Shrek 2 is all-time favourite animated film

Shrek 2, DreamWorks' love story of an ogre and a princess, has become the biggest grossing animated or CGI (computer generated images) film of all time in Malta.

According to box-office statistics kept by KRS Film Distributors, the sequel to Shrek has surpassed animated favourites such as The Lion King, Prince of Egypt, Tarzan, Finding Nemo and Mulan.

KRS manager Alex Pace said that animated or CGI films rarely placed among the top 10 films of the year but this year Shrek 2 ranked sixth.

The film, which is now in its seventh week, is slightly ahead of Spiderman 2 in popularity and KRS believes it will continue going strong.

Shrek 2, which critics hailed as better and funnier than its prequel Shrek, is doing extremely well abroad and has grossed £44 million in the UK in six weeks and $434 million in the US in the 12 weeks since its release.

The film picks up right where the first movie left off. Shrek and Princess Fiona return from their honeymoon to find a letter from her parents - the King and Queen - inviting the newlyweds over to the castle for dinner. The only problem is that they have no idea that their daughter is now an ogre.

The film's winning trait is that while all the children love a good animated fairytale, where everybody lives happily ever after, Shrek 2 is peppered with witty jokes to keep the adults well entertained.

"Considering that the film was released in the summer months when the majority prefer a trip to the beach than to the cinema, we were very surprised at how well it is doing," Mr Pace said.

KRS believes Shrek 2 will be one of the main attractions of Children's Cinema Day, which is being held on August 28.

Children will be spoilt for choice with more than 18 films being screened on the day - they will likely drive their parents round the bend as they attempt to see as many films as possible.

The good news for parents is that admission prices have been reduced to 95c for children under 13 years and Lm1.50 for accompanying adults.

The performances at most the cinemas will start at 9 a.m. with the last one being at 7 p.m.

There are at least four new releases which will be screened on the day, including Garfield, Home on the Range, I Robot and Catwoman.

Other films chosen for the occasion include Thunderbirds, Around the World in 80 Days, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London, Starsky & Hutch, King Arthur, Spiderman 2, Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban, The Day After Tomorrow and Van Helsing. Meanwhile, the two-screen Citadel Cinema in Gozo will be showing Dr Seuss' The Cat in the Hat, Shrek 2 and Thunderbirds at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Apart from the various promotions being organised on the day, individual cinemas will also be distributing thousands of mini film posters. Tickets go on sale on August 23. Children's Cinema Day will be celebrated at Eden Century Cinemas in St George's Bay and Galleria in Fgura; Empire Cinemas, Bugibba and Embassy Cinema World, Valletta.