona and Donkey. The five-minute video preamble will prepare guests for their entry into the main theater and the wild adventure to follow.

Once settled in specially designed seats in the main auditorium, guests will don OgreVision glasses and will be transported to the fairy tale realm of Duloc, as the screen and the theater itself come alive with the tale of the Shrek-Princess Fiona honeymoon adventure. Surprising sensory elements will help propel the narrative experience through seats capable of both vertical and horizontal motion equipped with tactile transducers, pneumatic air propulsion and water spray nodules.

"Shrek 4-D" will mark the first animation to be created for a theme park by the animation wizards at PDI, the creators of "Shrek," as well as the earlier computer animated hit "Antz(TM)". The addition of three-dimensional depth to the animation and the creation of in-theater effects by attraction designers at Universal Creative will be parts of the new OgreVision multi-sensory experience.

Members of the team responsible for "Shrek" and for the upcoming DreamWorks Pictures sequel will also create the new animation. David Lipman, who served as co-executive producer for "Shrek," and is producing "Shrek II," will produce the theme park attraction.

In Universal Studios Florida, Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Japan, "Shrek 4-D" will be housed in its own castle-like building. When the attractions open in Summer 2003, as many as 1200 guests in each park will be able to experience the "Shrek 4-D" attraction hourly.

Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando are units of Universal Parks & Resorts. Universal Parks & Resorts conceives designs, constructs and operates Universal's widely diversified themed entertainment businesses, location-based entertainment endeavors and leisure activity enterprises throughout the world.

Universal Parks & Resorts is a division of Vivendi UNIVERSAL Entertainment (http://www.universalstudios.com), the film, television and recreation entity of Vivendi Universal, a global media and communications company.

DreamWorks SKG was formed in October, 1994, by its three principal partners -- Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen -- to produce live-action motion pictures; animated feature films; network, and cable television programming; home video entertainment; records; books; toys; and consumer products.